PRN Intake Clinician - Behavioral Health

Peak Behavioral; Santa Teresa (NM); On-site; USD 48,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Peak Behavioral Health is seeking an Intake Clinician onsite to facilitate admissions, conduct clinical intake assessments, and manage prior authorizations to ensure appropriate care levels. The role involves coordinating with the business office, nursing, clinical staff, and external parties to admit patients promptly.

The ideal candidate holds a Master’s in a related field and has 1+ year in mental/behavioral health. Licensure and CPR/de-escalation training are required where applicable.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, mental health or related field required.
• One or more years in mental/behavioral health in a clinical or observational setting preferred.
• Experience with managed care pre-certification, level of care assessments, and utilization preferred.
• Experience in clinical interviewing, patient assessment, referral, treatment planning, and communicating with external review organizations.
• Strong interpersonal and interviewing and assessment skills; excellent telephone etiquette.

Responsibilities

• Facilitates intake, admission, and prior authorization for incoming patients.
• Performs insurance benefit verifications and communicates results to patients and staff.
• Provides coverage for call center duties during peak times and assists with pre-certifications.
• Provides ongoing assessment of patient status through admission and authorization processes.
• Communicates recommendations to patients/families and coordinates with medical staff.
• Ensures EMTALA-related verifications and precertifications are completed when appropriate.
• Responds to facility inquiries, schedules/pre-admission assessments, and coordinates with internal teams.
• Maintains documentation for the admissions process.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Interviewing

Assessment

Education

Master’s Degree in social work/counseling/psychology/mental health or related field

Job description

Peak Behavioral Health is seeking an Intake Clinician onsite to facilitate admissions, conduct clinical intake assessments, and manage prior authorizations to ensure appropriate care levels. The role involves coordinating with the business office, nursing, clinical staff, and external parties to admit patients promptly.

The ideal candidate holds a Master’s in a related field and has 1+ year in mental/behavioral health. Licensure and CPR/de-escalation training are required where applicable.