Clinical Pharmacist

Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield; Little Rock (AR); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 159,000; Full time

Job summary

Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield is seeking a Clinical Pharmacist in Little Rock, AR. The role reports to Pharmacy Leadership and may work with Medical Directors and enterprise personnel across Care Management and Utilization Management.

A bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy and an active state license are required. Three years of pharmacy practice experience are needed, with preference for experience in managed care and drug utilization review.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from an accredited college of pharmacy.
• Active and current, unrestricted license in pharmacy in the state(s) where job duties are performed.
• Minimum three (3) years’ pharmacy practice experience.
• Preference for 1+ years in medical pharmacy utilization management.

Responsibilities

• Assists in development and supervises the drug utilization and prior authorization review program.
• Develops and implements pharmacy cost containment strategies for enterprise, regions, and large accounts.
• Drafts pharmaceutical criteria and supports the enterprise prior authorization program.
• Keeps up-to-date on medication information and shares best practices with Medical Directors and leadership.
• May conduct second level review for medical and pharmacy benefit prior-authorizations and medical necessity reviews.
• Ensures alignment of medical policies and claims processing with utilization management strategies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Prepares and presents reports and analyses on utilization and cost trends for enterprise lines and large accounts.
• Provides leadership on pharmacy reimbursement, claims processing policies, and vendor selection.
• Reviews coverage to determine required review type and collaborates with providers and internal staff.

Skills

Coaching

Conflict Resolution

Critical Thinking

Interpersonal Communication

Time Management

Written Communication

Education

Pharmacy Degree

Job description

Job Summary

The Clinical Pharmacist will report to and operate under the direction of Pharmacy Leadership and will also be expected to work cooperatively and sometimes independently with all medical directors and enterprise personnel. This position may be assigned to a specific scope and/or line of business (Care Management, Utilization Management, etc.).

Requirements

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from an accredited college of pharmacy.

LICENSING/CERTIFICATION

• Holds an active and current, unrestricted license in pharmacy in the state(s) where job duties are performed required.

EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

• Minimum three (3) years’ pharmacy practice experience.
• Minimum three (3) years’ experience in managed pharmacy care and drug utilization review preferred.
• Preference will be given to individuals who have one (1) or more years of experience in medical pharmacy utilization management.

LOCATION

This is a hybrid role in our Little Rock, AR, location, requiring a minimum of three days in office weekly.

Skills

• Coaching Others
• Conflict Resolution
• Continuous Learning
• Critical Thinking
• Employee Engagement Strategies
• Evaluating Information
• Interpersonal Communication
• Interpersonal Relationships
• Management Techniques
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Oral Communications
• Problem Sensitivity
• Researching
• Service Oriented
• Task Delegation
• Time Management
• Written Communication

Responsibilities

• Assists in development and supervises the drug utilization and prior authorization review program.
• Develops and implements pharmacy cost containment strategies tailored to the specific situations and patterns of the enterprise, specific regions, and large accounts.
• Drafts pharmaceutical criteria and performs other activities in support of the enterprise prior authorization program.
• Keeps up-to-date on medication information, contributing to the identification of pharmacy program best practices, collaborating with Medical Directors, leadership, and clinical department as a subject matter expert (SME).
• May be responsible for conducting the second level review for medical and pharmacy benefit medication prior-authorizations, exceptions, and medical necessity reviews submitted to the plan.
• May be responsible for ensuring appropriate alignment of medical policies and configuration for claims processing and utilization management.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Prepares and presents reports, data and analyses on the utilization and cost trends for enterprise lines of business, specific regions, and large accounts.
• Provides leadership and advice on developing and implementing pharmacy reimbursement, claims processing policies and procedures, and pharmacy vendor selection.
• Reviews and interprets coverage across assigned line(s) of business to determine what type of review is required and works with requesting providers, corporate medical directors, and other internal staff, as appropriate, in determining whether a specific case presentation meets the criteria for approval according to the specific coverage criteria.
• Serves as a liaison to individual pharmacists, professional pharmacy organizations, internal committees, case management, medical management, and other providers on pharmacy issues.
• Supports pharmacy initiatives for member, provider, and client satisfaction.
• Uses clinical knowledge and independent critical thinking skills towards interpreting criteria, policies, and procedures to make determinations on prior approval reviews and retrospective reviews and/or pharmacy consultations within case management.
• Uses knowledge of the pharmacy and/or medical benefit to communicate with, and provide recommendations to Care Management nurses, social workers, and medical directors.
• Uses knowledge of the pharmacy and/or medical benefit to ensure our members receive their medications in a timely fashion, avoiding delays in treatment.

Certifications

Pharmacist License - Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy

Hiring Range

$125,000.00 - $158,550.00

Security Requirements

This position is identified as level three (3). This position must ensure the security and confidentiality of records and information to prevent substantial harm, embarrassment, inconvenience, or unfairness to any individual on whom information is maintained. The integrity of information must be maintained as outlined in the company Administrative Manual.

Segregation of Duties

Segregation of duties will be used to ensure that errors or irregularities are prevented or detected on a timely basis by employees in the normal course of business. This position must adhere to the segregation of duties guidelines in the Administrative Manual.

Employment Type

Regular

ADA Requirements

1.1 General Office Worker, Sedentary, Campus Travel - Someone who normally works in an office setting or remotely and routinely travels for work within walking distance of location of primary work assignment.