Behavioral Health Authorization Specialist
About Us
Integrated Care for Greater Health (ICGH) is a recovery-focused organization that grew from Hickory, North Carolina into a growing continuum of services designed to help people build lives in which recovery can last. ICGH has grown by responding to barriers people can encounter in recovery, including distance, medication access, transportation, housing, justice transitions, and disconnected levels of care.
Today, ICGH connects community clinics, inpatient and mobile integrated care, statewide low-barrier telehealth, pharmacy and medication access, peer support, recovery housing, transportation, and care navigation. Our guiding philosophy is “Recovery—not treatment.” We believe in building a connected continuum that supports people in recovery wherever and however they access services.
Job Function
The Behavioral Health Authorization Specialist manages the authorization process for services provided by ICGH. This position works with insurance payers and internal teams to obtain required authorizations, maintain accurate authorization records, monitor authorization status and utilization, and ensure authorizations remain current. The Authorization Specialist serves as the primary point of coordination for authorization-related matters and helps prevent authorization-related denials while supporting accurate billing and reimbursement.
RequirementsEssential Functions
- Obtain and maintain required authorizations for ICGH services.
- Submit initial and continued authorization requests within required payer timeframes.
- Communicate with insurance payers regarding authorization requests, approvals, denials, and requirements.
- Obtain and review documentation needed to support authorization requests.
- Maintain accurate authorization information in the EHR and authorization tracking system.
- Monitor authorization status, approved units, and expiration dates.
- Coordinate with clinical and operational teams to obtain information needed for authorizations and continued reviews.
- Communicate authorization approvals, limitations, denials, and issues to the appropriate teams.
- Track authorization appeals through resolution.
- Identify and address authorization issues that may impact services or billing.
- Maintain complete and accurate authorization records.
- Participate in authorization audits and quality improvement activities.
Non-Essential Functions
- Participate in department meetings and team initiatives.
- Assist with updates to authorization workflows, tracking tools, and procedures.
- Support quality improvement efforts related to authorization processes.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of behavioral health services and insurance authorization processes.
- Knowledge of payer requirements and authorization procedures.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple authorizations, deadlines, and priorities.
- Ability to communicate effectively with insurance payers and internal teams.
- Ability to maintain accurate and confidential records.
- Ability to identify authorization issues and follow through to resolution.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
- Ability to adapt to changing payer requirements and processes.
What Success Looks Like in the Role
Success in this role means keeping authorizations accurate, current, and in place throughout the individual’s services. The successful Authorization Specialist stays ahead of deadlines and authorization limits, follows up promptly with payers and internal teams, communicates issues clearly, and works proactively to prevent authorization problems from impacting services or billing.
Knowledge of behavioral health services and insurance authorization processes; strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills; ability to manage multiple authorizations and maintain accurate records.
Key Responsibilities
- obtaining authorizations
- monitoring authorization status
- coordinating with payers
Skills & Tools
EHR
Job Details
- Category: Healthcare Services - Allied Health
- Seniority: No Prior Experience Required
- Commitment: Full Time
- Workplace: Remote — North Carolina, United States
- Languages: English
About Integrated Care for Greater Health
A recovery-focused organization providing a continuum of services to support lasting recovery. — Industry: Healthcare