Utilization Management RN II

Job Title & Specialty Area: Utilization RN II

Department: Utilization Management 

Location: Children's Health Dallas

Shift: Monday through Friday 

Job Type: Remote, but there will be a monthly onsite attendance requirement 

Why Children's Health?

At Children's Health, our mission is to Make Life Better for Children, and we recognize that their health plays a crucial role in achieving this goal.

Through our cutting-edge treatments and affiliation with UT Southwestern, we strive to deliver an extraordinary patient and family experience, ensuring that every moment, big or small, contributes to their overall well-being.

Our dedication to promoting children's health extends beyond our organization and encompasses the broader community. Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of children and contribute to a brighter and healthier future for all.

Summary:
The Utilization Management Nurse II is responsible for determining and managing medical necessity of acute inpatient admissions utilizing clinical criteria. This includes communication with the Physician's admitting patients to a Children's Health System of Texas (CHST) facility and collaboration with the Physician Advisor during the review process. The UM RN II has advanced knowledge in utilization management within several specialty areas.

Responsibilities:
* Accountable for current knowledge of utilization management responsibilities, including payer information; business rules; regulatory guidelines; and policies and procedures.
* Performs initial, concurrent, discharge, and retrospective reviews on assigned caseload. Reviews inpatient medical necessity criteria utilizing Indicia or InterQual, CHST clinical pathways, and clinical knowledge to determine appropriateness of admission, level of care, and continued stay.
* Will be responsible for leading efforts on audits, observations, and/or rechecks.
* Analyzes patient records to determine legitimacy of admission, treatment, and length of stay in health-care facility to comply with government and insurance company reimbursement policies: Analyzes insurance, governmental, and accrediting agency standards to determine criteria concerning admissions, treatment, and length of stay of patients.
* Combines clinical, business and regulatory knowledge and skill to reduce significant financial risk and exposure caused by concurrent and retrospective denial of payments for services provided.
* Takes on additional case load and serves as primary resource for UM RNs. Serves as first contact for questions before escalation to UM leadership. Maintains productivity and optimum case load, delegating appropriately to maximize skills set, productivity and effectiveness.
* Collaborates with Patient Access Services as it relates to inpatient authorization, predetermination, pre/prior authorization, and status changes.
* Communicates with Commercial or MMC (Medicaid Managed Care) payers to certify inpatient days as required. Utilizes various methods to obtain necessary information: telephone, fax, secure email, secure web portal. Removing completed cases from the Midas worklist.
* Maintain accurate documentation of all communication and interventions in EMR.
* Escalate payer problems and trends to Denials Management Specialist or UM Manager.
* Proactively intervenes with medical necessity, or level of care denials by exercising all real-time options to overturn decision. Actions include, but not limited to,
requesting expedited appeal, use of third-party Physician Advisor, facilitation of peer to peer with CHST Physician.
* Identifies issues and strategies to modify and/or enhance the utilization management program.
* Advances clinical expertise through attendance at in-hours education opportunities, reading journals, and attendance at conferences.
* Hosts informational (.i.e.‘drift’) meetings and maintains meeting minutes for staff reference. Attends department/program meetings regularly.
* Maintains a level of productivity and quality consistent with complexity of the assignment; facility policies and guidelines; established principles, ethics and standards of practice of professional nursing.
* Other job duties as assigned

How You’ll Be Successful:

WORK EXPERIENCE
* At least 8 years clinical nursing experience Required
* At least 2 years of Utilization Review experience Required
* At least 1 year Previous experience with InterQual or Milliman Required

EDUCATION
* Four-year Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience Bachelor's of Nursing Preferred
* Two-year Associate's degree or equivalent experience Associate's Degree of Nursing Required

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
* Registered Nurse Required

A Place Where You Belong

We put our people first. We welcome, value, and respect the beliefs, identities and experiences of our patients and colleagues. We are committed to delivering culturally effective care, creating meaningful partnerships in the communities we serve, and equipping and developing our team members to make Children’s Health a place where everyone can contribute.

 Holistic Benefits – How We’ll Care for You:

· Employee portion of medical plan premiums are covered after 3 years.

· 4%-10% employee savings plan match based on tenure

· Paid Parental Leave (up to 12 weeks)

· Caregiver Leave

· Adoption and surrogacy reimbursement 

As an equal opportunity employer, Children's Health does not discriminate against employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, veteran or military status, disability, or genetic information or any other Federal or State legally protected status or class. This applies to all aspects of the employer-employee relationship including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, promotion, transfer pay, training, discipline, workforce adjustments, termination, employee benefits, and any other employment-related activity.