Inpatient Counselor Admission Specialist/Utilization Review

Avera Addiction Care Center-Sioux Falls

Worker Type:

Regular

Work Shift:

Day Shift (United States of America)

Pay Range:

The pay range for this position is listed below. Actual pay rate dependent upon experience.

$22.75 - $48.50

Position Highlights

This position will also accepted the following requirements for an Inpatient Therapist/Counselor. Pay will vary based on level:

Inpatient Counselor: Bachelor's Degree with CAC or LAC license upon hire.

Level 1: Masters Degree with an LPC or LCSW and LAC within 60 months. Must be enrolled in the Addiction Counselor Trainee program within 30 days.

Level 2: Masters Degree with an LPC-MH, LMFT, or LCSW-PIP and LAC within 60 months. Must be enrolled in the Addiction Counselor trainee program within 30 days.

Level 3: Masters Degree with an LPC-MH, LMFT, or LCSW-PIP and LAC.

Job Summary:

The Admissions Specialist is the first point of contact for individuals and families seeking help for substance use and co-occurring disorders. This role requires an empathetic, highly organized professional who can guide prospective patients through the intake, screening, and verification processes. You will turn inquiries into admissions by providing compassionate support, clear information, and efficient coordination with our clinical and financial teams.

Key responsibilities:

  Inquiry Management: Respond immediately to all incoming calls, web forms, and chat inquiries from individuals, families, and treatment providers.

  Pre-Admission Screening: Conduct initial telephone screenings to assess the appropriateness of fit for our facility’s level of care.

  Crisis Intervention: Provide empathetic, calm, and supportive phone communication to individuals in high-stress or crisis situations.

  Insurance & Financial Coordination: Gather insurance information and collaborate with the billing department to verify benefits and communicate financial responsibilities to families.

  Logistics & Scheduling: Coordinate admission dates, arrival logistics, transportation, and intake documentation.

  CRM Tracking: Document all communications, follow-ups, and lead statuses accurately in our electronic health records (EHR) and CRM database.

  Outreach Support: Maintain relationships with alumni, local hospitals, therapists, and community partners to support a strong referral network.

Authorization Management: Complete initial pre-certifications and manage ongoing concurrent reviews for medical and residential levels of care

You Belong at Avera

Be part of a multidisciplinary team built with compassion and the goal of Moving Health Forward for you and our patients. Work where you matter.

A Brief Overview

Entry-level part of a dynamic treatment team dedicated to providing effective therapeutic and preventive services to individuals, families, and communities affected by substance use. Duties include substance abuse screenings, treatment needs assessment, individual/group/family counseling, facilitating treatment and crisis intervention to adolescents and adults affected by substance abuse, addiction, and dual diagnoses issues. As part of a multidisciplinary team, counselors develop measurable and patient-centered treatment goals. All counselors and trainees must maintain compliance with documentation requirements pursuant to state, federal and agency regulations.

What you will do

• Performs screenings, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, counseling, case management, crisis intervention, client education, referral, reports, and record keeping, consultation.
• Assists with inquiry calls, consultations.
• Provides clinical information to insurance companies for continued stay and/or appeals.
• Provides accurate and concise data entry.
• Maintains current on client records for quality assurance.
• Completes all performance improvement/quality assurance tasks.
• Assists with transportation of patients.
• Participates in weekly clinical staffing with multidisciplinary team.

Essential Qualifications

The individual must be able to work the hours specified. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily including having visual acuity adequate to perform position duties and the ability to communicate effectively with others, hear, understand and distinguish speech and other sounds. These requirements and those listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions, as long as the accommodations do not cause undue hardship to the employer.

Required Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience:

• Some College Must be working toward a bachelor's degree in a behavioral science field or be willing to obtain a bachelor's degree in Addiction Counseling
• Addiction Counselor Trainee (ACT) - Licensing Board Must obtain trainee certification Upon Hire
• Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) - Licensing Board within 5 years or
• Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) - Department of Health and Human Services within 5 years

Preferred Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience:

• Associate's
• 1-3 years related experience and/or training
• Clinical experience facilitating group therapy sessions and providing individual counseling services
• Experience working with clients having co-occurring addictive disorders in conjunction with mental health conditions
• Clinical experience with couples and/or family therapy is desired

Expectations and Standards

• Commitment to the daily application of Avera’s mission, vision, core values, and social principles to serve patients, their families, and our community.
• Promote Avera’s values of compassion, hospitality, and stewardship.
• Uphold Avera’s standards of Communication, Attitude, Responsiveness, and Engagement (CARE) with enthusiasm and sincerity.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Work effectively in a team environment, coordinating work flow with other team members and ensuring a productive and efficient environment.
• Comply with safety principles, laws, regulations, and standards associated with, but not limited to, CMS, The Joint Commission, DHHS, and OSHA if applicable.

Benefits You Need & Then Some

Avera is proud to offer a wide range of benefits to qualifying part-time and full-time employees. We support you with opportunities to help live balanced, healthy lives. Benefits are designed to meet needs of today and into the future.

• PTO available day 1 for eligible hires.

• Up to 5% employer matching contribution for retirement

• Career development guided by hands-on training and mentorship

Avera is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, Veteran Status, or other categories protected by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-605-504-4444 or send an email to

talent@avera.org

.