Utilization Review Clinician - Behavioral Health
Posted Sep 16, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
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
This role requires an active Louisiana license and a Sunday through Thursday or Tuesday through Saturday schedule. How does that fit your life?
What they are checking: Whether they can commit to the weekend coverage the team depends on.
Tell me about a tense conversation with a provider about level of care. How did it go?
What they are checking: Whether they stay professional and collaborative when providers push back on a review.
How would you explain the utilization review process to a family member who is confused about why their loved one's stay is under review?
What they are checking: Whether they can communicate clearly and kindly about a process that often feels adversarial to families.
What would you do
A facility says a member isn't ready for discharge but the record doesn't show active treatment. What do you do?
What they are checking: Whether they can ask for the missing information and escalate appropriately rather than guess.
You notice the same member keeps getting readmitted within 30 days. What would you do with that information?
What they are checking: Whether they use member data to trigger care management referrals and quality improvement, not just process the next review.
How do you keep up with turnaround deadlines when you have a heavy queue and several urgent requests?
What they are checking: Their ability to prioritize by urgency and regulatory timelines without cutting corners on clinical review.
About the work
Walk me through a concurrent review for a member in inpatient psychiatric care on day five of their stay.
What they are checking: Whether they can judge ongoing medical necessity, treatment progress and discharge readiness from the clinical record.
How do you decide whether a member with substance use disorder needs residential treatment or can step down to intensive outpatient?
What they are checking: Their working knowledge of level of care criteria such as ASAM and how they apply it to a real case.
How do you start discharge planning early in a behavioral health stay?
What they are checking: Whether they see discharge planning as part of review, which reduces readmissions and gaps in follow-up care.
When would you send a case to a medical director rather than approve it yourself?
What they are checking: Their understanding that clinicians approve within criteria and physicians make adverse determinations.
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As published by Centene.