Utilization Review Nurse Corporate UM - per diem

Penn Medicine; Bala Cynwyd (PA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Penn Medicine is seeking an Utilization Review Nurse to support timely and accurate utilization review activities, ensuring medical necessity and appropriate levels of care in a major academic medical center setting.

The role collaborates with physicians, case management, revenue cycle, and care teams to facilitate approvals, documentation, and compliant utilization management across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts or Science required.
• Experience with InterQual and MCG guidelines.
• 2+ years acute hospital care experience.
• Utilization management, appeals, or denials management experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct medical necessity reviews and patient status determinations using approved criteria and policies.
• Perform admission, concurrent, continued stay, and retrospective utilization reviews.
• Manage payer authorization and notification processes to promote timely approvals.
• Identify and escalate cases needing secondary review or physician advisor involvement.
• Collaborate with physicians, case managers, social workers, and teams for patient progression and discharge planning.
• Ensure accurate documentation of utilization activities and payer communications.
• Assist with denial prevention activities through documentation and authorization checks.
• Monitor CMS regulations, payer requirements, and accreditation standards.

Skills

Utilization review

Nursing

Regulatory compliance

Education

RN PA license

ACM/CCM certification

Tools

InterQual/MCG guidelines

Job description

Description

Penn Medicine is dedicated to our tripartite mission of providing the highest level of care to patients, conducting innovative research, and educating future leaders in the field of medicine. Working for this leading academic medical center means collaboration with top clinical, technical and business professionals across all disciplines. Today at Penn Medicine, someone will make a breakthrough. Someone will heal a heart, deliver hopeful news, and give comfort and reassurance. Our employees shape our future each day. Are you living your life's work?

Summary

The Utilization Review Nurse is responsible for conducting timely and accurate utilization review activities to support appropriate patient status determination, medical necessity review, and compliance with regulatory and payer requirements. This role applies clinical expertise and evidence-based criteria to evaluate the appropriateness of admissions, continued stays, and resource utilization while promoting quality patient care and efficient use of healthcare resources. Working within Penn Medicine's centralized Utilization Management department the Utilization Review Nurse collaborates with physicians, Physician Advisors, case management, revenue cycle, and interdisciplinary care teams to facilitate appropriate level-of-care determinations, authorization management, denial prevention, and compliance with federal, state, accreditation, and payer requirements.

Responsibilities

• Conduct medical necessity reviews and patient status determinations using approved clinical criteria, regulatory requirements, and organizational policies.
• Perform admission, concurrent, continued stay, and retrospective utilization reviews to ensure appropriate level of care and resource utilization.
• Manage payer authorization and notification processes to promote timely approvals and reduce financial risk.
• Identify and escalation cases that require secondary review, physician advisor involvement, or additional clinical documentation.
• Collaborate with physicians, case managers, social workers, and interdisciplinary teams to support appropriate patient progression, discharge planning, and utilization management goals.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of utilization review activities, authorization determinations, and payer communications within designated systems.
• Assist with denial prevention activities through proactive identification of medical necessity, documentation, authorization, and patient status concerns.
• Monitor and maintain compliance with CMS regulations, payer requirements, accreditation standards, organizational policies, and utilization management workflows

Credentials

• Registered Nurse - PA (Required)
• Certified Case Manager (CCM) or Accredited Case Manager (ACM)

Education or Equivalent Experience

• Bachelor of Arts or Science (Required)
• Education Specialization: Nursing Equivalent Experience:
• And 2+ years Acute Hospital Care experience
• Experience with Interqual and MCG
• Previous Utilization Management, Appeals, or Denials Management experience

We believe that the best care for our patients starts with the best care for our employees. Our employee benefits programs help our employees get healthy and stay healthy. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits program that includes one of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region. Penn Medicine employees are actively engaged and committed to our mission. Together we will continue to make medical advances that help people live longer, healthier lives.

Live Your Life's Work

We are an Equal Opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, familial status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status, citizenship status, military status, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable law.