Clinical Utilization Management Nurse - Per Diem

Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

The Clinical Utilization Management Nurse (PRN) is responsible for performing utilization review activities on an as-needed basis to ensure appropriate use of medical resources, compliance with regulatory requirements, and adherence to clinical best practices. This role supports acute hospital utilization management, helps prevent payer denials, and contributes to maintaining revenue integrity. The nurse collaborates with physicians, case managers, and interdisciplinary teams to promote efficient, high-quality patient care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Perform admission, concurrent, and discharge reviews to determine medical necessity and appropriate level of care

• Apply InterQual/MCG criteria and payer guidelines to support clinical decisions

• Communicate with physicians and care teams to address documentation gaps and ensure compliance with CMS and commercial payer requirements

• Assist in peer-to-peer review coordination by gathering necessary documentation for payer discussions

• Document utilization review findings in electronic medical records and utilization management systems

• Participate in interdisciplinary rounds and collaborate on discharge planning to reduce avoidable days and length of stay

• Monitor and escalate potential or actual payer denials for timely resolution

• Perform documentation audits to ensure completeness and accuracy related to utilization criteria

• Stay current on regulatory and payer policy updates and apply them in daily reviews

• Maintain accurate records of reviews, authorizations, and outcomes for reporting purposes

• Advocate for patients to ensure appropriate care while balancing resource utilization

Working Conditions:

• PRN (as-needed) position, onsite at the hospital campus in Waukesha, WI or telecommuting

• Flexible scheduling based on operational needs; may include occasional evenings or weekends

• Fast-paced clinical environment with frequent collaboration across departments

• High School Diploma/GED (or higher)
• Active, unrestricted RN license in the state of Wisconsin
• 3 years of experience in utilization review or case management in an acute care setting
• 3 years of experience with InterQual/MCG criteria, CMS regulations, and payer guidelines
• Intermediate level of proficiency in electronic medical records and utilization management software

• Certification in Utilization Management or Case Management (e.g., ACM, CCM)
• Experience with Epic EMR
• Familiarity with healthcare payer operations
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  All Telecommuters will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy.

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone-of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location, and income-deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups, and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes - an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.