Deputy Director- Authorizations and Referrals (1035)

SIU Medicine; Springfield (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

SIU Medicine in Springfield seeks a leader for Authorization and Referral within Revenue Cycle to ensure timely prior authorizations, referrals, and payer compliance. You will drive standardized workflows, monitor performance, and partner with clinical departments and payers to minimize delays in patient care.

The role oversees staff, aligns IT systems with business goals, and develops policies to improve access, billing accuracy, and reimbursement efficiency on-site in Illinois.

Qualifications

• Eleven years of progressively responsible management work experience.
• Bachelor's degree may be substituted for three years non-specialized experience.
• Master's degree may be substituted for one year specialized work experience.
• Ability to analyze situations and develop policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of automated information systems and how they monitor activity.
• Detailed knowledge of prior authorization and referral processes and payer rules.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop staff within Authorization and Referral functions.
• Develop staffing plans, monitor workload, and resource needs.
• Standardize workflows, work queues, and payer documentation standards.
• Maintain relationships with government and commercial payers for authorization needs.
• Oversee submission of prior authorization and referral requests and ensure compliance.
• Monitor denials, appeals, and write-offs; partner to reduce delays.
• Prepare performance reports and drive improvements with Revenue Cycle leadership.
• Collaborate with IT, Epic, and operations to optimize systems and queueing.
• Enforce policies and performance standards for patient access and financial clearance.
• Represent Authorization and Referral on committees; attend education activities.

Skills

Staff leadership

Policy development

Strategic planning

Payer relations

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

Description

Under the general direction of the Executive Director of Revenue Cycle, the incumbent provides strategic and operational leadership for authorization and referral functions across SIU Health Care. The position is responsible for ensuring timely and accurate prior authorization, referral, and related payer requirements for scheduled and unscheduled services; developing standardized workflows; monitoring productivity, quality, denials, and financial outcomes; and partnering with clinical departments, payers, and other Revenue Cycle teams to reduce administrative burden and prevent avoidable delays in patient care. This position oversees assigned authorization and referral staff and leaders, supports system and process optimization, and serves as a representative of the Executive Director as requested. *This position is ON SITE only*

Examples of Duties

1. Responsibility for the leadership, hiring, development, performance management, and evaluation of staff and leaders within the Authorization and Referral functions. Assigned responsibilities and duties may be delegated to subordinate staff.
2. Develop, implement, and monitor staffing plans, productivity expectations, and resource needs necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the Authorization and Referral functions. Monitor workload, service demand, and operational performance and prepare recommendations for additional staff, technology, or resources when appropriate.
3. Develop, implement, standardize, and maintain authorization and referral workflows, work queues, payer requirements, documentation standards, and escalation processes to support timely patient access, accurate authorization determinations, and efficient Revenue Cycle operations.
4. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with government and commercial payers to clarify authorization, notification, referral, medical necessity, and benefit requirements. Escalate payer-related barriers and recurring issues and partner with Managed Care and other appropriate departments on resolution.
5. Oversee the timely initiation, submission, follow-up, and documentation of prior authorization and referral requests for services. Ensure required clinical and administrative information is obtained and submitted in accordance with payer requirements and organizational standards.
6. Develop and monitor processes for authorization and referral denials, peer-to-peer requests, appeals, retroauthorizations, and other escalations. Partner with clinical teams, Coding, Patient Financial Services, Managed Care, and other Revenue Cycle areas to identify root causes and reduce preventable denials and write-offs.
7. Prepare and monitor production, quality, turnaround-time, denial, financial, and other performance reports. Analyze trends, document decision rationale, identify opportunities for improvement, and provide recommendations to Revenue Cycle leadership and operational partners.
8. Work with Information Technology, Epic, and operational stakeholders to identify, develop, test, implement, and optimize automated systems, work queues, decision support, payer content, and processes that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of authorization and referral operations.
9. Develop, implement, monitor, and continuously improve policies, procedures, controls, and performance standards for effective authorization and referral management, including processes that support appropriate scheduling, patient communication, and financial clearance.
10. Troubleshoot complex authorization and referral issues and provide guidance to faculty, clinical staff, operational leaders, and Revenue Cycle staff. Research escalated inquiries, identify appropriate resources, and develop solutions for issues that may affect patient access, reimbursement, or operational performance.
11. Develop and maintain positive communication and collaborative relationships with clinical departments, scheduling and access teams, Revenue Cycle departments, Managed Care, Information Technology, School of Medicine administrators, and other internal and external partners.
12. Monitor compliance with organizational policies, payer requirements, regulatory standards, and established authorization and referral procedures. Promote accurate and consistent practices that support patient access, compliance, and appropriate reimbursement.
13. Represent Authorization and Referral operations on internal and external committees, workgroups, payer meetings, system implementation teams, and other groups as assigned.
14. Attend seminars, workshops, and other continuing education activities related to prior authorization, referrals, payer requirements, patient access, reimbursement, regulatory changes, and Revenue Cycle operations.
15. Functions as a representative of the Executive Director of Revenue Cycle during his/her absence and/or as delegated.

5% Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties described above.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Eleven (11) years of progressively responsible management work experience in a private or governmental organization: A. Eight (8) years in the area of designated specialization required by the position AND B. Three (3) years supervising the work of a professional staff or process within the designated specialization -Bachelor's degree may be substituted for the above three (3) years non-specialized experience requirement -Master's degree may be substituted for one (1) year specialized work experience
2. Ability to analyze a situation and to develop and implement policies and procedures, which meet the overall goals and objectives of SIU Health Care, its members, School and University.
3. Knowledge of automated information systems and how this information can be effectively utilized to monitor activity and accomplish goals
4. Detailed knowledge of prior authorization and referral processes, insurance benefit and eligibility requirements, medical necessity requirements, third-party payer coverage guidelines, and healthcare Revenue Cycle operations. Knowledge of government and commercial payer requirements, including Illinois programs, preferred.

Desirable Qualifications:

1. Ability to analyze a situation and to develop and implement policies and procedures, which meet the overall goals and objectives of SIU Health Care, its members, School and University.
2. Knowledge of automated information systems and how this information can be effectively utilized to monitor activity and accomplish goals
3. Detailed knowledge of prior authorization and referral processes, insurance benefit and eligibility requirements, medical necessity requirements, third-party payer coverage guidelines, and healthcare Revenue Cycle operations. Knowledge of government and commercial payer requirements, including Illinois programs, preferred.

Condition of Employment

Out of State Applicants that apply to Springfield vacancies in classifications in the occupational area of Professional, Semi-Professional, or Managerial will be subject to the following Condition of Employment: Pursuant to the State University Civil Service System, an out-of-state resident who is hired into this position must establish Illinois residency within 180 calendar days of their start date.

If you require assistance, please contact the Office of Human Resources at [e-mail] or call 217-545-0223 Monday through Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm.

The mission of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine is to optimize the health of the people of central and southern Illinois through education, patient care, research and service to the community.

The SIU School of Medicine Annual Security Report is available online at https://www.siumed.edu/police-security. This report contains policy statements and crime statistics for Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, IL. This report is published in compliance with Federal Law titled the

"Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act."

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine is an Affimative Action/Equal Opportunity employer who provides equal employment and educational opportunities for all qualified persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, protected veteran status or marital status in accordance with local, state and federal law.

Pre-employment background screenings required.