Disability Assistant
About The Position
Under the general supervision of the Clinical Manager or designee, the Disability Assistant provides direct administrative support and services necessary for the professional medical responsibilities of DES skilled professional medical personnel (SPMP), including DES Physician and Psychologist Advisors, Disability and Appeals Reviewers, Program Managers, and the Clinical Manager. The position exercises judgment on administrative and clerical aspects of cases in conjunction with and at the direction of SPMP, and serves as a primary customer-service interface between SPMP, clients, and external agencies. The Disability Assistant makes complex decisions concerning protected healthcare information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), including determining with whom case information may be exchanged, what information may be mailed, and what authorization is required for conversations. The role also reviews disability supplements and case materials, requests clinical information from treating sources, and supports case processing and client evaluations.
Requirements
- Associate’s degree in business or a related field, or equivalent.
- 3–5 years of office experience, preferably in a medical setting.
- Knowledge of HIPAA laws and regulations.
- Proficiency in Word, Access, Excel, and Outlook.
- Ability to interpret complex HIPAA regulations for clients and agencies.
- Strong telephone customer-service and problem-solving abilities, including educating clients and external customers about the disability review process.
- Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
Responsibilities
- Review disability supplements for accuracy and completeness, and alert SPMP to priority cases and important clinical information.
- Make decisions about privacy matters associated with clients’ cases, including permissible information exchanges, mailings, and HIPAA requirements for conversations; document and communicate decisions to SPMP through case notes and consultation.
- Follow HIPAA regulations for protected healthcare information and request clinical information from treating sources listed on case initiation documents.
- Determine whether information requests are legally complete, communicate with agencies about cases that do not meet HIPAA requirements, and consult SPMP about whether cases should be returned to agencies or clients for further development.
- Contact clinical treating sources by telephone to help ensure timely receipt of clinical information at SPMP’s request and direction.
- Review external databases, including the Massachusetts Medicaid Information System and MassHealth MA21 databases, to identify cases SPMP may be able to complete quickly.
- Distribute new cases initially to appropriate staff under SPMP direction and using criteria developed by SPMP.
- Receive and process returned mail, assess its impact on cases, and coordinate follow-up with SPMP.
- Coordinate client transportation to consultative examinations and provide SPMP with feedback about unusual circumstances affecting the review process.
- Provide incoming and outgoing telephone customer service and support.
- Make decisions about rescheduling clients’ clinical evaluations based on agency guidelines and provide input and feedback to SPMP.
- Perform other duties as required.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Education Level
Associate degree
