Payor Relations & Contracting Manager

Acorn Health; Towson (MD); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO & holidays

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Parental Leave

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life insurance and disability coverage

Job summary

Acorn Health in Towson, MD seeks a Payor Relations & Contracting Manager to strengthen partnerships with commercial and Medicaid payors and manage contracting activities. You will collaborate with Operations, Revenue Cycle, Finance, Credentialing, and clinical leadership to ensure timely access to care.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years in payor relations, excellent communication, and a track record negotiating complex contracts. Travel up to 15% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 5+ years in payor relations, healthcare reimbursement, contracting, or related healthcare field (commercial/Medicaid).
• Experience with authorizations, referrals, or payor-facing workflows.
• ABA or behavioral health experience preferred.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Organized with ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience cross-functionally with Finance, Revenue Cycle, Operations, Credentialing, and Legal.
• Willingness to travel up to 15%.

Responsibilities

• Manage relationships with assigned commercial and Medicaid payors.
• Support referral growth, patient access, and collaboration with payor case managers.
• Lead payor meetings and present census, referrals, staffing, access, and performance metrics.
• Analyze payor data to identify trends and opportunities.
• Manage contracting activities: new agreements, renewals, amendments, reimbursements, network participation.
• Coordinate with Revenue Cycle, Finance, Operations, and Credentialing on terms and impact.
• Review contract terms and escalate issues as needed.
• Track renewals, reimbursement changes, and implementation requirements.
• Support payor onboarding, credentialing, enrollment, and network participation.
• Resolve complex payor, referral, authorization, operational, and reimbursement issues.

Skills

Strong communication

Relationship building

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree (related field)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Acorn Health is an Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) treatment provider dedicated to providing the best quality care for our clients. We aim to continually establish best-in-class standards in integrity and quality for not only ourselves, but also in the field of ABA. We work courageously and with accountability to focus on the individuality of each child, collaborate with client families, and generate permanence in client outcomes. We strive to hire and to invest in our greatest asset - our employees, who are the heart of Acorn Health.

Acorn Health is a standard-setting family of ABA treatment providers. We believe the best employees want to work with companies who share their beliefs, and that is true for families who entrust us with children they love. Every day and every interaction, we strive to demonstrate our Five Core Values.

Acorn Health is driving autism therapy forward by combining evidence-based ABA best practices with innovative next practices. We are a family of standard-setting ABA providers committed to strong partnerships, high-quality care, and meaningful outcomes for children and families.

We believe the best people choose employers who share their values, and families choose partners they trust with their child’s future. Every interaction, every decision, and every day is guided by ourFive Core Values:

• Authenticity – We show up as our true, consistent selves and value genuine human connection
• Accountability – We do what we say we'll do, especially when a child’s future is involved
• Teamwork – Collaboration fuels the best outcomes
• Growth – We continuously evolve to meet the unique needs of children and families
• Hustle – In autism care, time matters. We act with urgency and purpose

The Opportunity

The Payor Relations & Contracting Manager is a strategic relationship and contracting leader responsible for strengthening Acorn Health’s partnerships with commercial and Medicaid payors.

This role combines payor relationshipmanagement, contracting, reimbursement, referral growth, and network participation. You will work closely with Operations, Revenue Cycle, Finance, Credentialing, and clinical leadership to ensure strong payor partnerships and timely access to care.

The ideal candidate is a strong communicator and relationship builder who understands healthcare payor operations and can confidently navigate contracts, negotiations, and complex issues.

What You’ll Do

• Manage relationships with assigned commercial and Medicaid payors and serve as a key point of contact.
• Support referral growth, patient access, and strong collaboration with payor case managers and representatives.
• Lead and participate in regular payor meetings, presenting census, referral, staffing, access, and performance metrics.
• Analyze payor data and reports to identify trends, growth opportunities, and barriers to patient access.
• Manage payor contracting activities, including new agreements, renewals, amendments, reimbursement negotiations, and network participation.
• Partner with Revenue Cycle, Finance, Operations, and Credentialing to review contract terms and assess financial and operational impact.
• Coordinate internal review and approval of proposed contract terms and identify issues that require escalation.
• Track contract renewals, deadlines, reimbursement changes, and implementation requirements.
• Support payor onboarding, credentialing, enrollment, and network participation activities.
• Help resolve complex payor, referral, authorization, operational, and reimbursement issues.
• Maintain accurate payor profiles, contacts, contract information, and relationship plans.
• Stay informed about payor requirements and applicable healthcare regulations.
• Identify opportunities to improve payor partnerships, operational processes, and access to care.
• Travel up to 15% as needed

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred
• 5+ years of experience in payor relations, healthcare reimbursement, contracting, or a related healthcare field (commercial and/or Medicaid MCOs)
• Experience with authorizations, referrals, or payor-facing workflows
• Experience in ABA or behavioral health is highly preferred.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Strong organization and follow-through, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Experience working cross-functionally with teams such as Finance, Revenue Cycle, Operations, Credentialing, and Legal.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, collaborative healthcare environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Willingness to travel up to 15%

Why Join Acorn Health?

We invest in you, professionally and personally.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Life insurance, short-term, and long-term disability coverage
• Full-time, stable role with competitive compensation from $85,000 to $95,000 annually, depending on experience
• Mission-driven work that truly makes a difference in the lives of children and families

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees in this classification.

Acorn Health is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sec (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship or immigration status, veteran status, genetic information, height, weight, hair or hairstyle, familial status, marital status, or any other protected status covered by applicable federal, state, or local law.