Jobs › Centene

Remote Inpatient Medicare Medical Director

Centene · MO · Remote available · $215,000–$408,500 a year · Full time

Posted Oct 5, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at Centene

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you reversed your initial decision after more information came in.

What they are checking: Intellectual honesty and willingness to change course when the evidence calls for it.

How do you stay connected and collaborative with clinical teams while working remotely?

What they are checking: Ability to lead and support teams from a distance.

What would you do

How do you handle a peer-to-peer conversation with an attending physician who disagrees with your determination?

What they are checking: Ability to listen, weigh new clinical information and communicate respectfully with treating doctors.

How do you balance timely decisions with thorough review when the queue is heavy?

What they are checking: Managing regulatory turnaround times without cutting corners on clinical judgment.

How would you help a capitated provider group improve its performance on quality and cost?

What they are checking: Experience engaging provider groups in performance improvement rather than just policing them.

About the work

Walk me through how you review an inpatient admission for medical necessity under Medicare Advantage rules, including the two-midnight benchmark.

What they are checking: Knowledge of current Medicare inpatient criteria and how they apply to Medicare Advantage plans.

How do you approach review of an experimental or controversial service?

What they are checking: Use of evidence, policy and expert input for difficult coverage decisions the posting names.

How would you run rounds with care management on high-risk inpatient members?

What they are checking: Ability to lead collaborative case discussion that improves discharge planning and outcomes.

What makes a utilization management denial letter clear and defensible?

What they are checking: Understanding of CMS requirements for specific, understandable reasons in adverse determinations.

What role should a medical director play on physician committees like credentialing or quality?

What they are checking: Understanding of committee governance and peer review responsibilities.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Centene from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Centene.

Position Purpose: Assist the Chief Medical Director to direct and coordinate the medical management, quality improvement and credentialing functions for the business unit. • Provides medical leadership of all for utilization management, cost containment, and medical quality improvement activities. • Performs medical review activities pertaining to utilization review, quality assurance, and medical review of complex, controversial, or experimental medical services, ensuring timely and quality decision making. • Supports effective implementation of performance improvement initiatives for capitated providers. • Assists Chief Medical Director in planning and establishing goals and policies to improve quality and cost-effectiveness of care and service for members. • Provides medical expertise in the operation of approved quality improvement and utilization management programs in accordance with regulatory, state, corporate, and accreditation requirements. • Assists the Chief Medical Director in the functioning of the physician committees including committee structure, processes, and membership. • Conduct regular rounds to assess and coordinate care for high-risk patients, collaborating with care management teams to optimize outcomes. • Collaborates effectively with clinical teams, network providers, appeals team, medical and pharmacy consultants for reviewing complex cases and medical necessity appeals. • Participates in provider network development and new market expansion as appropriate. • Assists in the development and implementation of physician education with respect to clinical issues and policies. • Identifies utilization review studies and evaluates adverse trends in utilization of medical services, unusual provider practice patterns, and adequacy of benefit/payment components. • Identifies clinical quality improvement studies to assist in reducing unwarranted variation in clinical practice in order to improve the quality and cost of care. • Interfaces with physicians and other providers in order to facilitate implementation of recommendations to providers that would improve utilization and health care quality. • Reviews claims involving complex, controversial, or unusual or new services in order to determine medical necessity and appropriate payment. • Develops alliances with the provider community through the development and implementation of the medical management programs. • As needed, may represent the business unit before various publics both locally and nationally on medical philosophy, policies, and related issues. • Represents the business unit at appropriate state committees and other ad hoc committees. • May be required to work weekends and holidays in support of business operations, as needed. Education/Experience: • Medical Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathy. • Utilization Management experience and knowledge of quality accreditation standards preferred. • Actively practices medicine. • Course work in the areas of Health Administration, Health Financing, Insurance, and/or Personnel Management is advantageous. • Experience treating or managing care for a culturally diverse population preferred. License/Certifications: • Board certification in a medical specialty recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialists or the American Osteopathic Association’s Department of Certifying Board Services. • Certification in Internal or Family Medicine, preferred. • Current state license as a MD or DO without restrictions, limitations, or sanctions from government programs. Pay Range: $215,000.00 - $408,500.00 per year At Centene, we connect people to the care they need to live healthier lives — and the work you do here makes that impact real every day. You’ll take on meaningful challenges that directly support individuals, families, and communities, building your skills while making healthcare more accessible and effective. It’s work with a purpose you can see, backed by a team committed to improving lives well beyond the workday. Centene offers a comprehensive benefits package including: competitive pay, health insurance, 401K and stock purchase plans, tuition reimbursement, paid time off plus holidays, and a flexible approach to work with remote, hybrid, field or office work schedules. Actual pay will be adjusted based on an individual's skills, experience, education, and other job-related factors permitted by law , including full-time or part-time status. Total compensation may also include additional forms of incentives. Benefits may be subject to program eligibility. Centene is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, and values the ways in which we are different. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other characteristic protected by applicable law. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with the LA County Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act

Apply at Centene