Central Authorization Specialist

Henry Ford Health; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 54,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Henry Ford Health is seeking a Central Authorization Specialist to centrally facilitate obtaining insurance authorizations for procedures and post-operative care. You will validate authorizations, educate procuring staff, and drive continuous improvement across a multi-disciplinary team to manage costs and provide timely information to payors.

Under supervision, you will handle a designated caseload, align with policies, and collaborate with physicians, payors, and patients to ensure accurate

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; 3–5 years in a medical clinic, hospital, or corporate setting.
• Two years of experience in healthcare insurance verification and/or billing.
• Proficiency with computer systems and applications; knowledge of medical coding and clinical terminology.

Responsibilities

• Subject matter expertise of precertification and payor authorization processes.
• Validate authorizations by coordinating with ordering physician offices and educating staff.
• Distribute feedback from back-end coding, billing, and denial management to promote improvement.
• Apply process improvement methodologies to central authorization workflows.

Skills

Insurance verification

Medical coding

Data management

Communication

Time management

Analytical

Collaboration

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Company Description

At Henry Ford Health, we're committed to advancing health and improving lives for the millions of people we serve across Michigan and around the world. As one of the nation’s leading academic health systems, we provide a comprehensive continuum of care that includes primary and preventive services, specialty and complex care, virtual care, pharmacy, home health, eye care, health insurance, and more. With 12 hospitals and hundreds of ambulatory care locations, including former Ascension Southeast Michigan and Flint Region facilities, our growing network expands access to exceptional care in the communities we serve. Headquartered in Detroit, Henry Ford Health is helping shape the future of healthcare through the transformative Future of Health: Detroit initiative, a $3 billion investment that is redefining our academic healthcare campus and advancing innovation, research, education, and community impact. Our work is grounded in purpose, collaboration, and belonging. We empower team members to grow their careers, contribute innovative ideas, and make a meaningful difference every day. Whether you're caring for patients, supporting operations, conducting research, or driving new solutions, you'll be part of a team united by a shared mission: delivering exceptional care, advancing health outcomes, and building healthier communities for all.

Job Description

The purpose of the Central Authorization Specialist position is to centrally facilitate the successful procuring of insurance authorizations for ordered procedures and post-operative care. This will be done through quality validations of obtained authorizations as well as continuous education and opportunity feedback to a multi-disciplinary team with the underlying objective of managing the cost of care and providing timely and accurate information to payors. The Central Authorization Specialist helps drive change by identifying areas where performance improvement is needed (e.g., day to day workflow, education, process improvements, patient satisfaction). The Central Authorization Specialist is accountable for a designated caseload and plans effectively in order to meet demands and support resources procuring authorizations. Under general supervision and in accordance with established policies and procedures the specific functions within this role include:

• Subject matter expertise of precertification and payor authorization processes.
• Ensure successful authorizations are procured by ordering physician offices through validation of work effort and education of procuring staff.
• Ensure feedback relevant to successful authorization procurement is obtained from back end coding, billing and denial management resources and distributed to ordering physicians and authorization procurement staff to promote continuous improvement.
• Application of process improvement methodologies.

The responsibilities includes acting as a centralized resource for assigned specialty across all sites of practice to ensure standardized and consistent procurement of authorizations.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; minimum 3-5 years of related experience in a medical clinic, hospital, or corporate setting
• Two years of experience in healthcare insurance verification and/or billing
• Proficiency with computer systems and applications
• Knowledge of medical coding and clinical terminology
• Ability to interpret clinical notes and insurance documentation
• Strong organizational and time management skills with ability to prioritize multiple tasks
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong analytical and data management capabilities
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment with physicians, payors, and patients
• Ability to collaborate effectively with all levels of management and clinical staff

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a medical or surgical specialty clinic
• Knowledge of hospital operations, utilization management, case management, and managed care reimbursement
• Understanding of revenue cycle processes including billing, coding, charge capture, and reimbursement
• Coursework or certification in business, healthcare administration, or related field
• Strong negotiation and interpersonal communication skills