Social Worker - Entitlements and Benefits

Job Title: Social Worker - Entitlements and Benefits

Social Work Services at the Mount Sinai Hospital    

The Mount Sinai Hospital is a 1,134-bed facility with an extensive outpatient and specialty care network and is the largest hospital in the Mount Sinai Health Care System. It offers comprehensive social work services and programming to meet the myriad needs of the diverse populations we serve. We believe that total patient care must emphasize the physical, emotional, and social needs of each patient and their care partners. Social Workers collaborate within interprofessional teams to serve patients and the larger community from both a micro and macro level including both direct care and prevention. Founded in 1907, the Department of Social Work Services at the Mount Sinai Hospital is one of the oldest hospital social work departments in the nation with over 450 licensed social workers employed across more than 65 different program/service areas. Employment in our department provides a pathway to LCSW licensure as well as access to a broad range of continuing education, professional development and extra-curricular opportunities.

• The social worker in this position at REAP [Resource, Entitlement, Advocacy Program] will be based at 1403-05 Madison Avenue.  


• REAP plays a critical role in system-wide efforts to improve the health of our growing patient population. 


• REAP helps reduce unnecessary admissions and emergency room visits by providing advocacy and assistance around benefits procurement and maintenance, by connecting patients to community resources and by assisting patients in navigating the health care system. 


• This position requires willingness and ability to be flexible as REAP explores options for responding to the growing demand for its services in a rapidly changing health care environment.


• The social worker joins a team of four social workers, two Administrative Assistants, and six Care Coordinators. 


• The social worker in this position will assist patients to obtain and maintain access to care. 


• By intervening with more challenging and complex patient matters, the social worker supports and assists bachelors level Care Coordinators who provide comprehensive screening, benefits eligibility assessment, application assistance, and advocacy to patients seeking entitlement services. 


• REAP assists with a range of government programs including Medicaid, Medicare, Child Health Plus, Essential Plan, SNAP & others. 


• In addition to on-the-job training, PEAK modules & online webinars, the social worker will attend trainings with NYC HRA Medicaid as part of REAP’s role as a community agency representing patients in applying for Medicaid & will attend a 3 day training to become a Certified Application Counselor with the New York State of Health Marketplace.


• REAP social workers help patients navigate the health care system, working collaboratively with multiple disciplines throughout the hospital system as well as governmental and advocacy organizations. 


• REAP utilizes a team approach and social workers work closely with other REAP staff; communicating frequently throughout the day about patient and program needs. 

• Screen walk-in patients; respond to “cold calls”, provide interventions on complex, high-risk cases; facilitate meetings with patients and families as needed.
• Educate referring social workers about government benefit programs and update them on important changes that impact patient access to care.
• Assist Care Coordinators in monitoring and responding to patient referrals submitted to the REAP Referral email. Referrals are reviewed and additional information is gathered as needed from the referring social worker and/or patient and other sources in order to determine how the patient’s access issue will be addressed and documented.
• Review Medicaid applications prepared by Care Coordinators for completeness & accuracy prior to submission.
• Screen patients for public benefits eligibility and assisting with application completion and submission.
• Advocate directly with Mount Sinai Hospital providers and Patient Financial Services staff to facilitate patient access to care.
• Document in the REAP Salesforce database and when appropriate in a shared database with the Finance Department.
• Prepare and present trainings for hospital social workers about REAP and government benefit programs.
• Share feedback and participate in decision-making around program operations.
• Participate in the development of new initiatives to enhance the overall functioning of REAP.

• NYS LMSW or LCSW.
• Excellent clinical, collaborative, communication, advocacy and organizational skills.
• Ability to respond effectively to the urgent needs of staff and patients with diverse entitlement problems and concerns.
• Experience in addressing the entitlement problems and concerns of patients.
• Keen interest in health care policy & a desire to help patients access care by learning the details & ever-changing requirements of multiple entitlement programs.
• LCSW preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Non-Bargaining Unit, 186 - Social Services - MSH, Mount Sinai Hospital