Medical Assistant - Behavioral Health

Company: Neighborhood Healthcare
Location: Escondido
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

About Us 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 500,000 medical, dental, and behavioral health visits from more than 96k 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. We have been doing this since 1969, and it is our employees that make 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 that sounds like an organization you want to be a part of, we would love to have you. ROLE OVERVIEW and PURPOSE 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 referred to behavioral health programs. RESPONSIBILITIES Secures and communications 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 consult 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 Discusses 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 patient, clinic/providers, specialty care providers, health plans/funding sources, and community resources Attends staff and other required meeting and trainings 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 Cooperate in accomplishing department goals and objectives EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE High School diploma or GED required Valid Medical Assistant Certificate from an accredited program required Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required upon hire and must be maintained as a condition of employment. These courses must follow AHA guidelines- may be completed through approved online providers such as ProMed or other equivalent programs that meet recognized BLS standards One year medical assistant experience preferred ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities) Familiarity with medical procedures and terminology Proficiency with electronic health records system experience preferred Intermediate computer and data entry skills Must use sound judgment to anticipate needs of patients and providers Flexibility with changing priorities and time sensitive deadlines Use emotional and cultural intelligence to provide appropriate communication and patient care Exemplify compassion to patients and team members Bilingual English/Spanish, English/Farsi, or English/Arabic preferred - must be able to pass Language Proficiency Test if bilingual skills are needed Ability to successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently Ability to work with highly confidential information in a professional and ethical manner Physical Requirements Ability to lift/carry 15 lbs/weight Ability to stand for long periods of time COMPLIANCE (Safety & HIPAA) Follows all safety procedures as outlined in Neighborhood Healthcare’s Illness and Injury Prevention Plan (IIPP) and report any injuries and/or unsafe conditions immediately Maintains current knowledge of policies and procedures as they relate to safe work practices Follows all safety procedures and report unsafe conditions Uses appropriate body mechanics to ensure an injury free environment Familiarity with location of nearest fire extinguisher and emergency exits Follows all infection control procedures including blood-borne pathogen protocols Maintains privacy of all patients, employee and volunteer information and access such information only on a need-to-know basis for business purposes Complies with all regulations regarding corporate integrity and security obligations Reports all behavior and/or activity that are unethical, fraudulent, or unlawful Neighborhood Healthcare offers a generous benefit plan that includes: Partially company paid Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans. Two plus weeks of vacation, Nine Holidays including two Floating Holidays of your choosing, Sick/Personal time, Volunteer Time Off (VTO), 403b Retirement plan (similar to a 401k), optional Health and Wellness events, and much more! Pay range: $24.95 to $34.93 per hour, depending on experience and additional qualifications. Compensation Disclosure: The posted salary range reflects the designated pay grade for this position. While this range represents the broader classification of the role, actual compensation will be based on several factors, including but not limited to: the candidate’s overall knowledge, skills, and experience, market data and industry benchmarks, internal equity within the organization, Budgetary considerations and organizational needs.

Keywords: Neighborhood Healthcare, Corona , Medical Assistant - Behavioral Health, Healthcare , Escondido, California