Patient Access Coordinator

Astera; East Brunswick Township (NJ); Hybrid; USD 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Job summary

Astera in New Jersey is seeking a Patient Access Coordinator to facilitate timely access to prescribed medications. This role acts as a liaison among patients, healthcare providers, payers, and internal pharmacy teams, handling intake, insurance verification, prior authorizations, and payer communication.

The position offers a hybrid schedule. The coordinator proactively communicates prescription status, payer requirements, and authorization outcomes, maintains accurate documentation, and

Qualifications

• High school diploma required.
• Associate degree in healthcare administration, business, pharmacy, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 1–2 years of experience in a healthcare, pharmacy, medical office, patient access, or insurance-related environment preferred.
• Experience with prior authorizations, pharmacy benefits, medical benefits, or insurance verification.
• Experience communicating with healthcare providers and patients.
• Knowledge of healthcare insurance processes, prior authorizations, and medication access workflows.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and manage prescriptions throughout the medication access and fulfillment process.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for patients regarding prescription status, insurance requirements, and next steps.
• Communicate payer determinations, prior authorization requirements, denials, approvals, and requests for additional information to prescribing providers.
• Coordinate with prior authorization teams, healthcare providers, patients, and pharmacy staff to facilitate timely prescription processing.
• Track and follow up on outstanding prior authorizations, appeals, and payer requests.
• Document all patient, provider, and payer interactions accurately and timely within designated systems.
• Verify prescription information and ensure all required documentation is complete and compliant.
• Escalate complex medication access issues to appropriate clinical or operational personnel.
• Assist patients in understanding medication access processes and provide updates throughout the prescription lifecycle.
• Collaborate with internal teams to identify and resolve barriers to medication access.
• Maintain confidentiality and safeguard protected health information in accordance with HIPAA and organizational policies.
• Meet established productivity, quality, and service standards.
• Participate in departmental meetings, training, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Prior authorization

Insurance verification

Patient communication

HIPAA compliance

Healthcare terminology

Education

High school diploma

Associate degree (preferred)

Job description

Why Join Us?

For us, what matters most is excellence. We are caring professionals, people who live, work and dedicate themselves to the communities within New Jersey and Pennsylvania. As such, we strive to provide a sanctuary of excellence, precision, thoroughness and genuine compassion. We also take a whole-person approach to patient care and treatment, tailoring all that we do around their unique needs. And we do all we can for patients, going the extra mile to see that they’re supported, informed and getting the one-on-one care and service they deserve.

Job Description:

SCOPE:

The Patient Access Coordinator serves as a key liaison among patients, healthcare providers, payers, and internal pharmacy teams to facilitate timely access to prescribed medications. This role is responsible for managing and monitoring prescriptions throughout the medication access process, including prescription intake, insurance verification, prior authorization coordination, payer determination follow-up, and patient communication. This position is eligible for hybrid schedule.

The Patient Access Coordinator proactively communicates prescription status updates, payer requirements, and authorization outcomes to providers and patients while ensuring all documentation is accurately maintained. This position supports operational efficiency, enhances patient experience, and helps remove barriers to medication access.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Monitor and manage prescriptions throughout the medication access and fulfillment process.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for patients regarding prescription status, insurance requirements, and next steps.
• Communicate payer determinations, prior authorization requirements, denials, approvals, and requests for additional information to prescribing providers.
• Coordinate with prior authorization teams, healthcare providers, patients, and pharmacy staff to facilitate timely prescription processing.
• Track and follow up on outstanding prior authorizations, appeals, and payer requests.
• Document all patient, provider, and payer interactions accurately and timely within designated systems.
• Verify prescription information and ensure all required documentation is complete and compliant.
• Escalate complex medication access issues to appropriate clinical or operational personnel.
• Assist patients in understanding medication access processes and provide updates throughout the prescription lifecycle.
• Collaborate with internal teams to identify and resolve barriers to medication access.
• Maintain confidentiality and safeguard protected health information in accordance with HIPAA and organizational policies.
• Meet established productivity, quality, and service standards.
• Participate in departmental meetings, training, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate degree in healthcare administration, business, pharmacy, or related field preferred.

Experience/Knowledge

• Minimum of 1-2 years of experience in a healthcare, pharmacy, medical office, patient access, or insurance-related environment preferred.
• Experience working with prior authorizations, pharmacy benefits, medical benefits, or insurance verification.
• Experience communicating with healthcare providers and patients.
• Knowledge of healthcare insurance processes, prior authorizations, and medication access workflows.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Work is generally performed in an office environment; however, this position offers the opportunity to work hybrid, with telework arrangements available upon approval.

Pay Range:

$22/hr - $28/hr

Pay Transparency:

The above reflects the anticipated pay range for this position. The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate’s educational background, skills and professional experience.