Senior Behavioral Health Care Advocate - Remote - CA

Job ID: 101740578704Posted: 2026-10-10Location: San Diego, California, United StatesSalary: $72,800 - $130,000/yearJob Area: BehavioralCompany: UnitedHealth GroupOptum 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 in making healthcare work better for everyone through people-led, responsible AI while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.Due to our ongoing business relationship with the County of San Diego, Optum Behavioral Solutions has an immediate need for a CA licensed Senior Care Advocate. As a Senior Care Advocate you will focus on authorizations for psychiatric and chemical dependency patients and supporting the larger Utilization Management (UM) team with data entry and questions. There are multiple clinical sub teams within UM, that work collaboratively to ensure business needs are met: Inpatient, Crisis Residential, Outpatient, Long Term Care (LTC), and Substance Use Disorder (SUD). This is primarily an administrative position with no patient contact. This position is part of a bargaining unit.***This telecommute position requires working a schedule of Monday-Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm Pacific Time. ***You'll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges. Primary Responsibilities: Acquire and maintain access to the County of San Diego's electronic health record (EHR) and/or other electronic databasesBased on documentation, determining appropriate levels of patient careObtaining information from providers on authorization requests for treatmentDetermining if documentation meets medical necessity requirements for payment through Medicaid or the County of San DiegoManaging mental health and/or SUD cases throughout the treatment episodeAdministering benefits and reviewing treatment documentationCoordinating benefits and transitions between various areas of careIdentifying ways to add value to treatment plans and consulting with facility staff or outpatient care providers on those ideasData entry of clinical documentation submitted into the County's Electronic Health Record or Designated Database Assist other teammates and/or other sub teams within Utilization Management as needed with questions, data entry, guidance, and supportMonitor and oversee sub team workload and arrange coverage as needed and/or cover as neededSupport implementation of any new requirements and current policies, procedures, and processes or assist in updating current processes and creation of new processesAssist leadership with projects, running reports and updates as neededAttend weekly leadership meetingsTake initiative to assist other team members with their workloads and support the teamAssist Supervisor with various tasks for business needs and serve as liaison with other departmentsAssist in interviewing, onboarding and training of new hiresEnsure all work products are covered and turnaround times met for the sub team and/or the larger Utilization Management teamAssist with problem resolution as neededParticipate in Quality Assurance activities as needed and delegatedProvide feedback to Manager or Supervisor on opportunities for improvement of the department or operationsKnowledge of outcome focused clinical models and interventions in mental health and SUDStrong written and verbal communication and customer services skillsAbility to work autonomouslyMay serve as back up to other Senior Care Advocates across the larger teamServe as key point of contact for external stakeholders, providers and County staff as neededSupport Access and Crisis Line as neededModel positive, professional and solution-oriented attitudeOther duties as assigned You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.Required Qualifications: Licensed, Master's Degreed Clinician in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, or Marriage / Family Counseling, a Licensed Ph.D., or an RN with experience in behavioral healthLicenses must be independent, active and unrestricted in the State of California2+ years of experience in mental health / behavior health environment1+ years of Leadership, Subject Matter Expert or Team Lead experience Intermediate level of computer proficiency (including MS Word/Excel/Office) and must be able to type and talk at the same time in addition to navigating a Windows environmentPreferred Qualifications: Electronic Health Record experienceExperience in a managed care setting Dual diagnosis experience with mental health and substance use treatmentMedi-Cal system experienceExperience working in an environment that requires coordination of benefits and utilization of multiple resources for patientsExperience in telephonic rolesExperience in Utilization ManagementExperience with high risk psychiatric or SUD patients working in community settings such as psychiatric inpatient, LTC, or SUD treatmentProven solid data entry and presentation skills*All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy.Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you'll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The salary for this role will range from $72,800 - $130,000 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare by harnessing technology and innovation to make care simpler to navigate, more affordable and more connected for the people we serve. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, heard and respected, empowering people to bring their authentic selves to work and strengthening our collective impact through diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.