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Centene
Kentucky

Utilization Review Clinician - Behavioral Health

Healthcare Admin Top 10% in Healthcare AdministrationNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$27.02-$48.55/hr

Listing transparency3 of 6 stated

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations and nights and shift pattern.

Employment & setting
Full-Time · on_site
Call expectations
Not specified
Weekends
No weekends
Posted 1h 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 fully remote role supports the Kentucky Market by completing outpatient behavioral health reviews. The schedule is Monday through Friday, standard hours typically. Open to applicants in eastern, central, or mountain time zone, United States.

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

Reviews behavioral health treatment and services before, during, and after care to determine medical appropriateness, including prior authorization and inpatient concurrent reviews. Analyzes member data, supports discharge planning, educates members and providers, and collaborates with clinicians and leadership to improve care quality and utilization.

Requirements

Requires a graduate of an accredited nursing school or a bachelor's degree, 2–4 years of related experience, and an applicable independent clinical license; a master's degree is required for behavioral health clinicians. Required credentials include an applicable LCSW, LMHC, LPC, LMFT, LMHP, or RN license, while behavioral health clinical review knowledge and provider collaboration experience are preferred.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Behavioral Health Utilization ReviewMental Health Clinical ReviewSubstance Abuse Clinical ReviewMedical Necessity AssessmentLevel-of-Care AssessmentTreatment Plan ReviewInpatient Discharge PlanningHealthcare Provider CommunicationMember and Family EducationClinical Data AnalysisQuality ImprovementUtilization ManagementCase Presentation

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Utilization Review Clinician - Behavioral Health at Centene a 7.3 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 10% in Healthcare Administration — ranked against 885 active Healthcare Administration listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.

Healthcare Administration Career Context

Centene holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 76/100, 18 active listings.

Of the 40 active Healthcare Administration listings this role was benchmarked against, 30% are remote, 28% have no call, 65% require no weekends.

Healthcare Administration pay on WeekdayDoc is up 5.2% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Kentucky is 90.2 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$79k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $87k in an average-cost state. 61.6% of Kentucky clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

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Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks16 jobs

401k / retirement match
100% this job
CME allowance
13%
Sign-on bonus
6%
Loan repayment
6%
Relocation assistance
6%

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Work-life snapshot

7.3/ 10
Listing-based score

Top 10% in Healthcare Administration

  • No weekends
  • On-site
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About Centene

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

Benefits & Perks

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
401K
Stock Purchase Plans
Tuition Reimbursement
Paid Time Off
Holidays