Medication Access Specialist

Astera Cancer Care; Shreveport (LA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Astera Cancer Care is seeking a Medication Access Specialist to support centralized access for patients receiving high-cost infusion and specialty therapies. The role evaluates coverage, coordinates prior authorizations, and communicates findings to keep the drug channel moving.

You will work with pharmacy teams, patient financial advocacy, payers, and leadership to minimize delays and ensure appropriate access, with emphasis on compliance and documentation.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Associate or bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.
• Minimum two years of experience in medication access or related healthcare setting preferred.
• Experience evaluating medical/pharmacy benefits for high-cost medications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct benefit investigations and support medication access processes.
• Coordinate prior authorization and payer requirements.
• Support drug channel and specialty access activities.
• Communicate with patients and care teams; ensure smooth handoffs.
• Maintain documentation and ensure quality and compliance.

Skills

Communication

Attention to detail

Organization

Documentation

Problem-solving

Prioritization

Follow-through

Education

High school diploma

Associate or Bachelor’s degree in healthcare, business, pharmacy, finance, or related field

Tools

Pharmacy technician registration

Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)

Job description

Why Join Us?

We are looking for talented and highly-motivated individuals who demonstrate a natural desire to support the meaningful work of community oncologists and the patients we serve.

Job Description:

SCOPE:

The Medication Access Specialist supports centralized medication access services for patients receiving high-cost infusion and specialty therapies. As part of the Centralized Drug Channel & Specialty Access function within Pharmacy, the position evaluates medical and pharmacy benefit coverage, investigates payer requirements, coordinates prior authorization and access activities, and communicates benefit findings to support timely progression through the enterprise-approved drug channel pathway. The Specialist works collaboratively with the Medication Access Manager, Drug Channel Coordination, Specialty Pharmacy Access, Specialty Pharmacy Operations, Infusion Pharmacy, clinical teams, patient financial advocacy, payers, and pharmacy leadership to minimize treatment delays and support appropriate medication access and financial stewardship.

FUNCTIONS:

1. Benefit Investigation & Medication Access
2. Prior Authorization & Payer Coordination
3. Drug Channel & Specialty Access Support
4. Patient / Care Team Communication & Handoffs
5. Documentation, Quality & Compliance

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate or bachelor's degree in healthcare, business, pharmacy, finance, or a related field preferred but not required.
• Minimum two years of experience in medication access, patient access, business office operations, medical or pharmacy benefits, prior authorization, reimbursement, specialty pharmacy, infusion services, or a related healthcare setting preferred.
• Experience evaluating medical and/or pharmacy benefits for high-cost medications preferred.
• Oncology, infusion, specialty pharmacy, reimbursement, or complex medication-access experience preferred.
• No certifications required, however pharmacy technician registration and/or Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) certification preferred only when applicable to an individual's background or assigned responsibilities.
• Any activity requiring pharmacy technician registration, certification, pharmacist licensure, or other authorization must be performed by appropriately credentialed personnel.

SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE:

• Working knowledge of medical and pharmacy benefit structures, prior authorization processes, payer policies, specialty pharmacy requirements, site-of-care restrictions, and high-cost medication access.
• Familiarity with drug channel concepts including medical versus pharmacy benefit, buy-and-bill, specialty pharmacy routing, payer-mandated specialty pharmacy, 340B, GPO, and limited-distribution requirements.
• Ability to distinguish benefit/access functions from pharmacist-required clinical, counseling, prescription verification, and dispensing responsibilities.
• Strong communication, organization, documentation, problem-solving, prioritization, attention to detail, and follow-through skills.
• The Medication Access Specialist is an access/business-office role and does not inherently require pharmacy technician credentials. Individuals with pharmacy technician credentials may perform additional pharmacy-specific activities when permitted by law, organizational policy, and pharmacist supervision.

For more than 50 years, the staff at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has provided the highest quality care to our patients. We strive to hire the best qualified applicants to join our growing team.