"Disability Assistant/Admin"

Overview

POSITION SUMMARY: Under the general supervision of the Clinical Manager or designee, this position provides direct administrative support and services necessary for the completion of professional medical responsibilities and functions for DES’ skilled professional medical personnel (SPMP), i.e. DES Physician and Psychologist Advisors, Disability and Appeals Reviewers, Program Managers and the Clinical Manager. The Disability Assistant makes complex decisions regarding protected healthcare information, based on the Federal Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). This position is responsible for exercising judgment on all administrative and clerical aspects of the case in conjunction with and at the direction of DES SPMP. The Disability Assistant is a primary customer service interface for DES’ SPMP with clients and external agencies.

Responsibilities

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Initial review of all disability supplements for accuracy, completeness, and alerting SPMP of priority cases and of important clinical information contained in cases.
• Make complex decisions regarding privacy matters associated with the client’s case, including determination of who DES may exchange information with regarding the client’s case, what information may be mailed, and what is required, by HIPAA, to allow conversations to take place. These decisions are conveyed to SPMP through detailed case notes and individual consultation.
• Follow HIPAA regulations for protected healthcare information, requests clinical information from all treating sources listed on case initiation documents.
• Determine if requests for information are legally complete, communicate with agencies about cases that do not meet HIPAA requirements for protected healthcare information and consult with SPMP about decisions regarding whether to return to cases to the agencies or clients for further development.
• Telephone contact with clinical treating sources to assure timely receipt of clinical information at the request and direction of SPMP.
• Review information in external databases such as the Massachusetts Medicaid Information System and MassHealth MA21databases in order to identify cases that SPMP could complete quickly.
• Complete initial distribution of new cases to appropriate staff under the direction of and using criteria developed by SPMP.
• Receive and process returned mail, judge its impact on the case, and work closely with SPMP on follow up action.
• Coordinate transportation of clients to consultative examinations and provide feedback to SPMP on unusual circumstances that would impact the review process.
• Provide both incoming and outgoing telephonic customer service and support functions.
• Make decisions for rescheduling of clients’ clinical evaluations, based upon agency guidelines and provides input and feedback to SPMP.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate’s degree in business or a related field, or equivalent
• 3-5 years of office experience, preferably in a medical setting
• Knowledge of HIPAA laws and regulations
• Proficient in Word, Access, Excel and Outlook
• The ability to interpret complex HIPAA regulations for clients, and agencies
• Strong phone customer service and problem solving abilities in order to educate clients and other external customers about the disability review process
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.

Organization

Realize Your Opportunities – A Career at UMASS Medical School

Inside Workings at UMASS Medical School

The University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), the Commonwealth's only public medical school, is proud of our role in serving the people of Massachusetts. Although, its the inside workings of UMMS that makes the difference.

Mission and Culture

• We’re serious about our mission and about our people.
• Real World Impact - Our people get excited about our mission of real-world impact in health sciences education, research and public service.
• International Prominence and New Opportunities - As this institution has grown to national – and international – prominence, we’ve found new opportunities to train tomorrow’s physicians, nurses and scientists, discover causes of and cures for disease and help improve the quality of health care.
• Deep Commitment - With our clinical partner, UMass Memorial Health Care, and our other teaching affiliates, we share a deep commitment to national distinction in patient care.
• Valued Partnerships – UMMS partners with Commonwealth Medicine, the health care consulting arm of UMMS. Also, UMMS partners with MassBiologics in scientific collaborations, technology management and creating partnerships for the development of products for the benefit of patients. These valued partnerships help us to provide services and programs to help meet our needs at UMMS and the public.
• Proud Contributors - People at UMMS enjoy the feeling of going to work every day knowing what they do is truly important and worthwhile.
• Complementary and Inseparable - These varied parts of our mission and culture are complementary and inseparable.

Careers

UMMS, the state’s first and only public academic health sciences center, educates physicians, scientists and advanced practice nurses to heal, discover, teach and care, with compassion. UMMS is a world-class institution with opportunities to match.

Competitive Compensation – UMMS offers salaries that are competitive with Worcester-area employers. When combined with our generous benefits, perks, and paid time off, many job seekers are surprised to find a total rewards package that matches or exceeds their current situation.

Targeted Hiring Process – At UMMS, there are actually multiple hiring processes for different segments of our workforce. In nearly all cases, UMMS hiring process is decentralized, with qualified candidates screened and referred to an academic officer or manager with hiring authority.

24/7 Access to Employment Opportunities – iCIMS is our online job search and application system. iCIMS is available 24/7 to provide you with a convenient and up-to-date view of the available employment opportunities across our campuses. Updates are made daily and include all faculty and non-faculty position listings from every school and department within the UMMS. When you identify a position you are interested in and qualified for, apply online. New opportunities become available frequently so it pays to check back often!

Benefits

With outstanding benefits, competitive pay, extensive learning opportunities, and a stimulating and attractive work environment, UMMS may be exactly the employer you’ve been looking for.

• Superior Benefits - UMMS offers a wide range of benefits and perks that invite comparison with the best employers in the Worcester area – and with academic institutions anywhere. UMMS provides superior medical and dental coverage for you and your family, fully funded retirement plans, generous time off, a Tuition Assistance Plan – and much more.
• People Centered - UMMS is an employer, but it is also a community. Its comprehensive medical and dental benefits, retirement plans, and even paid holidays reflect an institution built around people, with a deep respect for their differences and needs.
• Commitment to Healthy Living - UMMS provides resources to help you balance work and life and encourages healthy living through great programs and discounts for fitness, physical activity, weight management, nutritional counseling and general wellness available through our health insurance plans.
• Breadth of Offerings - Above all, the breadth of UMMS offerings set the School apart and makes it an environment favored by all sorts of smart, career-savvy people.

Apply for a Job

As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, UMMS recognizes the power of a diverse community and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences, perspectives and backgrounds.

Online - To view all job opportunities and apply online, visit www.umassmed.edu/hr and click on the “Careers” tab.

A History of Making Vital Improvements - UMASS Medical School Milestones

• 1962: Legislation establishes University of Massachusetts Medical School
• 1970: First medical students begin classes in Shaw Building
• 1974: First class graduates 16 MDs
• 1979: PhD program begins
• 1986: Graduate School of Nursing opens
• 1986: PhD program becomes Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
• 1994: Graduate School of Nursing initiates PhD program
• 1998: UMass Clinical System and Memorial Health Care merge to form UMass Memorial Health Care
• 2001: Lazare Research Building opens
• 2002: Campus Modernization begins on the University Campus
• 2004: Graduate Entry Pathway Program established at the Graduate School of Nursing
• 2005: PhD Program in Clinical & Population Health Research established at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
• 2005: Massachusetts Biologic Laboratories opens new manufacturing and filling facility in Mattapan
• 2006: Craig Mello, PhD, Blais University Chair in Molecular Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, is awarded the Medical School's first Nobel Prize. Dr. Mello shared the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Andrew Fire, PhD, of Stanford University, for their discoveries related to RNA interference.
• 2007: Michael F. Collins, MD, is named chancellor and Terence R. Flotte, MD, is named dean of the School of Medicine.
• 2009: Groundbreaking for the Albert Sherman Center, a 500,000-square-foot research and education facility slated for completion in 2012.
• 2010: Ambulatory Care Center opens
• 2012: The Albert Sherman Center, a 500,000-square-foot research and education facility, completed and opens