Juliann Long
Medina,OH
Summary
Licensed healthcare professional with 20+ years of experience supporting patients, caregivers, providers, and health plans across home health, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and managed care settings. Extensive experience educating patients and families regarding disease processes, treatment plans, insurance coverage, Medicare benefits, authorization requirements, and care transitions. Proven ability to build trusted relationships, navigate reimbursement barriers, coordinate interdisciplinary care, and advocate for patients throughout complex healthcare journeys. Recognized for exceptional communication skills, patient-centered education, and the ability to translate complex clinical and insurance information into understandable guidance that promotes successful treatment outcomes.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Care Coordinator
Optum Home and Community
01.2023 - Current
- Educate patients, caregivers, providers, and facility staff regarding insurance benefits, Medicare and managed care coverage, authorization requirements, and access to medically necessary services.
- Guide patients and families through complex healthcare, reimbursement, and coverage processes, serving as a trusted resource and advocate to help overcome barriers to care and facilitate timely treatment access.
- Build collaborative relationships with patients, caregivers, providers, facilities, and interdisciplinary teams to support individualized care plans, safe transitions of care, and positive patient experiences.
- Coordinate care across multiple stakeholders, including health plans, providers, community resources, and care management teams, to address ongoing clinical, social, and reimbursement needs.
- Support coverage determinations, authorization requests, and appeals processes through patient education, clinical review, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Review clinical documentation and evaluate care needs to ensure appropriate service utilization, regulatory compliance, and alignment with payer guidelines and evidence-based practices.
- Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings to assess patient progress, identify barriers to care, and develop solutions that promote quality outcomes and member satisfaction.
Speech Language Pathologist (SLP), PRN
Heritage Health Pro
05.2022 - 01.2023
- Delivered individualized patient and caregiver education in skilled nursing and assisted living settings.
- Developed long-term therapeutic relationships with patients and families managing chronic and progressive conditions.
- Educated caregivers on treatment plans, safety recommendations, home exercise programs, and disease-specific management strategies.
- Assessed patient and family needs and customized education and support plans to improve adherence and outcomes.
Benefits Analyst
AJ Gallagher
09.2021 - 01.2023
- Managed annual insurance renewals and implementation activities for group health, life, disability, and ancillary benefit programs across diverse client accounts.
- Coordinated carrier deliverables, timelines, and client requirements to ensure accurate and timely renewal execution.
- Prepared and distributed Requests for Proposals (RFPs), benefit comparisons, marketing materials, enrollment communications, and client presentations.
- Collaborated with Small Group, Large Group, and National Accounts teams to support complex benefit program administration and client service initiatives.
- Served as a primary liaison between insurance carriers, clients, account executives, producers, and internal stakeholders throughout the renewal lifecycle.
- Analyzed plan options, rates, and coverage changes to support client decision-making and renewal strategy discussions.
- Resolved client service and account management issues by identifying solutions, coordinating resources, and ensuring timely follow-through.
- Maintained strong relationships with carrier representatives and client contacts to enhance service delivery and client satisfaction.
- Supported open enrollment activities, benefit communication efforts, and implementation of new coverage programs.
- Ensured accuracy of enrollment, eligibility, and benefit-related documentation while maintaining compliance with carrier and regulatory requirements.
Director of Rehabilitation, SLP
Pleasant Lake Villa
08.2006 - 05.2021
- Directed rehabilitation services for a 239-bed skilled nursing facility, leading and developing a multidisciplinary team of 20 clinicians while ensuring high-quality patient care, regulatory compliance, and positive patient and family experiences.
- Built collaborative relationships with patients, caregivers, providers, and interdisciplinary teams to support individualized care planning, treatment adherence, care transitions, and optimal patient outcomes.
- Conducted family consultations and care conferences to educate caregivers, address concerns, review treatment progress, and facilitate informed healthcare decisions.
- Partnered with nursing, social services, admissions, and facility leadership to coordinate care, resolve barriers to treatment, and improve continuity of care across settings.
- Mentored and coached clinical staff, fostering a patient-centered culture focused on communication, service excellence, quality outcomes, and compassionate care.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to support Medicare and managed care requirements, utilization management initiatives, and appropriate access to healthcare services.
- Utilized clinical, operational, and reimbursement data to identify opportunities for quality improvement, enhance patient satisfaction, and support organizational goals.
Therapy Manager/SLP
Arbor Rehab
02.2006 - 11.2006
- Managed rehabilitation operations for a 100-bed skilled nursing facility during a new contract acquisition and organizational transition.
- Led and developed a multidisciplinary therapy team, ensuring continuity of care, staff engagement, and achievement of clinical and operational objectives.
- Oversaw departmental revenue and expense budgets, monitoring financial performance and implementing strategies to optimize productivity and resource utilization.
- Collaborated with facility leadership and department managers to successfully integrate contract operations, workflows, policies, and performance expectations.
- Established strong working relationships across nursing, administration, admissions, social services, and other departments to support seamless transition and operational success.
- Coordinated implementation activities, resolved operational challenges, and facilitated communication among stakeholders throughout the acquisition process.
- Monitored key performance indicators, productivity metrics, and quality outcomes to ensure alignment with contract and facility goals.
- Supported regulatory compliance, quality improvement initiatives, and customer satisfaction efforts during a period of organizational change.
- Partnered with facility leadership to identify opportunities for process improvement, operational efficiency, and enhanced resident outcomes.
CF SLP/Director of Rehabilitation
Pleasantview Care Center
08.2003 - 02.2006
- Performed comprehensive speech-language, cognitive-communication, and dysphagia assessments and developed treatment plans for residents with acute and chronic medical conditions, neurodegenerative diseases, and long-term care needs.
- Developed individualized treatment plans and implemented evidence-based interventions to improve communication, cognition, swallowing safety, and functional independence.
- Provided detailed assessment findings, treatment recommendations, and education to patients, families, caregivers, and interdisciplinary team members to support informed decision-making and continuity of care.
- Collaborated with physicians, nursing staff, social services, and rehabilitation professionals to coordinate patient-centered care and optimize clinical outcomes.
- Advanced into a management role, leveraging clinical expertise to support departmental operations, staff performance, and strategic initiatives.
- Managed daily rehabilitation operations, ensuring compliance with clinical, regulatory, and organizational standards.
- Monitored productivity, staffing, utilization, and financial performance to meet departmental goals and budget expectations.
- Implemented operational strategies to support caseload growth, maintain census, and improve service delivery outcomes.
- Analyzed performance metrics and operational data to identify opportunities for process improvement, efficiency, and quality enhancement.
- Supported interdisciplinary care planning, discharge planning, and quality improvement initiatives to promote positive resident outcomes and customer satisfaction.
Education
Master of Science - Speech Language Pathology
Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OHSpeech and Hearing Science
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OHSkills
PATIENT ACCESS & NAVIGATION
Patient Access Support Healthcare Navigation Care Coordination Therapy Initiation Support Home-Based Care
PATIENT & CAREGIVER EDUCATION
Patient & Caregiver Education Clinical Education Family Counseling & Support Chronic Disease Management Relationship Management
INSURANCE & REIMBURSEMENT EXPERTISE
Reimbursement Navigation Insurance Coverage Education Medicare & Managed Care Appeals & Authorization Support Healthcare Compliance
ADVOCACY & INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION
Patient Advocacy Interdisciplinary Collaboration Provider Communication Treatment Access Facilitation Care Transition Support
Certification
- State of Ohio Board of SLP and AUD - SP 7800
- ASHA Member # 12061086
Timeline
Care Coordinator
Optum Home and Community
01.2023 - Current
Speech Language Pathologist (SLP), PRN
Heritage Health Pro
05.2022 - 01.2023
Benefits Analyst
AJ Gallagher
09.2021 - 01.2023
Director of Rehabilitation, SLP
Pleasant Lake Villa
08.2006 - 05.2021
Therapy Manager/SLP
Arbor Rehab
02.2006 - 11.2006
CF SLP/Director of Rehabilitation
Pleasantview Care Center
08.2003 - 02.2006
Master of Science - Speech Language Pathology
Cleveland State University
Speech and Hearing Science
The Ohio State University