Medical Assistant - Behavioral Health

Interfaith
550 W Washington Avenue
Escondido, CA 92025, USA

Community health is about more than just vaccines and checkups. It’s about giving people the resources they need to live their best lives. At Neighborhood, this is our vision: a community where everyone is healthy and happy. We’re with you every step of the way, with the care you need for each of life’s chapters. At Neighborhood, we are Better Together.

As a private, non-profit 501(C) (3) community health organization, we serve over 414,000 medical, dental, and behavioral health visits from more than 95,000 people annually. We do this in pursuit of our mission to improve the health and happiness of the communities we serve by providing quality care to all, regardless of situation or circumstance.

Since 1969, our employees have been making this mission a reality. Regardless of the role, our team focuses on being compassionate, having integrity, being professional, always collaborating, and consistently going above and beyond. If this sounds like an organization you would like to be a part of, we would love to meet you.

The Medical Assistant will schedule and coordinate patient and follow-up care for patients in the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), Telepsychiatry, and Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) programs. This role will obtain required authorization and eligibility information for patients referring to behavioral health programs.

• Secures and communicates patients referrals and authorizations to providers
• Schedules and communicates appointment information to patients and/or families
• Follows up with patients and providers to ensure appointments were kept
• Obtains and documents the consultation and progress reports from providers, radiologists, and other medical professionals in patient medical records
• Provides MAT pre‑intake assessments to determine appropriate fit for the program
• Documents MAT group attendance, random urinary drug screens, and film/pill counts
• Completes SDoH assessments, referrals, and linkages and track information/outcomes in patient medical records
• Follows Telepsychiatry for primary care site policy/procedures and coordinate on‑site patient care with telepsychiatry providers at other sites
• Documents all actions taken in patient medical records in accordance with current clinic, DHS, and health plan regulations/guidelines
• Discuss all aspects of the referral process as prescribed by providers with patients, including counseling the patient regarding the cost of a referral, as needed
• Communicates with patients in person, by telephone, and/or by mail
• Acts as liaison between patients, clinic/providers, specialty care providers, health plans/funding sources, and community resources
• Attends staff and other required meetings and training courses
• Verifies insurance eligibilities, submits treatment authorizations, and provides coverage for front office staff, as needed
• Participates in quality improvement activities
• Documents all care coordination, services, and/or patient education in medical records

Initiates and processes incident reports according to documentation guidelines

Prioritizes activities according to intensity, need, and required follow‑up

Provides accurate and timely reports to supervisor and site staff, as needed

Responds promptly and with caring actions to patients and employees

Maintains professional working relationships with all levels of staff, clients, and the public

Cooperates in accomplishing department goals and objectives

• High school diploma or GED required
• Valid Medical Assistant certificate from an accredited program required
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required upon hire and must be maintained as a condition of employment. These courses must follow AHA guidelines, but may be completed through approved online providers such as Pro Med or other equivalent programs that meet recognized BLS standards.

• Familiarity with medical procedures and terminology
• Proficiency with electronic health records system experience preferred
• Intermediate computer and data entry skills
• Must use sound…