Care Advocate – Corpus Christi, TX

WellMed, part of the Optum family of businesses, is seeking a Care Advocate to join our team in Corpus Christi, TX. Optum is a clinician-led care organization that is changing the way clinicians work and live.

As a member of the Optum Care Delivery team, you’ll be an integral part of our vision to make healthcare better for everyone.

At Optum, you’ll have the clinical resources, data and support of a global organization behind you so you can help your patients live healthier lives. Here, you’ll work alongside talented peers in a collaborative environment that is guided by diversity and inclusion while driving towards the Quadruple Aim. We believe you deserve an exceptional career, and will empower you to live your best life at work and at home. Experience the fulfillment of advancing the health of your community with the excitement of contributing new practice ideas and initiatives that could help improve care for millions of patients across the country. Because together, we have the power to make health care better for everyone. Join us and discover how rewarding medicine can be while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

The Care Advocate role will assist the Transformation team in all activities related to, members’ facility stays, discharge planning and appointment scheduling. As a Care Advocate, you will act as a resource and advocate for members to facilitate a positive member experience. This position will serve as a liaison with internal and external customers to facilitate streamlined and effective communication related to the Member’s care.

This position is full time, Monday – Friday. Employees are required to have flexibility to work any of our shift schedules during our normal business hours of 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM CST. It may be necessary, given the business need, to work occasional overtime and rotate weekends usually about every 4th weekend. Employees are required to work some days onsite and some days from home.

We offer 4 – 6 weeks of paid training. The hours during training will be 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM CST from Monday – Friday.

If you are within commutable distance to the office at 1620 S. Padre Island Drive, Suite 550, Corpus Christi, TX, you will have the flexibility to work from home and the office in this hybrid role* as you take on some tough challenges.

 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Establishes a trusting relationship with identified members, caregivers, clinic staff and physicians
• Partners with the member’s care team (community, providers, internal staff); serving as a liaison between member and / or caregiver and all health services / processes
• Plans, prioritizes, organizes and completes work to meet established objectives
• Documents all patient interactions in a concise manner that is compliant with documentation requirements for Model of Care, NCQA and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations
• Receives and responds to incoming inquiries from all communication venues: e.g., phone queue, TruCare, portal, claim queue, department e – mail box or Rightfax
• Coordinates and assists in monitoring of documentation queues
• Conducts in – bound and out – bound calls for program requirements including, but not limited to: patient scheduling, surveys / screenings, census management and distribution of materials to appropriate clinical personnel or members
• Participates in market Patient Care Committees: prepares agenda, documents minute and distributes to appropriate venue
• Schedules and coordinates patient transportation, follow – up physician appointments in all applicable markets, as applicable
• Completes timely data entry of in – bound and / or out – bound call member contact information into software applications (Claims Database, TruCare, etc.)
• Provides clerical and / or administrative support to clinical staff and managers for special projects and reporting needs
• Provides excellent customer service by serving as a resource to all internal and external customers
• Attends required meetings and participates in adhoc committees as needed
• Review care history documentation (e.g., case notes); includes navigation between computer screens and platforms to research information (e.g., medical, clinical, or benefits information) 
• Serves as primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders 
• Conducts in – bound and out – bound calls including, but not limited to: member touch – points, clinical staff coordination, member scheduling, and / or surveys / screenings
• Enters timely and accurate data into the electronic medical record to communicate member needs and ensure complete documentation of member visits and phone calls
• Performs all other related duties as assigned

 

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma / GED 
• Must be 18 years of age OR older
• 2+ years of experience in customer service support and / OR engagement
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Access, and especially Microsoft Excel
• Ability to reliably travel to the office as this is a Hybrid role
• Ability to work any of our shift schedules during our normal business hours of 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM CST from Monday – Friday. It may be necessary, given the business need, to work occasional overtime and rotate weekends usually about every 4th weekend.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Health care experience 
• Knowledge of medical terminology 
• Basic understanding of Medicare and Medicaid health plans 
• Experience in working with Medicare and Medicaid populations
• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish

 

Telecommuting Requirements:

• Reside within commutable distance to the office at 1620 S. Padre Island Drive, Suite 550, Corpus Christi, TX
• Ability to keep all company sensitive documents secure (if applicable)
• Required to have a dedicated work area established that is separated from other living areas and provides information privacy
• Must live in a location that can receive a UnitedHealth Group approved high-speed internet connection or leverage an existing high-speed internet service

 

Soft Skills:

• Excellent verbal and written skills 
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills
• Ability to interact productively with individuals and with multidisciplinary teams
• Ability to comprehend and retain detailed information

 

Physical and Work Environment:

• Ability to lift up to 10 pounds 
• Ability to push or pull heavy objects using up to pounds of force
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time 
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time 
• Ability to use fine motor skills to operate office equipment and / or machinery 
• Ability to properly drive and operate a vehicle 
• Ability to receive and comprehend instructions verbally and / or in writing 
• Ability to use logical reasoning for simple and complex problem solving

 

*All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy

 

The hourly range for this role is $16.88 to $33.22 per hour based on full-time employment. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. UnitedHealth Group complies with all minimum wage laws as applicable. In addition to your salary, UnitedHealth Group offers benefits such as a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with UnitedHealth Group, you’ll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives.

 

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone–of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location, and income–deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups, and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes — an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.

 

 

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

 

UnitedHealth Group is a drug – free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.

 

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