John Austin
Director of Strategy and Innovation
I am proud to be supporting the development and continuous improvement of Insight Northwest Recovery. I believe in the Insight Northwest Recovery model of treatment that provides the full spectrum of services to support individuals through their recovery journey. My goal is to reduce the barriers and inefficiencies that interfere with our clinicians’ ability to focus on client treatment to ensure we have the greatest impact on the lives of our clients.
Beginning with my degree in Rehabilitation Services, my career path has involved working to support people with disabilities, Medicaid program management, and eventually hospital and insurance payer operations.
Working to establish Insight Northwest Recovery provided an opportunity to apply my combined experiences from all the various sectors toward supporting individuals with co-occuring mental health and substance use disorders.
The need for mental health services, especially for teens and young adults, has become one of the most critical challenges in this region. The rate of addiction, self-harm, and suicidal ideation continues to increase with very little options for care beyond residential facilities. I am honored to be working alongside such talented associates in establishing this facility.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my wife and two children and exploring the beautiful natural sites of the Pacific Northwest.
Professional Background
I have a background in Lean Six Sigma, data analytics, and healthcare operations leadership. Throughout my career, I have held leadership roles for various insurance payers responsible for process improvement, data analytics, claims operations, contract configuration, eligibility/enrollment, provider data management, project management, and member experience.
I have also worked for hospital providers, government agencies, and healthcare consulting firms, focusing on program leadership, process improvement, strategic planning, and data analysis.
I currently serve as Director of Strategy and Innovation managing the organization’s financial health and projections, electronic health records systems, data analytics, policies and procedures, as well as overall management of the front-end revenue cycle (authorization, claims processing, and payment posting), In addition, I maintain our insurance payer contract negotiations, credentialing of clinicians, and regulatory compliance.
Education Credentials
Villanova University - Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt Certification
Florida State University - Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Services