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Centene
North Carolina · Remote OK

Utilization Review Clinician - Behavioral Health

Healthcare Admin Above average in Healthcare AdministrationFull-Time

Listed compensation

$27.02-$48.55/hr

Confirm guaranteed pay, incentives and eligibility with the employer.

Employment & setting
Full-Time · remote
Call expectations
Not specified
Weekends
Includes weekends
Posted 40m ago · Verified live

Job description

Position Purpose: Performs a clinical review and assesses care related to mental health and substance abuse. Monitors and determines if level of care and services related to mental health and substance abuse are medically appropriate.
Key Details: This is a remote position; however, applicants must hold an active North Carolina clinician or RN license. Candidates must have experience in behavioral health and utilization review. The ideal candidate will have managed care experience, be computer savvy, and possess excellent communication and customer service skills. The work schedule is Tuesday through Saturday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Evaluates member’s treatment for mental health and substance abuse before, during, and after services to ensure level of care and services are medically appropriate
Performs prior authorization reviews related to mental health and substance abuse to determine medical appropriateness in accordance with regulatory guidelines and criteria
Performs concurrent review of behavioral health (BH) inpatient to determine overall health of member, treatment needs, and discharge planning
Analyzes BH member data to improve quality and appropriate utilization of services
Provides education to providers members and their families regrading BH utilization process
Interacts with BH healthcare providers as appropriate to discuss level of care and/or services
Engages with medical directors and leadership to improve the quality and efficiency of care
Formulates and presents cases in staffing and integrated rounds
Performs other duties as assigned.
Complies with all policies and standards.
Education/Experience: Requires Graduate of an Accredited School Nursing or Bachelor's degree and 2 – 4 years of related experience.

License to practice independently, and/or have obtained the state required licensure as outlined by the applicable state required.
Master’s degree for behavioral health clinicians required.
Clinical knowledge and ability to review and/or assess treatment plans related to mental health and substance abuse preferred.
Knowledge of mental health and substance abuse utilization review process preferred.
Experience working with providers and healthcare teams to review care services related to mental health and substance abuse preferred.

License/Certification

LCSW- License Clinical Social Worker required or LMHC-Licensed Mental Health Counselor required or LPC-Licensed Professional Counselor required or Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (LMFT) required or Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP) required or RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure required Pay Range: $27.02 - $48.55 per hour

At Centene, we connect people to the care they need to live healthier lives — and the work you do here makes that impact real every day. You’ll take on meaningful challenges that directly support individuals, families, and communities, building your skills while making healthcare more accessible and effective. It’s work with a purpose you can see, backed by a team committed to improving lives well beyond the workday.
Centene offers a comprehensive benefits package including: competitive pay, health insurance, 401K and stock purchase plans, tuition reimbursement, paid time off plus holidays, and a flexible approach to work with remote, hybrid, field or office work schedules. Actual pay will be adjusted based on an individual's skills, experience, education, and other job-related factors permitted by law, including full-time or part-time status. Total compensation may also include additional forms of incentives. Benefits may be subject to program eligibility.
Centene is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, and values the ways in which we are different. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with the LA County Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act

Key Responsibilities

The clinician performs clinical reviews to assess the medical appropriateness of mental health and substance abuse services. They also conduct prior authorizations, concurrent reviews, and engage with healthcare providers to improve care quality and efficiency.

Requirements

Candidates must hold an active North Carolina clinician or RN license and possess 2-4 years of related experience. A Master's degree is required for behavioral health clinicians, and the role requires proficiency in utilization review processes.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Mental health assessmentSubstance abuse assessmentClinical documentationCase managementCommunication skillsData analysisRegulatory complianceHealthcare provider relations

Healthcare Administration Career Context

Of the 40 active Healthcare Administration listings this role was benchmarked against, 30% are remote, 33% have no call, 63% require no weekends — this position is remote.

Centene holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 79/100, 52 active listings.

Healthcare Administration pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.6% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Utilization Review Clinician - Behavioral Health at Centene a 6.1 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Healthcare Administration — ranked against 959 active Healthcare Administration listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include remote work flexibility.

Top Healthcare Admin Jobs

28 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution28 jobs · 25 employers

14
<$70k
6
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4
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4
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Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks26 jobs · 25 employers

401k / retirement match
96% this job
CME allowance
19%
Sign-on bonus
15%
Loan repayment
15%
Relocation assistance
8%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

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#2

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#4

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+ 26 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

6.1/ 10
Listing-based score

Above average in Healthcare Administration

A signal to investigate—not a guarantee about the workplace.

  • Remote
  • Includes weekends
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About Centene

Hospitals and Health Care
Saint Louis, MO
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

Health Insurance
401K
Stock Purchase Plan
Tuition Reimbursement
Paid Time Off
Holidays
Remote Work