Insurance Authorization Specialist

Veterans Inc.; Worcester (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

BCBS Medical, Dental, and Vision

Disability & Life Insurance

Medical Opt-Out $2500

403B Match

Flexible Spending Accounts

Tuition Reimbursement

Paid Parental Leave

Job summary

Veterans Inc. in Worcester, MA is seeking an Insurance Authorization Specialist to manage eligibility and authorizations from admission through discharge.

You will verify eligibility, obtain initial authorizations, track ongoing authorizations, handle payer follow-up, and assist MassHealth enrollment to ensure timely admissions and payments. This role collaborates with Admissions, Clinical/Case Management, and Billing to maintain accurate insurance data in the EHR, resolve coverage issues, and

Qualifications

• Experience with insurance authorizations and healthcare revenue cycle.
• Knowledge of MassHealth enrollment processes preferred.
• Strong organizational, communication, and follow-up skills.

Responsibilities

• Obtain and manage initial insurance authorizations (Notice Of Admission).
• Monitor authorization expiration dates and obtain continued-stay extensions.
• Process authorization requirements when a patient’s insurance changes.
• Communicate with insurance companies, utilization review departments, and payer portals.
• Obtain clinical information for continued-stay requests.
• Maintain accurate authorization data in the EHR.
• Monitor authorization worklists and resolve exceptions.
• Identify and elevate denials or coverage issues.
• Collaborate with Admissions and Billing to ensure required authorizations.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Follow-up skills

Multitasking

Education

CAC certification (preferred)

Tools

AdvancedMD

Job description

The Insurance Authorization Specialist is responsible for managing insurance eligibility and authorizations from admission through discharge, including eligibility verification, initial authorizations, continued-stay extensions, insurance changes, authorization tracking and payer follow-up, and assistance with MassHealth and eligible managed care organization enrollment.

The Specialist works closely with Admissions, Clinical/Case Management, and Billing to ensure that patients have the appropriate insurance coverage and authorization, authorization information and insurance information is accurately maintained in EHR, and insurance or authorization-related issues do not delay admissions or payment.

The position operates primarily through an exception-management model, using EHR to track insurance eligibility, authorizations, expiration dates, insurance changes and items requiring follow-up.

Responsibilities

• Obtain and manage initial insurance authorizations (Notice Of Admission) for all new admissions.
• Monitor authorization expiration dates and obtain timely continued-stay extensions.
• Process authorization requirements when a patient's insurance changes.
• Communicate with insurance companies, utilization review departments, and payer portals.
• Obtain required clinical information from Clinical/Case Management for continued-stay requests.
• Maintain accurate authorization numbers, dates, units/days, and payer information in EHR.
• Monitor authorization worklists and resolve exceptions promptly.
• Identify and elevate authorization denials, reductions, or potential coverage issues.
• Work closely with Admissions to ensure authorization requirements are addressed before or at admission.
• Work closely with Billing to ensure claims have accurate authorization and insurance information.
• Maintain complete documentation of payer communications and authorization decisions.
• Help identify opportunities to improve automation, eliminate duplicate tracking, and reduce authorization-related denials.
• Verify insurance eligibility for all patients and identify and resolve coverage issues requiring follow-up.
• Assist patients with MassHealth enrollment and enrollment into an eligible managed care organization consistent with program contracting requirements.
• Assist with insurance changes, including updating coverage information and coordinating required follow-up with MassHealth or the applicable payer.

Qualifications

• Experience with insurance authorizations, healthcare revenue cycle, utilization management, or related healthcare operations.
• Behavioral health, substance-use-disorder, CSS, RRS, BSAS, MassHealth, or Massachusetts payer experience preferred.
• Strong organizational, communication, and follow-up skills.
• Ability to manage multiple payer requirements and deadlines.
• Experience with EHR systems; AdvancedMD experience preferred.
• Knowledge of MassHealth eligibility, managed care organizations, and enrollment processes preferred.
• Certified Application Counselor (CAC) certification preferred; candidates without current certification must complete required training and certification within six months of employment.

What We Can Offer You

Comprehensive Benefits Package for FT employees includes:

• BCBS Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Employer Paid Short and Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• $2500 Medical Opt-Out program if you have medical coverage through another source.
• Retirement Plan (403B) with a $3000 Match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Paid Parental Leave

Salary: $60000 - $72800 per year

Veterans Inc. is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or protected Veteran status.