Overview
POSITION SUMMARY:
Under the general supervision of the Operations Manager, the Lead Disability Assistant is responsible for the coordination of administrative processing of disability determinations for all in and out of state contracts. This position is responsible for making strategic decisions on case assignment and for keeping cases on timeline. The Lead Disability Assistant is responsible for work flow management and training of Disability Assistants as well as performing those front line functions when…
necessary to maintain unit production standards. This position is the primary hub for all incoming/outgoing correspondence, disability supplements, and is the primary interface with clients, agencies, and DES staff regarding incoming and outgoing medical information, mail, transportation and records. Decisions made in this area directly impact the timeline for the disability review process, the workload of review staff, and the determination of benefits for all in and out of state agency applicants. The Lead Disability Assistant is a primary customer service interface for DES' SPMP with clients and external agencies.
Responsibilities
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Manage unit work flow, assuring the proper numbers of Disability Assistants are assigned to each task on a daily basis.
- Train new and existing Disability Assistants in work functions and job duties.
- Monitor customer service phone queues for adequate coverage and provide call escalation response for front line staff.
- Monitor unit key performance indicators.
- Act as unit Disability Liaison for agency partner inquiries and issues.
- Track priority case requests and ensure prompt completion of work on such cases.
- 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.
- 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.
- Coordinate transportation of clients to consultative examinations and provide feedback to SPMP on unusual circumstances that would impact the review process.
- Make decisions for rescheduling of clients' clinical evaluations, based upon agency guidelines and provides input and feedback to SPMP. Explain complex state and federal regulations to clients, agencies and medical providers, answer disability process questions as they arise.
- Perform other duties as required.
Qualifications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- 2-Year College Degree in business or a related field
- 5-7 years of relevant office experience
- Demonstrated knowledge of medical terminology or willingness to take a course in Medical Terminology
- Knowledge of HIPAA laws and regulations especially as it refers to the confidentiality of PHI
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office products, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
- Demonstrated ability to monitor and generate reports
- Requires organizational and excellent interpersonal skills, oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with all levels of personnel.
Additional Information
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience in a medical setting
- Knowledge of DEScovery database
- Experience working as a member of an inbound/outbound call center
- Experience training staff on complex tasks
- Ability to create power point demonstrations for the purpose of training staff
- Thorough understanding of DES's processes and procedures pertaining to all in and out of state contracts
- Ability to create processes and procedures for new programs as need arises.
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.
Start Now and Realize Your Opportunities!
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