Licensed Behavioral Health Therapist

MedElite Group, LLC.•Medford, MA

11h•$60,000 - $90,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Behavioral Health Therapist provides individual psychotherapy and psychiatric diagnostic evaluations to residents at their bedside across MedElite partner skilled nursing, long-term care, and assisted living facilities. The therapist uses referrals, medical-record reviews, interviews, standardized assessment tools, and collaboration with facility staff to evaluate residents' mental health needs, determine whether they can benefit from psychotherapy, and develop individualized treatment plans. Services address symptoms, adjustment to long-term care, and quality of life for residents and their families. The role includes direct clinical care, treatment planning, reassessment, crisis response, coordination with physicians, psychiatric prescribers, facility staff and families, and timely documentation and billing. The therapist works independently across multiple facilities, manages their caseload, schedule, and travel, and complies with professional, payer, facility, and MedElite requirements. The position is part-time, two days per week, and field-based in Medford, Massachusetts, with travel to assigned facilities.

Requirements

Master's degree or higher in social work, clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, or clinical psychology from an accredited program.
Current, unrestricted independent clinical license in the state of practice, such as LCSW, LPC/LPCC/LMHC, LMFT, or licensed psychologist (PhD/PsyD). Associate-level licenses are not eligible.
Ability to enroll with Medicare, state Medicaid, and contracted payers and complete MedElite credentialing before seeing residents.
No current exclusion from federal healthcare programs (OIG/SAM) or state Medicaid programs.
Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and auto insurance meeting MedElite requirements.
Minimum of 2 years of post-licensure clinical experience providing psychotherapy.
Experience working in a nursing home setting.
Knowledge of geriatric mental health, neurocognitive disorders, and the behavioral health needs of long-term care residents.
Familiarity with CMS long-term care regulations related to behavioral health and psychotropic medication use.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to assess, analyze, and interpret complex clinical information.
Sound professional and ethical judgment.
Ability to work independently across facilities and manage a caseload, schedule, and travel.

Nice To Haves

Experience with older adults, medical or long-term care settings, or dementia care.
Experience with EHR documentation and time-based psychotherapy coding.

Responsibilities

Complete psychiatric diagnostic evaluations promptly after referral and review relevant medical records, MDS data, medication lists, and referral information.
Assess and document residents' cognitive status and capacity to participate in and benefit from psychotherapy, using standardized tools when appropriate.
Engage family members or responsible parties in assessment when clinically appropriate and with resident consent.
Reassess residents at regular intervals and when their conditions change.
Develop individualized treatment plans with diagnoses, measurable goals, therapeutic approaches, and session frequency; revise plans as needed and document revisions.
Coordinate treatment plans with facility care plans and interdisciplinary teams, and discharge residents when goals are met or therapy is no longer effective.
Provide individual bedside psychotherapy using evidence-based approaches suited to older adults and long-term care residents.
Address depression, anxiety, grief, adjustment to placement, chronic illness and pain, end-of-life concerns, and behavioral symptoms of dementia.
Evaluate residents' responses to interventions and adjust therapeutic approaches as needed.
Recognize and respond to behavioral health crises, including suicidal or homicidal ideation, following MedElite's crisis protocol and promptly notifying relevant providers and facility staff.
Build therapeutic and supportive relationships with residents and families in accordance with professional standards.
Communicate findings and recommendations to attending physicians or APPs, MedElite psychiatric prescribers, and facility nursing and social services staff.
Share urgent or crisis information immediately and non-urgent updates within 24 hours.
Participate in facility care plan meetings, behavioral health huddles, and QAPI activities when requested.
Recommend non-pharmacological interventions, educate facility staff on resident-specific behavioral approaches, and provide in-service training when requested.
Provide referrals and resources to residents and families and coordinate follow-up care during transitions to other settings.
Document evaluations and therapy sessions in MedElite's EHR on the date of service or within the timeframe required by policy, including session times, interventions, responses, and progress toward goals.
Document medical necessity and capacity to benefit from therapy at intake and reassessment; select accurate CPT codes and bill only for services personally rendered under the therapist's own NPI.
Follow payer coverage, Medicare Part A and consolidated billing requirements, HIPAA, Medicare and Medicaid rules, state licensing rules, facility policies, and MedElite compliance requirements.
Cooperate with chart audits, peer review, and payer record requests.
Independently manage caseload, schedule, and travel across multiple facilities with minimal direct supervision.
Represent MedElite professionally, address conflicts constructively, and escalate facility or patient-care concerns through the chain of command.
Take accountability for care quality and effectiveness, propose solutions, and participate in assigned program development, quality improvement, and policy work.
Assist with orientation and mentoring of new therapists.
Maintain licensure, complete continuing education, stay current on geriatric and long-term care behavioral health practices, and participate in clinical supervision or peer consultation as required.