OBRA Assessor

The OBRA Assessor will conduct comprehensive face-to face OBRA Pre-admission screens (PAS), Annual Resident Reviews (ARR) and Change in Condition Assessments with individuals who have been determined to meet the initial and ongoing eligibility criteria for evaluation in accordance with Department of Health and Human Services– OBRA office.  The OBRA Assessor will work in coordination with the Nursing Home Liaison by primarily completing assigned PASSR assessments.  Under general supervision, the OBRA Assessor coordinates service activities within the OBRA services team.  The OBRA Assessor functions to support, communicate and coordinate care needs in conjunction with the Nursing Home Liaison working closely with inpatient hospital settings, nursing home facilities and the State of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services OBRA office.   The OBRA Assessor position also backs up the Nursing Home Liaison so that there is no lapse in services during scheduled time off.

Duties and Competencies

• Completes PASARR psychosocial, psychiatric and psychological assessments to fulfill the requirements of the OBRA screening functions within the state set timelines, including diagnosing.  
• Communications clinical observations based on completed assessment to the Nursing Home Liaison so that recommendations of ongoing treatment can be provided through the State OBRA site.
• Coordinates with partnering agencies and makes clinical assignments under the direction of the Nursing Home Liaison and OBRA program director.

• Reviews determinations received from the state and providing a copy of the Level II Evaluation and required attachments to the consumer and/or legal representative and nursing facility or hospital within 5 working days of the determination.
• Reviews state queues on the OBRA Application every workday and keeping track of all Level I’s received, reviewing, and determining if there is evidence of a SMI to warrant a face-to-face visit for the completion of either a partial evaluation or full Level II evaluation.
• Coordinates with the nursing supervisor weekly to make sure OBRA’s are assigned to a nurse for the completion of the Medical History & Examination within the time frame.  review all sections of the completed Level II Evaluation for accuracy, grammatical errors and any discrepancies and make sure the appropriate staff make any needed corrections before the evaluation is sent to the state.
• Represents the Agency to promote community Agency collaboration.  Collaboration partnerships including hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics and the State of Michigan OBRA program.

• Documents consumer information into the electronic medical record.

• Prepares forms, records, and reports (i.e., PASARR reports, Memorandums, etc.) as required or requested.  Completes all prescreens and, assessments and all related documentation within the 4 day or 14-day MDHHS-OBRA standard.

• Delivers/contacts guardians and/or legal representatives with explanation of State OBRA office determinations. 

• Coordinates care with Monroe CMHA teams for clients that are receiving OBRA services. 

• Participates as a team member in the unit/department reviews in order to provide and receive feedback on types of services provided.

• Demonstrates ability to identify severity of illness by assessing symptom acuity, functional abilities, and risk factors. 

• Demonstrates ability to accurately assess psychiatric symptomatology and risk of harm to self or others.

• Demonstrates knowledge of needs of people with developmental disability, mental illness, and children with severe emotional disturbance.

• Demonstrate ability to complete an accurate diagnosis based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fifth edition (DSM-5) and knowledge of corresponding ICD codes.

• Assesses the need for re-opening of closed cases and reassignment.

• Complete initial assessments and all related documentation within the 14-day agency standard.

• Assigns consumers to appropriate Clinical Department of the authority based upon triage assessment and provides level of care authorizations for continuing care consistent with authority standards.

• Maintains and updates a master community resource directory for supporting and enhance consumer functioning and service referrals.

• Maintains complete and detailed case records and service activity documentation consistent with MDHHS standards, authority procedures and requirements of third-party payor sources.

• Serves on workgroups and committees as assigned.

Performs other related duties as assigned

• Follows oral and written direction completing tasks as assigned by due dates.

• Maintains working knowledge of software applications used in performance of daily duties.

• Maintains individual credentials and participates in education and training necessary to maintain current competency(s) in skill areas essential for implementing job duties and responsibilities.

Corporate Compliance Responsibilities:

• Complies with and maintains competence with all applicable laws, regulations, standards, and rules governed under Medicare, Medicaid, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Joint Commission, and any applicable funding sources.

• Understands, adheres and maintains competence with all MCMHA and CMHPSM standards, policies, procedures as they appear in MCMHA’s, Management of Information, Finance-Contract Management, Recipient Rights, Performance Improvement, Administration, Human Resources, Environment and Provision of Care Policies.

• Complies with and maintains competence with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations as they pertain to privacy and confidentiality.  

• Interacts appropriately with managers and peers.  Performs required duties with an awareness of impact upon the Authority structure as a whole. 

• Works as a Team Player within the entire Agency’s structure.

Education, Training and Licensing Credentials:

Preferred:  Master’s degree in Psychology, with current State Licensure. 

Required:  Master’s degree in Social Work or Counseling with State Licensure.

Experience:  Experience in diagnosis testing and/or previous experience with Mentally Ill or Co-Occurring (MI/Sub­stance Abuse). Experience with Geriatric population preferred.  Two years previous experience with Mentally Ill or Co-Occurring (MI/Sub­stance Abuse) populations required.   One year experience with children with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) and adults/children with an Intellectual/Developmental Disability (I/DD) preferred.

Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide the appropriate care for the specific clinical needs and ages of the individuals served.  Demonstrated knowledge of the clinical needs, symptoms, and behaviors of individuals served, as well as understand the principles of growth and development over the life span; have the ability to assess data reflecting each individual’s status; interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each individual’s requirements in relation to his or her age-specific/population specific needs; and to provide evaluation and referral recommendations needed by the appropriate age group - (adolescent, adult and geriatric).

Other Competencies and Abilities:

Ability to work in a complex, detail-oriented, deadline structured, busy organization. The following physical and mental abilities are required:  frequent lifting or carrying up to 15 pounds, must be able to hear, frequent standing/walking going up and down stairs due to community outreach basis, ability to communicate effectively in person and/or phone, the ability to read, analyze and interpret information, ability to write reports, correspondence and procedures, ability to maintain consumer charts/records, ability to define and solve practical problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions, ability to influence others, and the ability to conduct patient assessments and treatment.  Demonstrated proficiency in MS Outlook, Word and such other applications if/when required.  Ability to be trained and successfully complete other computer training as required. Valid driver’s license, proof of current automobile insurance and driving record determined by the Authority’s insurance carrier to be eligible for coverage if required as part of positions duties.