Wooded Glen Recovery Center, IL
“I think the training went great. You provided a lot of good information that we need.”
Julia Mackey
Director of Admissions
Utilization Review Training
Train your UR team to master pre-certs, coding, and insurance communication—so your treatment center gets paid faster, keeps clients longer, and eliminates costly denials.
Fully accredited. Globally recognized. Built for the next generation of Addiction & Mental Health Professionals.
What Is The Utilization Review Training?
The Utilization Review (UR) Training is an intensive, 3½-hour live virtual program that equips addiction treatment and mental health professionals with the skills, structure, and confidence to master the insurance authorization process from start to finish.
This course dives deep into the mechanics of pre-certifications, concurrent reviews, medical necessity documentation, and appeals, giving your staff the knowledge to communicate effectively with insurance companies and secure the maximum number of authorized treatment days for each client.
Students learn to navigate ASAM criteria, DSM-5 diagnosis codes, and HCPCS/revenue codes with precision—reducing denials, improving cash flow, and strengthening the financial health of the organization. Whether your UR team is brand new or seasoned but struggling with inconsistency, this training provides a clear, proven framework to transform Utilization Review into a reliable, revenue-driving system.
Taught by Mary Millings-Simmons, a licensed medical coder and billing expert with over 20 years of experience in addiction and behavioral health, this course combines real-world application, hands-on exercises, and live Q&A to ensure every participant leaves ready to perform at a professional level.
By the end, your UR department won’t just understand the process—they’ll own it, confidently securing reimbursements, preventing costly errors, and protecting your program’s bottom line.
Key Topics & Teachings Include:
Utilization Review Fundamentals
Understand the mission, goals, and structure of a UR department
Define prospective, concurrent, and retrospective review processes
Learn how UR supports both financial stability and patient outcomes
Pre-Certification & Authorization Mastery
Step-by-step precertification process and assessment form breakdown
How to present client cases using ASAM and DSM-5 criteria
Organizing data for maximum approval and minimal denials
Clinical Documentation Excellence
Identify what insurance companies look for in therapist notes
Audit documentation to support medical necessity
Use ASAM’s Six Dimensions to justify ongoing levels of care
Medical Necessity & Coding Essentials
Understand HCPCS, CPT, and revenue codes by level of care
Apply DSM-5 and ASAM dimensional criteria accurately
Avoid costly coding and documentation errors
Peer-to-Peer Reviews & Appeals
Master the structure and tone of peer-to-peer conversations
Learn when and how to appeal denials effectively
Prepare supporting documentation to win more approvals
Advanced Utilization Review Operations
Timeline compliance and regulatory standards
Communication protocols between UR and clinical teams
Proactive strategies to secure concurrent and extended stays
Here’s Exactly What You’ll Get When You Enroll
Utilization Review Training - Counts Towards 11 CEU/CME/CE/Hrs For Each Member Of Your Staff
LIVE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM FOR UNLIMITED STUDENTS
5 CEU/CME/CE/Hrs
The Utilization Review Department is the financial heartbeat of every addiction treatment and mental health facility. It’s the team that keeps the lights on—by ensuring your center gets properly reimbursed for every service provided. When your UR staff doesn’t understand codes, criteria, or communication strategy, money slips through the cracks. Denials pile up, days get cut, and your bottom line suffers. That’s why this training exists—to teach your team how to turn Utilization Review into a revenue-generating, denial-crushing powerhouse.
3–5 Hours of Live, Interactive Training
Join veteran medical coder and UR specialist Mary Millings-Simmons for an in-depth walkthrough of real-world authorization cases, ASAM-based assessments, and documentation reviews. You’ll learn exactly how to present cases to care managers, secure longer treatment stays, and turn your UR department into a consistent revenue source.
1-Hour Live Follow-Up & Implementation Call
Bring your toughest utilization challenges, denial letters, or peer-to-peer questions. Mary will help your team troubleshoot real cases, refine documentation, and strengthen communication strategies with insurance carriers—so your UR process runs smoothly, confidently, and compliantly from day one.
Utilization Review Training Manual
The Utilization Review Training Manual is a comprehensive, professional-grade guide that mirrors the full structure of the live training and serves as an ongoing reference for UR specialists, billing teams, and clinical staff. Inside, you’ll find step-by-step explanations, real-world examples, and visual forms that walk you through every stage of the UR process—from verifying benefits and conducting pre-certification calls to documenting medical necessity, using ASAM criteria, coding correctly, and managing denials or appeals. Written in plain language but rich with technical detail, this manual is both a training textbook and a daily operations handbook—ideal for onboarding new staff or upskilling experienced UR professionals. When paired with the live class, it becomes a complete Utilization Review system your team can immediately implement to increase approvals, reduce denials, and secure consistent reimbursement.
Ethics Course
6 CEU/CME/CE/Hrs
Gain a deep understanding of ethical responsibilities, including confidentiality, professional standards, report writing, case management, and legal compliance across state lines. Through practical scenarios, action planning, and guidance on boundaries, trust-building, and communication, participants learn to navigate complex ethical situations confidently.
6 Months of On-Demand Access
Enjoy 6 months of on-demand access to the recordings of the training, allowing you to revisit lessons anytime, review key strategies, and reinforce skills whenever needed.
Plus Get These Practice-Building Bonuses
Bonus: 3 Months Free Online Directory Listing Site
Be found by clients actively searching for addiction and mental health coaches.
Bonus: Private Graduate & Networking Communities
Tap into a global network of certified professionals, mentors, and peers.
Bonus: Lifetime Discounts on All Future TAA Programming
Keep leveling up your credentials and skills—while paying a fraction of the cost.
Upgrade & We'll Come LIVE To YOUR LOCATION
Call Us At 1-800-706-0318 ext 2 For In Person Packages & Pricing
Onsite Group Training Option
Bring Dr. Cali Estes (or faculty) straight to your doorstep for an electrifying, hands-on experience. Imagine your entire team learning together, live and in person—feeding off the energy, practicing techniques in real time, and getting immediate feedback. It’s immersive, powerful, and unforgettable. Plus, you still get all the same follow-up, certificates, and bonus perks to lock in the transformation long after training day.
Join 60,000+ Student Success Stories & Counting...
Become part of a global network of coaches and professionals trained in over 40 countries—and get everything you need to build a purpose-driven practice, help others heal, and create a profitable business
Sierra Tucson, Arizona
“Dr. Cali Estes joins Sierra Tucson to train their entire Recovery Coach 360 Team.”
Crossroads Turning Point, Colorado
“Amazing training on Harm Reduction and relapse prevention. Cannot wait to have you back next month to teach another class.”
Rob Archuletta
Executive Director
Wynward Way, OC California
“Very pleased to have Dr. Cali come out and train our staff in AMA/APA block training.”
Veronica Waters
Vice President
Just Believe Recovery, PA & Florida
“Dr Cali Estes was a joy to have at our center. We received a lot of amazing feedback from our staff and loved the breakout sessions”
Sinead
Clinical Director
Aqua Recovery Center, Utah
“Dr. Cali has given us the ability to create a new program in Recovery Coaching. This has given us the ability to keep track of our patients while at RTC, and also when they leave. We have seen great success with this program.”
Clint Tolman
Executive Director
St. Joseph's Institute, PA
“We have learned a lot at this training, I am glad you came out and we found you for our staff. You are doing a great job.”
Guy Murray
CEO St. Joseph’s Institute
New Vista Behavioral Health, Avalon Malibu
“Excellent Admissions Call center training with Cali”
Christine Parker
Marketing Director
Ocean Hills Recovery, California
“Amazing class! We have had Cali out here a few times for training our staff.”
Chris Cannon
Managing Partner
Vanguard Accelerator
Vanguard Accelerator
Cedar Point Recovery, CA
“Thank you, Dr. Estes. The staff found your training educational and allows them the opportunity to empower themselves with clients.”
Jody M. Ressio
MA, LAADC, Clinical Director
Lakeview Health, Jacksonville, FL
“The training was comprehensive and easy to follow for some employees not as versed in the field of interventions. I would highly recommend Cali and The Addictions Academy to anyone looking to join or excel in the field of Addictions.”
Derek Gwaltney
Vice President
Gosnold on Cape Cod, MA
“Cali Got great feedback about today’s training. Much appreciated.”
Ray Tamasi
CEO
Utilization Review Training
$3500.00
Quantity
Choose from 2 separate learning tracks:
The Virtual Classroom Training is a live, interactive webinar that lets unlimited staff attend from anywhere. It’s cost-effective, flexible, and includes all the follow-up, certificate of completion, and bonus perks to keep your team sharp and connected. The On-Site Group Training brings Dr. Cali Estes (or faculty) directly to your facility for a hands-on, in-person experience. Your team trains together in real time with live interaction, energy, and practice—while still getting the same follow-up, certificate of completion, and bonuses. Call us for packages & pricing.
Meet Your Instructor:
Mary Millings
Licensed Medical Biller, Coder & Reimbursement Specialist
With over 15 years of experience in medical billing, coding, and collections, Mary Millings has mastered the art of turning denied claims into paid reimbursements. She’s worked across the full continuum of care—from residential and PHP programs to IOP and outpatient treatment—and understands firsthand the financial systems that make or break a facility’s success.
Mary has trained countless professionals in addiction treatment, mental health, and behavioral healthcare on how to build compliant, profitable in-house billing systems. Her teaching style is straightforward, supportive, and packed with real-world examples that make complex billing concepts easy to understand.
Whether you’re new to billing or transitioning from an outside company, Mary’s expertise will help your team streamline collections, increase reimbursement accuracy, and strengthen cash flow—all while staying 100% compliant.
The World’s Premier Training Institute for Mental Health & Addiction Professional Development.
2046 Treasure Coast Pkwy Unit A, #207 Vero Beach FL 32960
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