Behavioral Health Clinical Support Specialist

Essen Medical Associates•New York, NY

3d•$22 - $25

About The Position

Essen Health Care is seeking a Behavioral Health Clinical Support Specialist to provide comprehensive clinical and administrative support to psychiatry providers. The role supports efficient behavioral health services through patient care coordination, clinical documentation, prior authorizations, and administrative tasks. The specialist helps facilitate patient experiences across telehealth visits, in-person intakes, screenings, and ongoing psychiatric and therapeutic care while maintaining HIPAA compliance and clinical documentation standards. The position supports patient intake and preparation, behavioral health screenings, psychiatric appointments and procedures, care transitions, clinical correspondence, insurance authorizations, and communication among patients and the behavioral health care team. The specialist also develops and maintains standardized training sessions, schedules, and curricula tailored to provider roles for new providers.

Requirements

Minimum 1–2 years of experience in a healthcare clinical setting.
Experience with electronic health record (EHR) systems.
Strong understanding of HIPAA regulations and patient privacy requirements.
Proficiency with healthcare documentation standards and terminology.
Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to multitask.
Strong written and verbal communication skills for patient and provider interactions.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced clinical environment.
Attention to detail, particularly with clinical documentation and prior authorizations.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

Nice To Haves

Medical Assistant certification (CMA, RMA, or equivalent) preferred.
Completion of a formal Clinical Assistant training program preferred.
Experience in behavioral health, mental health, or psychiatry preferred.
Experience with medical insurance prior authorization processes preferred.
Familiarity with telehealth platforms and virtual care delivery preferred.
Spanish speaking preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist with patient intake appointments, including collecting vital signs, documenting patient history, and administering preliminary screening questionnaires.
Prepare patients for psychiatric evaluations and sessions by explaining procedures and setting appropriate expectations.
Support telehealth psychiatric appointments by ensuring proper technology setup, patient privacy, and clinical environment preparation.
Conduct standardized behavioral health screenings and assessments under provider direction, including PHQ-9 and GAD-7.
Develop and maintain standardized training sessions, schedules, and curricula tailored to provider roles for new providers.
Document patient interactions, clinical observations, and vital signs accurately and promptly in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.
Assist with interventional psychiatry procedures, including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
Coordinate care transitions.
Generate and maintain clinical correspondence, including patient letters, referral documents, and clinical summaries.
Prepare and submit prior authorization requests for psychiatric medications and treatments to insurance carriers.
Track medication authorization status and communicate updates to providers and patients.
Manage forms, including consent forms, treatment planning documents, and clinical assessment templates.
Maintain HIPAA compliance in all patient interactions.
Maintain confidentiality of patient information and protected health information (PHI).
Serve as a liaison between patients and the behavioral health care team.
Facilitate care coordination with other behavioral health providers, primary care physicians, and community resources.