Case Aide Job Description

Case Managers: A Survey

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a case manager? What skills do you need? Most case managers have a background in either social work or nursing.

If you want to be a successful case manager, you need to have strong communication skills and be able to come up with different problem management strategies. You should be knowledgeable and organized. Medical case managers work in various health care facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and rehabilitation centers.

Most of the social service case managers are employed by non-profit organizations. Schools, housing commission, or homeless shelters can be included. Not all case managers know everything.

They specialize in a specific area. Case managers help clients manage their own difficult situations instead of managing the clients. They are always present in the client's life, without pushing them to make decisions they don't want to make.

Case Management at Health Insurance Companies

What a case manager does depends on the setting in which they work. A case manager at a health insurance company will provide different services than a case manager at a hospital or workers' compensation insurance company. Case management involves linking a client to available services and resources.

The case manager works as a facilitation rather than a provider of services. A nurse is usually the hospital case manager. Ensuring that a patient is getting care that is medically necessary and getting it in the correct setting is part of the utilization review.

After a patient leaves the hospital, they put in place a plan to meet their medical needs. Hospital case managers are masters at organizing care needs. A hospital case manager is supposed to assess the patient's health insurance plan and work with the insurer and multiple providers to ensure that the best care is delivered with the least financial burden.

The case manager would make sure that the insurer has all the information it needs to approve payment for the hospitalization and that it works to prevent insurance claim denials. The hospital case manager will communicate with the health insurer's case manager on a daily or weekly basis. The hospital case manager is the one who arranges for a patient to have home visits from a nurse after being discharged from the hospital or to get intensive stroke rehabilitation from an inpatient rehabilitation facility.

The case manager will help the patient find a home health company that accepts them as a patient. The case manager may end up negotiating with a number of people. In some cases, the patient will not have to pay out-of-pocket expenses, but it will be more expensive than in the hospital.

Education and Training Requirements for Case Management Aides

Depending on the position, the education and training requirements for case management aides vary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social and human services assistants like case management aides are often required to have at least a high school degree, although some positions may prefer candidates with a certificate or associate degree in a human services field. A prior experience in a human services field is needed.

Case management aides in certain areas may receive additional training in topics such as crisis intervention and cultural sensitivity. Case management aides work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, social and human services agencies, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, transitional housing organizations, nonprofit community organizations, educational institutions and mental health agencies. The BLS reported that the average hourly wage for social services assistants was $13.56 in May 2010.

The salary for case management aides varies by setting and position. A case management aide is supposed to provide support to case managers. Administrative tasks, such as maintaining case files, updating referral information and checking health insurance information, are included in the job responsibilities.