Job Description:
The Behavioral Health Care Manager (BHCM) is responsible for coordinating and managing the behavioral health needs of patients through evidence-based care management. Working collaboratively with primary care providers, psychiatric consultants, therapists, and community resources, the BHCM supports patients with behavioral health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, substance use disorders, and other mental health diagnoses. The BHCM plays a key role in the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), ensuring timely assessment, care coordination, patient engagement, and outcome monitoring.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Patient Assessment and Care Management
- Conduct comprehensive behavioral health assessments and screenings.
- Administer standardized screening tools (e.g., PHQ-9, GAD-7, AUDIT-C, DAST-10, Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), as appropriate).
- Develop individualized care plans in collaboration with the primary care provider (PCP).
- Monitor patient progress toward treatment goals.
- Identify barriers to treatment adherence and develop intervention strategies.
- Provide brief behavioral interventions using evidence-based techniques such as motivational interviewing and behavioral activation.
- Monitor medication adherence and side effects, communicating concerns to the PCP and psychiatric consultant.
Care Coordination
- Coordinate care between:
- Primary care providers
- Psychiatric consultants
- Psychologists
- Therapists
- Social workers
- Community behavioral health agencies
- Hospitals
- Emergency departments
- Substance use treatment programs
- Facilitate referrals to specialty behavioral health services when appropriate.
- Ensure smooth transitions following hospitalizations or psychiatric admissions.
- Assist patients in accessing community resources.
Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) Responsibilities
- Maintain an active behavioral health patient registry.
- Participate in weekly case reviews with the psychiatric consultant.
- Present complex cases for treatment recommendations.
- Implement psychiatric consultant recommendations under PCP supervision.
- Track clinical outcomes using validated rating scales.
- Maintain ongoing patient follow-up.
- Coordinate medication management recommendations.
- Document all CoCM activities according to payer requirements.
Patient Education
- Educate patients and families regarding:
- Mental health conditions
- Treatment options
- Medication adherence
- Coping strategies
- Stress management
- Crisis planning
- Encourage patient self-management skills.
- Promote healthy lifestyle modifications.
Crisis Intervention
- Assess suicide risk and safety concerns.
- Develop safety plans when appropriate.
- Coordinate emergency psychiatric evaluations.
- Contact crisis services when clinically indicated.
- Provide timely follow-up after psychiatric emergencies or hospital discharge.
Documentation
- Document all patient encounters accurately and promptly.
- Maintain care plans.
- Record behavioral health screening results.
- Track patient progress using validated outcome measures.
- Maintain documentation supporting CoCM billing requirements.
- Ensure compliance with HIPAA and organizational policies.
Quality Improvement
- Monitor behavioral health quality metrics.
- Participate in quality improvement initiatives.
- Review patient outcome reports.
- Assist with workflow improvements.
- Maintain compliance with CMS, payer, and accreditation standards.
Collaboration
- Attend interdisciplinary team meetings.
- Participate in psychiatric case consultation meetings.
- Communicate regularly with providers regarding patient progress.
- Foster collaborative relationships across the healthcare team.
Join us as a Behavioral Health Manager and become a vital part of transforming lives through compassionate care, innovative therapies, and dedicated leadership!
Pay: From $20.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
Work Location: In person
