Director of Utilization

Acadia Healthcare • Council Bluffs, IA

1d

About The Position

Acadia Healthcare is a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services across the United States. Acadia operates a growing network of 253 plus behavioral healthcare facilities with approximately 11,200 beds in 38 states and Puerto Rico. With more than 23,500 employees serving approximately 75,000 patients daily, Acadia is the largest stand-alone behavioral health company in the U.S.
Acadia Healthcare’s purpose is to Lead Care With Light and our mission is to be a world-class organization that sets the standard for excellence in the treatment of mental health and addiction concerns. We strive to maintain our standing as a thought leader in the behavioral healthcare industry, providing treatment that is synonymous with compassion and innovation.
Director of Utilization - Methodist Jennie Edmundson Behavioral Health Hospital
We are looking for our Director of Utilization at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Behavioral Health Hospital.
Methodist Health System, the region’s most established not-for-profit provider, has partnered with Acadia Healthcare, the nation’s largest standalone behavioral health company, to open a new 96-bed inpatient behavioral health hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa. This marks Acadia’s first acute psychiatric facility in Iowa, expanding much-needed access to behavioral health services across Southwest Iowa and the Greater Omaha area. Just minutes from downtown Omaha, Council Bluffs blends small-town charm with city convenience—offering affordable living, great schools, and a strong sense of community—making it an ideal location for this important new facility.
Scheduled to open in June 2026, Methodist Jennie Edmundson Behavioral Health Hospital will offer a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient care for adults, seniors, and youth, including programs for mood disorders, dual diagnosis, geriatric psychiatry, child & adolescent care, PHP/IOP, and ECT. The facility will play a vital role in addressing the region’s significant behavioral health bed shortage.
What would you do in this role?
​Direct and manage the day-to-day operations of the Utilization Review department.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in nursing or other clinical field required. Master's Degree in clinical field preferred.
• Six or more year's clinical experience with the population of the facility preferred.
• Four or more years’ experience in utilization management required.
• Three or more years of supervisory experience required.
• If applicable, current licensure as an LPN or RN within the state where the facility provides services; or current clinical professional license or certification, as required, within the state where the facility provides services.

Responsibilities

• Monitor utilization of services and optimize reimbursement for the facility while maximizing use of the patient’s provider benefits for their needs.
• Conducts and oversees concurrent and retrospective reviews for all patients.
• Act as a liaison between Medicaid reviewers and the staff completing required paperwork to facilitate the Utilization Review process.
• Collaborates with physicians, therapist and nursing staff to provide optimal review based on patient needs.
• Collaborates with ancillary services in order to prevent delays in services.
• Evaluates the UM program for compliance with regulations, policies and procedures.
• May review charts and make necessary recommendations to the physicians, regarding utilization review and specific managed care issues.
• Provide staff management to including hiring, development, training, performance management and communication to ensure effective and efficient department operation.
• Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director