Authorizations Team Lead - Oncology, Santa Monica

UCLA Health; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

UCLA Health in Santa Monica, CA is seeking an experienced Lead Authorizations Coordinator in Hematology-Oncology. You will train community practice authorization coordinators and oversee insurance verification and authorization for visits, chemotherapy, and procedures across UCLA facilities and external sites.

Responsibilities include supervising daily authorization tasks, training new schedulers, ensuring proper procedure approvals, and delivering exceptional patient service while maintaining

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of insurance authorization and verification process for major medical plans.
• Knowledge of oncology CPT and ICD-10 codes; familiarity with oncology procedures.
• Experience with word processing and EMR systems; proficient typing.
• Strong customer service skills for interactions with patients, staff, physicians.
• Ability to set priorities and complete tasks with minimal supervision.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to adapt to change.
• Understanding of third party payor verification and Medicare/Medi-Cal.
• Problem-solving and teamwork with confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Lead authorizations training for FPG/Hematology-Oncology community coordinators.
• Verify insurance benefits for procedures and medications.
• Obtain authorizations for office visits, procedures, chemotherapy.
• Schedule chemotherapy, injections, and procedures at UCLA and external facilities.
• Provide high level of customer service.
• Train new and existing clinic schedulers in Hematology/Oncology practices.
• Handle daily authorization coordination tasks.

Skills

Insurance verification

CPT/ICD-10 codes

EMR systems

Typing speed

Customer service

Billing procedures

Prioritization

Organizational skills

Adaptability

Payor verification

Medicare/Medi-Cal

Problem solving

Teamwork

Communication

Confidentiality

Initiative

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

EMR system

Job description

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Work Location: Santa Monica, CA, USA

Work Schedule

Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm (fully on-site)

Posted Date

10/14/2026

Salary Range: $35.28 - 53.48 Hourly

Employment Type

Duration

Indefinite

Job #

33525

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

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In this role, you will serve as the Lead Authorizations Coordinator for FPG/Hematology-Oncology. You will be expected to use in-depth knowledge of Hematology/Oncology standard of care and research authorizations clearance to train all community practice authorization coordinators. You will work closely with the Manager and Supervisor to ensure appropriate initial training is provided to all new hires as well as provide ongoing training to existing staff members. Incumbent will serve as a resource for all authorization coordinators and community practice managers. You will possess knowledge of verifying insurance benefits for requested procedures and medications, confirming and obtaining appropriate authorization for office visits, procedures, and chemotherapy. In addition to the lead duties, you will be expected to handle the daily tasks of an Authorizations coordination obtaining authorization for and scheduling chemotherapy, injections, and procedures within the office, at UCLA facilities, and at outside facilities. Provide a high level of customer service. Major duties include: train new and existing clinic schedulers in all Hematology/Oncology community practices. verifying insurance benefits for requested procedures and medications, confirming and obtaining appropriate authorization for office visits, procedures, chemotherapy, etc., and special projects as assigned.

Salary range: $35.28/hr - $53.48/hr

Job Qualifications

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Required:

• In-depth working knowledge of insurance authorization and verification process for major medical insurance plans.
• Knowledge of oncology CPT and ICD-10 codes and medical office procedures. Working knowledge of oncology procedures and terminology.
• Experience with varied computer software and hardware including word processing, knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, the internet and with an EMR system.
• Typing skills to prepare forms and correspondence with speed and accuracy.
• Possesses strong customer service skills to promote pleasant and effective interactions with patients, staff, and physicians.
• Knowledge of billing and medical office procedures.
• Ability to set priorities and complete assignments in a timely manner under minimal supervision.
• Advanced organizational skills to ensure a workable, efficient workspace and accomplish established objectives.
• Skill in adapting to and implementing frequently changing procedures.
• Working knowledge of third party payor verification terminology to determine benefit eligibility and interpretation of coverage.
• Knowledge of State and Federal programs to ensure reimbursement from Medicare, Medi-Cal, or other sponsoring agencies.
• Skill in analyzing information, problems, situations, practices, and procedures to recognize alternatives and provide solutions.
• Ability to problem-solve with other members of the clinic team while maintaining cooperative working relationships with administrators, physicians, peers, and the public.
• Skill in recognizing an emergency or high priority situation and taking appropriate and immediate action. Demonstrated ability to maintain composure when confronted by difficult situations and to respond professionally.
• Skill in speaking clearly and using appropriate grammar.
• Ability to work as part of a team, maintaining confidentiality in all assignments, and showing initiative in identifying and solving problems as they occur.

Preferred:

• Knowledge of patient assistance programs.

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer. Current/former UC employees are subject to a personnel file review.