JOB SUMMARY

The Admission Counselor, under the direction of the Clinical Director, is responsible for conducting admissions for community members seeking services at Canal Pointe. This individual completes prior authorization with Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) to ensure approval of services based on the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) level of care for the maximum amount of time based on medical necessity. 

This individual will provide coverage for other counselors when they are out of office, conducting individual, family and group therapy for residents. This individual will work closely with supervisory and administrative staff to ensure efficient and high-quality service provision for all residents served by the program. 

As the residential center opens, the Admission Counselor must be flexible and support the team in successful launch and scaling of services. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the Assistant Vice President of Integrated & Behavioral Health in the successful design and implementation of programming across American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) residential levels of care (3.5, 3.3, and 3.1) and aftercare peer support services. 
• Support the Assistant Vice President of Integrated & Behavioral Health in the successful completion of the Implementation and Evaluation Phases of the Regional Partnership Grant (RPG), including adherence to RPG Research requirements. 
• Work closely with supervisory and residential center staff to ensure the provision of team-based care for all residents is high quality, efficient, and in compliance with all accreditation and funding source requirements. 
• Conduct admissions with community members eligible for services per established workflows.
• Complete Medicaid Applications with residents and community members in compliance with all Louisiana Department of Health requirements of a Medicaid Application Center.
• Provide support to residents to ensure needed services and resources are secured, including but not limited to SNAP, CAEP, and other needed services and supports. 
• Provide direct counseling and crisis intervention services to residents, utilizing evidence-based individual, family, group interventions to the residents. 
• Conduct required admission, assessment and screening instruments and develop person-centered care plans with residents to guide service delivery in line with best practices based on the individualized needs of each resident.
• Update and review person-centered care plans by established deadlines. 
• Complete prior authorizations, concurrent reviews, and other requirements with MCOs to ensure approval of services based on the ASAM level of care for the maximum amount of time based on medical necessity. 
• Precisely document and track prior authorizations, concurrent reviews, and other requirements in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) and additional tracking spreadsheets as required. Ensure clear communication of deadlines for future concurrent reviews and other requirements to other staff. 
• Utilize concurrent documentation and record accurate information in the EHR of each resident within 1 business day. Ensure documentation is completed in compliance with all accreditation and funding source requirements.
• Responsible for ensuring that all policies, procedures and practices of VOASELA and all governmental regulatory agencies are met.
• Perform additional duties as assigned. 

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Non-essential)

• Ensure VOASELA and program staff create and maintain a recovery-oriented environment based on the principles of Therapeutic Communities. 
• Provides support to all program activities, including Child Watch and Med Calls.
• Adhere to the designated dress code as stipulated for the specific role.
• VOASELA maintains an alcohol and drug-free workplace, with a workforce free of substance use. 

SUPERVISORY DUTIES:

• None

KEY CONTACTS

Maintains critical relationships with the following:

• Managed Care Organizations and other payors 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

This position requires knowledge, skills and abilities equivalent to:

• Master’s degree in social work or counseling and current Louisiana licensure as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) OR be a registered addition counselor (RAC), Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC), or a Counselor-in-Training (CIT) registered with the ADRA. Maintenance of all requirements to maintain credential per respective licensing authority. 
• (Preferred) Experience working with women experiencing substance use disorders.
• (Preferred) Familiarity with trauma-informed and culturally sensitive practices. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Advanced computer skills.
• Expertise within Electronic Health Systems.
• Ability to interact with staff at all levels in a respectful manner, remaining flexible, proactive, and task oriented. 
• Problem-solving ability, attention to detail, accuracy, flexibility, reliability, and prioritizing skills.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality per HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.

• Must be able to pass a criminal history investigation (not all convictions will exclude candidates from being hired).
• Must pass drug screening tests as required by agency’s policies and procedures.
• Must complete tuberculosis (TB) screening prior to employment and be free from Tuberculosis (TB) in a communicable state via skin testing (or chest exam if recommended by physician).
• Must be able to maintain First Aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and seizure assessment training.

• This position provides services in office. This position may provide telehealth services, if required due to emergency operations and/or emergency declaration only. 
• This position is responsible for working at least one Saturday a month and may work non-traditional hours to ensure group coverage including occasional evening and holiday group coverage.
• This position is responsible for enactment of the agency and program’s Emergency Operations Plan during emergencies, such as hurricanes or inclement weather, which may require evacuation and/or shelter in place with residents and staff. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Admission Counselor schedule is Monday - Friday 10a to 6:30p.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is primarily performed in an office environment while seated at a desk. Dexterity is used while performing work with personal computer keyboard, calculator and other office equipment. 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.