We are seeking a highly organized and experienced Prior Authorization Specialist – Surgery to support a U.S.-based healthcare organization in managing surgical authorization requests for inpatient and outpatient procedures.
The ideal candidate has extensive experience in surgical prior authorizations, proficiency in Epic EMR, and a strong understanding of payer requirements, medical necessity guidelines, and expedited authorization processes.
This role requires the ability to independently manage 20+ authorization requests daily, coordinate with insurance providers and surgical teams, and ensure timely approvals to prevent procedure delays and authorization-related claim denials.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage and process 20+ prior authorization requests daily for inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures, ensuring accuracy and timely completion.
- Review surgical orders, CPT/HCPCS codes, ICD-10 codes, and supporting clinical documentation in Epic to determine authorization requirements.
- Submit, monitor, and follow up on authorization requests through payer portals, including Availity, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, BCBS, eviCore, and Carelon.
- Identify urgent and time-sensitive surgical cases and initiate expedited authorization requests with appropriate clinical justification.
- Monitor pending authorizations and proactively escalate delayed requests to prevent surgical cancellations or rescheduling.
- Coordinate peer-to-peer reviews between surgeons and insurance medical directors for pending or denied authorization requests.
- Process authorization modifications, including changes in procedure codes, surgery dates, service locations, and authorization extensions.
- Verify patient insurance eligibility, benefits, and coverage requirements before scheduled procedures.
- Maintain accurate documentation of authorization statuses, payer communications, reference numbers, and determinations within Epic.
- Collaborate with surgeons, surgical schedulers, clinical staff, and insurance representatives to resolve authorization-related concerns.
- Stay updated on payer policies, medical necessity criteria, and authorization guidelines to ensure compliance and operational efficiency.
- Ensure all patient information is handled in accordance with HIPAA regulations and organizational policies.
Qualifications
- At least 3 years of experience in prior authorization, including a minimum of 2 years specifically handling surgical procedures.
- Hands-on experience using Epic EMR, particularly authorization/referral workflows, work queues, and scheduling modules such as Cadence or OpTime.
- Proven ability to process 20+ surgical prior authorizations daily while maintaining accuracy and meeting turnaround expectations.
- Strong experience navigating insurance payer portals, including Availity, UHC, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, BCBS, eviCore, and Carelon.
- Solid understanding of inpatient and outpatient surgical authorization requirements and medical necessity guidelines.
- Knowledge of CPT, HCPCS, and ICD-10 coding systems.
- Familiarity with commercial insurance, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid authorization policies.
- Demonstrated experience managing urgent and expedited authorization requests.
- Working knowledge of clinical review criteria, including InterQual, MCG, and payer-specific medical necessity policies.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining HIPAA compliance.
- Prior authorization experience in surgical specialties such as Orthopedics, Spine, Neurosurgery, General Surgery, or ENT.
- Experience supporting ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), hospitals, or surgical departments.
- Background in coordinating peer-to-peer reviews, managing authorization denials, and supporting appeals.
- Relevant certifications such as CPAR, CRCS, or CPC.
- Previous experience working remotely within a U.S. healthcare organization or revenue cycle management (RCM) team.
- Amenable to work during US hours
- Must be willing to undergo a background check as part of the hiring process.
Perks
- Permanent Work From Home
- Leave Credits
- Monetary Allowance
- Annual Bonus
- Weekly Paychecks
- Fixed Weekends Off
- Thriving Company Culture with Complete Autonomy
- Exclusive Specialized Training Programs
- Unlock Your Potential with a Highly Competitive Salary
____________________________________________________________________
Who are we?
BizForce is one of the fastest-growing global outsourcing companies in the world, founded in the US in Tucson, Arizona and is now operational in PH!
Our Commitment to delivering high-quality results for our clients and the only way to do that is ensuring a rewarding, respectful and productive experience for our employees. We hold the same values for both our customers and our employees.