Healthcare Advocate – Field Based in St. Louis, MO

Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by diversity and inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health equity on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together. 

Qualified candidates must live in the St. Louis, MO regional area as this this is a field-based position. Daily travel is required within the Eastern Region of Missouri.

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Functioning independently, travel across assigned territory to meet with providers to discuss Optum tools and programs focused on improving the quality of care for Medicare Advantage Members. Will be out in the field 80% of time in defined territory with rare occasion of overnight travel
• Utilizing data analysis, identify and target providers who would benefit from our coding, documentation and quality training and resources
• Establish positive, long-term, consultative relationships with physicians, medical groups, IPAs and hospitals
• Develop comprehensive, provider-specific plans to increase their RAF performance and improve their coding specificity
• Manage end-to-end Risk and Quality Client Programs 
• Consult with provider groups on gaps in documentation and coding
• Provide feedback on EMR/EHR systems where it is causing issues in meeting CMS standards of documentation and coding
• Partner with a multi-disciplinary team to implement prospective programs as directed by Market Consultation leadership
• Assists providers in understanding the Medicare quality program as well as CMS-HCC Risk Adjustment program as it relates to payment methodology and the importance of proper chart documentation of procedures and diagnosis coding 
• Assist providers in understanding quality and CMS-HCC Risk Adjustment driven payment methodology and the importance of proper chart documentation of procedures and diagnosis coding 
• Supports the providers by ensuring documentation supports the submission of relevant ICD -10 codes and CPT2 procedural information in accordance with national coding guidelines and appropriate reimbursement requirements 
• Provides ICD10 – HCC coding training to providers and appropriate office staff as needed
• Develops and presents coding presentations and training to large and small groups of clinicians, practice managers and certified coders developing training to fit specific provider’s needs 
• Develops and delivers diagnosis coding tools to providers 
• Trains physicians and other staff regarding documentation, billing and coding and provides feedback to physicians regarding documentation practices 
• Provides measurable, actionable solutions to providers that will result in improved accuracy for documentation and coding practices 
• Collaborates with doctors, coders, facility staff and a variety of internal and external personnel on a wide scope of Risk Adjustment and Quality education efforts
• Assist in collecting charts where necessary for analysis

Qualified candidates would be expected to effectively demonstrate the following:

• Ability to communicate with multiple stakeholders at various levels and the ability to collaborate with cross functional teams
• Demonstrated ability to take responsibility and is internally driven to accomplish goals and recognize what needs to be done to achieve goals.  
• Demonstrated ability to turn situations around and go above and beyond to meet the needs of the customer
• Ability to work independently and remain on task; ability to prioritize and meet deadlines

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: 

• 2+ years of experience in a healthcare background with medical terminology and familiarity of clinical issues
• 2+ years of experience with hospital or provider office EMR
• Experience working in a physician office, clinic, hospital, or other medical setting
• Proven intermediate level of knowledge of ICD10, HEDIS or Stars 
• Proven intermediate level of proficiency in MS Office Excel, ability to manipulate data, filter
• Proven intermediate level of proficiency in MS Office Word, ability to create, edit and save documents
• Proven intermediate level of proficiency in MS Office PowerPoint, ability to create and present presentations
• Ability to provide proof of a valid Driver’s License and current Auto Insurance (daily travel is required in the assigned territory – St. Louis MO regional area) 
• Access to reliable transportation for daily travel in the state of Missouri – Eastern Region
• Ability to travel up to 75% of the time in the designated market within the state of Missouri – Eastern Region (qualified candidates must live in the St. Louis MO regional area to perform the travel expectations of this role)

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Certified Professional Coder/CPC-A; equivalent certifications acceptable
• CRC certification 
• 3+ years of provider network management, physician contracting, healthcare consulting, Medicare Advantage sales or Pharmaceutical sales experience
• 2+ years of clinic or hospital experience and/or managed care experience
• 1+ years of coding experience performed at a health care facility 
• Demonstrated nursing background i.e. LPN, RN, NP
• Proven knowledge of EMR for recording patient visits 
• Experience in management position in a physician practice 
• Proven knowledge of billing/claims submission and other related actions
• Experience in Risk Adjustment and HEDIS/Stars 
• Proven knowledge of ICD10, HEDIS and Stars
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office (Excel (Pivot tables, excel functions),
• Ability to work effectively with common office software, coding software and abstracting systems 
• Territory management experience 
• Experience working in a physician, provider, and/or medical office
• Project management experience 

  
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.