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Prior Authorization Utilization Review Jobs in Colorado

Amerita

Prior Authorization Specialist

Denver, CO · On-site

$22/hr

Our Company Amerita Overview This role will be responsible for activities relating to the proper initiation, clinical review, submission, and follow-up of prior authorizations. This role requires ...

BrightSpring

Prior Authorization Specialist

Denver, CO · On-site

$30/hr

Our Company Amerita Overview This role will be responsible for activities relating to the proper initiation, clinical review, submission, and follow-up of prior authorizations. This role requires ...

New

Amerita

Prior Authorization Specialist

Denver, CO · On-site +1

$22 - $30/hr

Our Company Amerita Overview This role will be responsible for activities relating to the proper initiation, clinical review, submission, and follow-up of prior authorizations. This role requires ...

Capital Rx

Prior Authorization Systems Pharmacist

Denver, CO · On-site

$60 - $72/hr

Perform comprehensive quality control (QC) review of decision trees, questionnaires, and ... Works with Director, Utilization Management on other responsibilities, projects, and initiatives as ...

Capital Rx

Prior Authorization Systems Technician

Denver, CO · On-site

$18 - $21.75/hr

Evaluate and operationalize weekly formulary and utilization management (UM) updates, including ... Conduct intake and pre-review preparation of PA cases by validating member, provider, and clinical ...

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Prior Authorization Utilization Review information

What is a Prior Authorization Utilization Review specialist?

A Prior Authorization Utilization Review specialist is a healthcare professional responsible for evaluating medical service requests to ensure they meet specific criteria for approval before services are provided. Their main role is to review clinical information, verify medical necessity, and ensure compliance with insurance policies and guidelines. They act as a liaison between healthcare providers, insurance companies, and patients to facilitate timely and accurate authorization decisions. This process helps to manage healthcare costs and ensure patients receive appropriate care.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Prior Authorization Utilization Review specialist?

To thrive as a Prior Authorization Utilization Review Specialist, you need a strong understanding of medical terminology, insurance guidelines, and clinical criteria, often supported by a degree in healthcare or nursing and relevant certification (such as RN or LPN). Familiarity with prior authorization software, electronic health record (EHR) systems, and payer portals is typically required. Attention to detail, strong communication skills, and the ability to multitask help professionals excel in this role. These competencies ensure accurate and timely processing of authorizations, reducing delays in patient care and ensuring compliance with payer requirements.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in Prior Authorization Utilization Review roles, and how can these be managed?

Professionals in Prior Authorization Utilization Review often encounter challenges such as navigating complex insurance policies, managing high volumes of requests, and ensuring timely communication between providers and payers. Staying organized, developing a thorough understanding of payer guidelines, and maintaining clear, consistent communication are key strategies for managing these challenges. Many teams also rely on workflow management tools and regular team huddles to streamline processes and ensure all cases are handled efficiently.

What is the difference between Prior Authorization Utilization Review vs Medical Reviewer?

AspectPrior Authorization Utilization ReviewMedical Reviewer
CredentialsLicensed healthcare professionals, often with certifications in utilization reviewLicensed physicians or healthcare providers with clinical expertise
Work EnvironmentInsurance companies, healthcare organizations, or third-party review firmsHospitals, clinics, insurance companies, or consulting firms
Primary FocusAssessing the necessity of procedures or treatments before approvalEvaluating clinical records to determine medical necessity and appropriateness

While both roles involve clinical assessment, Prior Authorization Utilization Review focuses on pre-authorization decisions for treatments, whereas Medical Review involves detailed clinical evaluation of patient records to determine medical necessity. Both require healthcare credentials and are integral to healthcare quality and cost management.

What are popular job titles related to Prior Authorization Utilization Review jobs in Colorado?

For Prior Authorization Utilization Review jobs in Colorado, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Prior Authorization Utilization Review jobs in Colorado look for?

The top searched job categories for Prior Authorization Utilization Review jobs in Colorado are:

What cities in Colorado are hiring for Prior Authorization Utilization Review jobs?

Cities in Colorado with the most Prior Authorization Utilization Review job openings:

Prior Authorization Utilization Review jobs near you

Utilization Review Coordinator

Alsos Behavioral Health

Aurora, CO • On-site

$64K/yr

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

EOE Statement
We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
Description
Position Summary
Salary $64,000
The UR and RCM Support Coordinator is responsible for securing and maintaining payer authorizations across all levels of care for residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, including ASAM Levels 3.5 and 3.7, while also providing cross-functional support to the Revenue Cycle Management department. This role serves as a key link between the clinical team, payers, and the RCM department, ensuring that medical necessity is clearly documented, communicated, and defended throughout each patient's episode of care.
Reporting to the Director of Utilization Review with a dotted-line relationship to the Director of Revenue Cycle Management, the UR and RCM Support Coordinator works in close partnership with billing, denials, appeals, and clinical leadership to drive authorization approval rates, prevent denials at the front end, and protect revenue across the multi-state network of facilities. This is a high-visibility role with direct impact on length of stay, denial rates, and net collections.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Authorization Management
  • Complete pre-certification, initial, concurrent, and discharge reviews with commercial, Medicaid, and Medicaid managed care payers for residential SUD levels of care (ASAM 3.1, 3.5, 3.7, and detox where applicable).
  • Submit clinical information to payers within required timeframes, using ASAM criteria and payer-specific medical necessity guidelines to justify admission, continued stay, and level of care.
  • Track all authorization requests, approvals, days approved, next review dates, and denials in the UR tracking system; ensure no patient day is at risk due to a missed or expired authorization.
  • Escalate authorization issues, denials, or peer-to-peer requests to the Director of Utilization Review and Director of RCM in real time, along with clinical leadership as appropriate.

Peer-to-Peer and Denial Prevention
  • Coordinate, prepare, and schedule peer-to-peer reviews between facility physicians and payer medical directors; provide the rendering clinician with a written summary of medical necessity points prior to each call.
  • Document peer-to-peer outcomes, including outcome reason, reviewer name, and any payer-specific feedback for use in future submissions.
  • Partner with the Director of Utilization Review and Director of RCM, along with the appeals team, to identify trends in concurrent denials and translate findings into documentation and clinical workflow improvements.
  • Support the appeals process by providing UR notes, clinical timelines, and the authorization history needed for first- and second-level appeals.

Clinical Documentation Partnership
  • Review clinical documentation daily for alignment between the billed level of care and the documented level of care; flag and address mismatches before they generate denials (a known driver of pre-payment review and payer recoupment risk).
  • Provide real-time coaching and written feedback to clinicians, therapists, and medical providers on documentation elements required to meet ASAM 3.5 and 3.7 medical necessity (e.g., dimensional risk ratings, withdrawal management needs, biomedical and behavioral complications, treatment response, and continued-stay justification).
  • Partner with clinical leadership to maintain documentation templates and standards that satisfy commercial payer, state Medicaid, and accreditation requirements across Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.

Revenue Cycle Coordination
  • Work alongside the RCM team to support resolution of authorization-driven holds, write-off recommendations, and pre-payment review responses, providing UR expertise and clinical context as needed.
  • Provide the billing team with accurate authorization numbers, approved date ranges, level-of-care designations, and modifier guidance to ensure clean claim submission.
  • Participate in standing meetings with the Director of Utilization Review, Director of RCM, billing manager, and denials/appeals leads to review denial trends, hold billing volume, AR aging by payer, and authorization-related risk.
  • Contribute to executive-facing reporting on UR performance, including authorization approval rates, average days authorized, peer-to-peer outcomes, and denial root cause.
  • Support the RCM team as needed with cash posting, billing, and denial reconciliation activities, particularly during peak volume, staff coverage gaps, or special projects.
  • Participate in the implementation, testing, and rollout of new software platforms, payer portals, and operational processes; provide UR-side workflow input, validate functionality, and assist with end-user training and adoption across facilities.

Payer Relationships and Compliance
  • Maintain working knowledge of payer-specific medical necessity criteria, review timelines, submission portals, and documentation requirements for Ambetter, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Aetna, Cigna, Anthem/Elevance, Colorado Access, state Medicaid programs, and Medicaid managed care plans operating in network states.
  • Track payer policy changes, level-of-care criteria updates, and contract requirements; communicate impact to RCM and clinical leadership.
  • Support payer pre-payment reviews, audits, and medical record requests by assembling complete UR packets within required timeframes.
  • Maintain strict compliance with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, state confidentiality laws, and organizational policy in all payer communications.

Position Requirements
Qualifications
Required
  • Active, unrestricted clinical license in good standing (RN, LPN, LCSW, LPC, LMFT, LCDC/LADC, or equivalent behavioral health license) OR equivalent UR experience acceptable to the organization.
  • Minimum of 2 years of utilization review, case management, or care coordination experience in behavioral health, substance use disorder, or mental health treatment.
  • Demonstrated working knowledge of ASAM Criteria, with the ability to apply dimensional assessments to medical necessity submissions.
  • Direct experience completing concurrent reviews with commercial and/or Medicaid payers for residential SUD or behavioral health levels of care.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to summarize complex clinical information into concise medical necessity language.
  • Proficient in electronic health records, payer portals, and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams).

Preferred
  • Experience supporting multi-state operations or multi-facility provider networks.
  • Prior experience working within or alongside a Revenue Cycle Management department, including familiarity with denials, appeals, and AR workflows.
  • Working knowledge of state Medicaid behavioral health billing requirements (e.g., Ohio rendering practitioner/NPI rules, Colorado HCPF supervising clinician and modifier requirements, Kentucky and Indiana ASAM billing structures, Arkansas OBHS billing).
  • Experience handling pre-payment reviews and supporting payer audit responses.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  • Ability to think both clinically and financially - to recognize when documentation will not support the billed level of care and intervene before claims are submitted.
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage a high volume of concurrent reviews across multiple facilities, payers, and time zones without missing deadlines.
  • Comfort working independently in a remote environment while maintaining tight collaboration with clinical, billing, and leadership teams.
  • Sound judgment in escalating risk: when to request a peer-to-peer, when to engage the Director of Utilization Review or Director of RCM, and when to involve clinical leadership.
  • Discretion and professionalism in all payer-facing communications; the UR Coordinator represents the organization to payer medical directors and case managers.

Key Performance Indicators
Performance will be evaluated against, but not limited to, the following measures:
  • Initial authorization approval rate by payer and level of care.
  • Concurrent review approval rate and average days approved per review.
  • Peer-to-peer overturn rate.
  • Concurrent denial rate and root-cause distribution (medical necessity vs. documentation vs. timeliness).
  • Timeliness of review submission (meeting or exceeding payer deadlines).
  • Authorization-related hold billing volume and aging.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
  • Primarily remote, office-based work; extended periods of computer and phone use.
  • Standard business hours with occasional flexibility required to meet payer deadlines or accommodate peer-to-peer scheduling across time zones.
  • Occasional travel to facilities or payer meetings may be required.

Full-Time/Part-Time
Full-Time
Shift
-not applicable-
Position
Utilization Review Coordinator
Division
Sheridan Grove Recovery
Number of Openings
1
Exempt/Non-Exempt
Non-Exempt
Hiring Manager(s)
Tracy Polk
Location
DEN1
About the Organization
Healing with Dignity, Recovery with Purpose.
Oak Grove Recovery proudly serves the Columbus, Ohio, community by providing compassionate, judgment-free addiction treatment. Our dedicated team is available 24/7 to support each individual on their healing journey, offering care rooted in dignity, purpose, and unwavering respect.
This position is currently accepting applications.

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