Utilization Management Reviewer - Behavioral Health

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc.; Hingham (MA); On-site; USD 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc. is seeking a Clinical Utilization Reviewer to support members with complex health needs by authorizing appropriate services and promoting high-quality care.

The role blends independent work with team collaboration to apply medical necessity criteria and internal policies. The reviewer will conduct pre-certification, concurrent, and retrospective reviews across inpatient and partial hospitalization settings, emphasizing discharge planning and

Qualifications

• Behavioral Health expertise with active MA license.
• 3–5 years of clinical experience in Behavioral Health Care settings.
• Utilization Management experience preferred.
• CCM or similar certification desirable.

Responsibilities

• Perform pre-certification, concurrent, and retrospective reviews using evidence-based criteria and BCBSMA policies.
• Emphasize discharge planning and efficient utilization management.
• Understand member benefits to maximize care quality and access.
• Collaborate with physicians, case managers, and care teams to optimize member care.
• Communicate with members, providers, and staff to share information on benefits and processes.
• Support health action plans and treatment goals with providers.

Skills

Behavioral Health

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Communication skills

Customer service

MS Office

Teamwork

InterQual criteria

Education

License: MA MA licensed professional (RN/LICSW/LMHC/BCBA)

CCM certification desirable

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

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The Role

The Clinical Utilization Reviewer is responsible for facilitating care for members who may have complex healthcare needs, authorizing medically necessary services at the right level of care to promote optimal health.

This position is self-directed and works independently and collaboratively to facilitate care using clinical skills, principles of managed care, nationally recognized medical necessity criteria, and company medical policies to conduct reviews that promote efficient and medically appropriate use of the member's benefit to provide the best quality care.

The Team

The Clinical Utilization Reviewer is part of a highly dedicated and motivated team of professionals, including medical and behavioral health care managers, dieticians, pharmacist, clinicians, medical directors and more, who collaborate to facilitate care.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct pre-certification and concurrent and retrospective clinical review of in-state and out-of-state inpatient cases at acute residential treatment programs and partial hospitalization through the application of evidence-based medical necessity criteria and BCBSMA policies and procedures
• Focus on efficient utilization management with emphasis on discharge planning
• Understand and appropriately manages member's benefits to maximize health care quality
• Collaborate with physician reviewers, case managers, project leaders and associates within BCBSMA to optimize member care and ensure a constructive provider experience
• Facilitate review process by communication with members/families, providers, medical staff and/or others to obtain and/or share information relating to benefits and the BCBSMA utilization management process
• Collaborate with members/families, providers, medical staff and/or other members of the treatment team to coordinate and support health action plans developed by providers that include treatment goals, interventions, and expected clinical outcomes and that support quality and medical management goals and objectives
• Educate and support members/families regarding benefits, eligibility, BCBSMA policies and processes with the goal to empower self-advocacy
• Identify and refer members who may benefit from high-risk case management and disease state management intervention
• Maintain professional licensure and seeks out continuous learning opportunities to enhance understanding of clinical management, trends in patient care, utilization management and other topics applicable to carrying out job responsibilities in an educated manner
• Utilize the computer systems to efficiently enter case information, check benefits and eligibility, look up policy and procedures, validate provider contractual status and other functions relating to the execution of key responsibilities
• Exhibit customer satisfaction orientation in every aspect of carrying out responsibilities
• Meet or exceed annual performance goal of 90% cumulatively for case audits and recorded call audits, where applicable.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by management

Key Qualifications:

• Solid clinical knowledge in Behavioral Health. Specialty knowledge a plus
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to manage multiple ongoing tasks
• Strong problem-solving ability under pressure of timeliness turnaround deadlines
• Excellent communication skills. Able to discuss sensitive/ confidential information in a professional, unbiased manner
• Proven customer service skills
• Intermediate ease of use with computers and a working understanding of common computer software such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook
• Ability to integrate as part of a working team, and function independently to complete assigned workload
• Achieve a passing score on the yearly InterQual, behavioral health medical necessity criteria, interrater reliability test

Education and Experience:

• Behavioral Health professional with an active Massachusetts license: Registered Nurse, LICSW, LMHC, BCBA
• 3-5 years of clinical experience in Behavioral Health Care settings
• Utilization Management experience preferred
• CCM or other applicable certification(s) desirable

This position is eligible for the following personas: eWorker, Mobile, Resident.

Minimum Education Requirements: High school degree or equivalent required unless otherwise noted above

Location: Hingham. Time Type: Full time. Hourly Range: $38.82 - $47.44.

The job posting range is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee's pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, performance, shift, travel requirements, sales or revenue-based metrics, and business or organizational needs and affordability.

This job is also eligible for variable pay.

We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k), and a suite of well-being benefits to eligible employees.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, or any other form of compensation that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company's sole discretion, consistent with the law.

WHY Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA?

As an employer, we are committed to investing in your development and providing the necessary resources to enable your success. Learn how we are dedicated to creating an inclusive and rewarding workplace that promotes excellence and provides opportunities for employees to forge their unique career path by visiting ourCompany Culturepage.

At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, we believe in wellness and that work/life balance is a key part of associate wellbeing. For more information on how we work and support that work/life balance visit our "How We Work" Page.