Senior Nurse Case Manager - Chicago, Illinois

AF Group Careers Section; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 74,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

AF Group seeks a Senior Nurse Case Manager to support the Claims Department by reviewing complex workers’ compensation claims, determining medical necessity, facilitating return to work, and leading cost-containment initiatives. This role may operate telephonically or as a Field NCM providing in-person care.

The Field SNCM Manager will work on-site with injured workers, providers, and employers to ensure timely care and recovery, with a hybrid schedule and travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Five (5) years of progressive responsibility in injury case management.
• Three (3) years of active RN clinical experience.
• Three (3) years of workers’ compensation case management or related field.
• Field Case Manager experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee new assignments and initial contacts with all parties.
• Review clinical status to assess causality and treatment need.
• Complete RN templates with medical history and cost drivers.
• Negotiate and coordinate early return to work or alternative duty.
• Oversee external NCM tasks and document POA with timelines.
• Apply medical knowledge during physician/therapist contacts.
• Determine medical necessity and hospital admission status.
• Conduct case research and coordinate with stakeholders.
• Refer cases not meeting criteria to medical director.
• Prepare correspondence and communicate decisions to teams.
• Manage claims across multiple jurisdictions.
• Close assignments per performance standards.
• Train and mentor junior nurse case managers.
• Prepare professional presentations for customers.
• Assist manager with monthly NCM outcomes and quality assessments.

Skills

RN license

Leadership

Negotiation

Communication

Clinical knowledge

Microsoft Windows

Education

Registered Nurse (RN) license

BSN preferred

Job description

SUMMARY

The Senior Nurse Case Manager (SNCM) role within the Claims Department is to assist management and the claims team in supporting strategic initiatives and achieving annual claims goals. This position is responsible for applying medical knowledge in reviewing complex workers’ compensation claims to determine causal nature of patient’s symptoms, medical necessity/reasonableness of treatment, facilitate claimants’ return to work (RTW) and propose alternative care arrangements. SNCM assists in development of new medical cost containment programs and projects as well as taking a leadership role in the implementation and ongoing support of these initiatives. The SNCM utilizes competence, positive communication skills, problem solving and conflict resolution techniques. The SNCM demonstrates strong organization and time management skills with the ability to affect change when necessary. This role may execute their essential functions telephonically or as a Field NCM providing in person care and/or coordination.

Field/Hybrid focus:

The Field SNCM Manager is responsible for managing the medical care and facilitating return to work for injured employees. The position requires on-site, face-to-face interaction with injured workers, providers, and employers to facilitate appropriate, and timely care that supports recovery and return to work.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

SNCM and FNCM

1. Oversee new assignments and make timely initial contacts with all parties.
2. Reviews patient clinical status and history to determine casual nature of patient’s symptoms as related to reported work injuries.
3. Complete RN template and documentation, to include but not limited to: pertinent medical history, exposure analysis including cost drivers such as anticipated treatment, length of treatment, length of treatment, length of treatment, length of treatment, length of disability and anticipated permanency.

4. Negotiate and coordinate with employer for early return to work and/or alternative duty based on provider’s report on employees’ abilities upon receipt of the claim.

5. Provide oversight of all external nurse case management and external RN task assignments. Document the strategy and anticipated cost benefit to the claim for the assignment.Establish a mutually agreed upon plan of action with the external NCM and a time frame for the completion of that POA.
6. Applies medical knowledge base during contacts with physicians, therapists, etc. as necessary on any case where prolonged treatment has occurred to assess each case.
7. Determines the medical necessity/reasonableness of proposed and ongoing treatment as well as inpatient or outpatient hospitalization for each lost-time case.
8. Conducts case research which may necessitate contacting or meeting with employees, employers, physicians, medical staff members, medical consultants, etc.
9. Appropriately refers workers’ compensation cases not meeting medical criteria to the medical director, designated consultant or independent physician providing supporting case documentation.
10. Formulates all internal and external correspondence necessary to research and resolve case disputes and case inquiries, contacting providers and involving claims representatives as required. Communicates final decision and subsequent ramifications to claim representatives.
11. Medically manage claims in multiple jurisdictions.
12. Close assignment appropriately within internal performance standards.
13. Training and/or Mentoring nurse case managers with less experience.
14. Prepare professional presentations for prospective customers.

15. Assist manager with monthly NCM outcomes including monthly reports and assisting with monthly quality assessment evaluations of Nurse Case Managers if needed.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE for all focuses:

1. Registered Nurse license active and unrestricted required.
2. Bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) preferred.

SNCM and Field:

1. Five (5) years of progressive responsibility in injury case management (workers’ compensation, group health, auto, etc.).
2. Three (3) years of active patient or clinical experience as a RN is required.
3. Three (3) years of workers’ compensation case management, rehab, insurance or occupational health experience is preferred.
4. Field Case Manager experience preferred.

   QUALIFICATIONS

   To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

1. Knowledge of clinical care and jurisdictional requirements.

2. Must possess strong negotiation skills and decision‑making ability.
3. Excellent oral and written communication, customer service, written report preparation, human relations, negotiation and decision‑making skills are required.
4. Proficient in Microsoft Windows Suite.
5. Must be able to work independently as well as within a team.
6. Attention to detail and analytical skills required.
7. Demonstrated leadership abilities are essential.
8. Knowledge of team building and employee motivation theories with the ability to effectively manage multi-functional employee teams.
9. Ability to work with and empower others on a collaborative basis to ensure success of team.
10. Demonstrated ability to work independently in the research, planning, development and implementation of corporate projects.
11. Ability to appropriately manage resources, budgets, issues and risks for the successful completion of projects.
12. Ability to train others.

13. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all internal and external customers.

SNCM, Field and Medical Bill Review:

1. Strong working knowledge of workers’ compensation laws.
2. Must possess strong negotiation skills and decision‑making ability.
3. Attention to detail and analytical skills required.
4. Ability to exercise good judgment in evaluating and determining the appropriateness of various actions within the process of workers compensation claims management.
5. Ability to read, analyze and interpret technical, legal and financial information and procedure manuals.
6. Ability to make competent, independent decisions and maintain confidentiality where appropriate.
7. Must be able to work independently as well as within a team.
8. Field NCMs is required to possess an unrestricted and valid driver’s license.

PAY RANGE:

Actual compensation decision relies on the consideration of internal equity, candidate’s skills and professional experience, geographic location, market, and other potential factors. It is not the standard practice for an offer to be at or near the top of the range, and therefore a reasonable estimate for this role is between $73,600 and $123,200.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work is performed in an office setting or remote with no unusual hazards. SNCM – Field will be required to travel as this is a hybrid position and requires on‑site face-to-face interaction with injured workers, providers and employers.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. This job description does not constitute a contract for employment.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment in any form. Candidates for the position stated above are hired on an "at will" basis. Nothing herein is intended to create a contract.