Medical Assistant - Behavioral Health

$47,840 - $67,704/Yr

Neighborhood Healthcare - Escondido, CA

Full-time - Entry Level

Escondido, CA

10,001+ employees

Ambulatory Health Care Services

About the position

The Medical Assistant for Behavioral Health at Neighborhood Healthcare plays a crucial role in coordinating patient care within the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), Telepsychiatry, and Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) programs. This position involves scheduling appointments, obtaining necessary authorizations, and ensuring effective communication between patients and healthcare providers to enhance patient outcomes and support community health initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Secures and communicates patient referrals and authorizations to providers.
• Schedules and communicates appointment information to patients and/or families.
• Follows up with patients and providers to ensure appointments were kept.
• Obtains and documents the consult and progress reports from providers, radiologists, and other medical professionals in patient medical records.
• Provides MAT pre-intake assessments to determine appropriate fit for the program.
• Documents MAT group attendance, random urinary drug screens, and film/pill counts.
• Completes SDoH assessments, referrals, and linkages and tracks information/outcomes in patient medical records.
• Follows Telepsychiatry for primary care site policy/procedures and coordinates on-site patient care with telepsychiatry providers at other sites.
• Documents all actions taken in patient medical records in accordance with current clinic, DHS, and health plan regulations/guidelines.
• Discusses all aspects of the referral process as prescribed by providers with patients, including counseling the patient regarding the cost of a referral, as needed.
• Communicates with patients in person, by telephone, and/or by mail.
• Acts as liaison between patient, clinic/providers, specialty care providers, health plans/funding sources, and community resources.
• Attends staff and other required meetings and trainings.
• Verifies insurance eligibilities, submits treatment authorizations, and provides coverage for front office staff, as needed.
• Participates in quality improvement activities.
• Documents all care coordination, services, and/or patient education in medical records.
• Initiates and processes incident reports according to documentation guidelines.
• Prioritizes activities according to intensity, need, and required follow-up.
• Provides accurate and timely reports to supervisor and site staff, as needed.
• Responds promptly and with caring actions to patients and employees.
• Maintains professional working relationships with all levels of staff, clients, and the public.
• Cooperates in accomplishing department goals and objectives.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Valid Medical Assistant diploma from an accredited program required.
• One year certified medical assistant experience preferred.
• Valid BLS certification required upon hire.

Nice-to-haves

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Familiarity with medical procedures and terminology.
• Proficiency with electronic health records system experience preferred.
• Intermediate computer and data entry skills.

Benefits

• Partially company paid Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans.
• Two plus weeks of vacation.
• Nine Holidays including two Floating Holidays of your choosing.
• Sick/Personal time.
• Volunteer Time Off (VTO).
• 403b Retirement plan (similar to a 401k).
• Optional Health and Wellness events.