Behavioral Health Case Manager - SUD

Pay Range:

Pay Range:$27.81 - $38.62

SEARHC is a non-profit health consortium which serves the health interests of the residents of Southeast Alaska. We see our employees as our strongest assets. It is our priority to further their development and our organization by aiding in their professional advancement.

Working at SEARHC is more than a job, it’s a fulfilling career. We offer generous benefits, including retirement, paid time off, paid parental leave, health, dental, and vision benefits, life insurance and long and short-term disability, and more.

This position performs an extensive range of case management duties covering the entirety of residential intake processes. Incumbents must have a basic understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral health and substance use disorders, and an understanding of crisis intervention techniques. Effective telephonic, electronic, and in-person communication skills are essential, as the position requires cultivating and maintaining professional relationships with internal and external customers. Attention to detail is critical, given this position is responsible for ensuring timely and accurate documentation of an applicant’s information. When appropriate to the qualifications of the incumbent, this position may also be responsible for initial assessment and diagnosis of the applicant. This position supports SEARHC’s vision statement: “Partnering with our communities to promote a healthy balance of mind, body and spirit,” by the provision of intake services to help individuals seeking to improve their health status by engaging in behavioral health treatment and/or reducing or stopping substance abuse and/or dependence.

Key Essential Functions and Accountabilities of the Job

• Administrative responsibilities:

  • Manages all of aspects associated with processing residential referrals, from the point of receipt through to the final determination (e.g., initial screening, referral to a different program, admission, denial).

  • Develops new or fosters existing relationships with internal and external stakeholders (families, clinicians, program directors, program supervisors, Dept. of Juvenile Justice, Office of Children’s Services, etc.).

  • Collaborates with SEARHC’s Quality and Compliance Department to ensure all residential behavioral health forms are up to date, recommending changes as needed.

  • Works with the supervisor, program staff (clinical, supervisory, and direct care) to ensure continuous quality improvement in areas such as initial screening, scheduling, program communications, reports, and record keeping.

  • Coordinates with SEARHC Behavioral Health Department staff to schedule psychiatric appointments, transmit completed BH departmental forms to the appropriate contacts, and ensure the Department has the necessary information to add the residential client to the SEARHC system.

• Case Management responsibilities:

  • Facilitates the completion of residential intake paperwork in accordance with SEARHC requirements, including but not limited to: 

    • Communicates with referral sources.

    • Works with clinical staff to determine appropriateness for the program.

    • Coordinates applicant interviews by telephone, video, or in person

    • Obtains confidential information from referral sources.

    • Makes initial recommendation to Program Manager for acceptance or denial.

  • Ensures data is correctly entered into the client’s chart for billing and other reporting purposes, and all client documents are uploaded to their electronic health record.

  • Provides Medicaid management support to clients, families, and billing staff. This includes but is not limited to providing initial and renewal application support to clients and families and communicating Medicaid changes/updates to the Residential Case Coordinator and/or the SEARHC Revenue Cycle Management (Billing) staff. 

  • Schedules all activities associated with intake (screenings, initial treatment plans, integrated behavioral health assessments, travel).  

  • Manages client waitlist and admission documentation.

  • Provides the Residentials Program Manager with reports regarding referrals and recommendations.

  • Ensures adherence to client health information privacy and confidentiality in accordance with governing rules and regulations.

  • When coordinating admission for substance use disorder treatment, uses ASAM, DSM 5 or other placement criteria to determine suitability between applicant’s needs/strengths and program services.

    • Provides information about other treatment programs to persons not accepted at SEARHC.

    • Communicates client information to resid