Patient Intake Coordinator – Specialty Pharmacy (Per Diem)

Boston Medical Center; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 51,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Discretionary bonuses

403(b) retirement plan

Job summary

Boston Medical Center is seeking a Drug Access Liaison Specialist to support patients, caregivers, and providers in navigating insurance benefits for injectable therapies across hospital clinics and home settings.

The role emphasizes reviewing patient information, coordinating with providers, and submitting documentation to payers under the Drug Access Hub supervision. A strong understanding of medical terminology and payer policies is required.

Qualifications

• Experience with insurance billing for private or third‑party reimbursement
• Knowledge of private payer, Medicare and Medicaid structures
• Experience with prior authorizations and healthcare billing processes

Responsibilities

• Review patient insurance benefits to navigate drug access barriers
• Submit prior authorization and medical documentation to payers
• Coordinate with care teams to ensure timely access to prescribed therapies
• Assist in managing data reports related to reimbursement and drug access services
• Support Medicare LCD/NCD requirements in patient screening

Skills

Insurance navigation

Prior authorization

Medical terminology

Medicare policies

EMR access

Professional communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate or Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

MS Office

EMR systems

Excel

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

Working as a drug access liaison specialist, supports patients, caregivers, providers, and pharmacies in navigating insurance benefits for all medications that are administered in hospital clinics, infusion centers, and/or home settings. The drug access liaison specialist’s role must understand how to navigate payer medical benefits policies and procedures to ensure patients appropriately receive their prescribed injectable therapies. This person needs to have a strong understanding and ability to identify patient medical information. This role requires the ability to independently interpret medical terminology, which may include but is not limited to an understanding of past medical histories, diagnosis, laboratory, and pathology results. Additionally, this person should have knowledge of medical billing coding in three areas of the site of care: provider, home infusion, and hospital billing. Under the direct supervision of the Manager of Drug Access, this person will identify patient insurance benefits, submit all required medical documentation to the payer for approval, and assist the patient in accessing the drug through the most appropriate site of care.

Position: Patient Intake Coordinator

Specialty Pharmacy Department: Pharmacy - Medical Benefit Authorization Schedule: Per Diem

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES

• An understanding of basic clinical skills related to medical terminology and coding for different disease states or medical conditions
• Skilled communicator with interpersonal communication skills that interact with carrier representatives, patients, and providers
• Comprehensively review patient insurance benefits to navigate drug access barriers
• Understands significant major medical policies as they relate to site of care, medical necessity and, if applicable, pharmacy benefits
• Triage and coordinate patients to the appropriate site of care to ensure patients are accurately prescribed, and receive prescribed drug promptly
• Includes understanding of drug access through hospital, home infusion, and pharmacy points of access
• Ability to review patient medical information through the hospital’s electronic medical records
• Liaise with patient’s relevant health care providers to support patient’s access to therapy and support services.
• Gather medical information and submit timely prior authorization for medications based on payer medical policies
• including but not limited to, the oversight of all authorizations and benefits related to medications that a healthcare provider administers
• Understand prior authorization requirements, including dates of expiration, maximum units/doses
• Gather and assist in the management of data reports related to reimbursement and drug access services
• Identify and understand medical coding billing errors
• Provide assistance to management for all payer audits, collect and distribute pertinent patient information
• Have a strong understanding of Medicare payment policies
• Ability to screen patients for medical necessity based on Medicare LCD and NCD requirements
• Support the Drug Access Hub as needed
• Refer patient to pharmacy
• Financial Assistance Team when appropriate
• Multitasking; ability to complete multiple projects on time.
• Establish milestone and checkpoints to ensure successful work/project completion; follows up on work efforts and takes corrective steps when needed to ensure work remains on track
• Must adhere to all of BMC’s RESPECT behavioral standards (The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION

High school Diploma or equivalent is required; Associate or Bachelor’s degree (preferred)

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED

• Prior Authorization Certified Specialist program completion within the first 12 months of hire.
• Pharmacy Technician National Certification (preferred)

EXPERIENCE

• Requires at least five years of experience working with insurance companies on appropriate billing for private or third party reimbursement, managed care, or clinical support
• Experience within a healthcare setting, such as a physician practice, patient assistance program, or similar pharmaceutical/biological support program, is preferred.
• Knowledge of private payer, Medicare and Medicaid structure, and specialty pharmacy and retail pharmacy processes
• Knowledge of operational processes within a physician’s office and/or infusion center, specifically related to prior authorizations
• Ability to communicate reimbursement and access topics concisely and clearly to provider staff Reviewing patient insurance benefit options and validating prior authorization requirements
• Identifying alternate funding/financial assistance programs Coordinating with hospital patient support services programs representatives
• Proven ability to collaborate and work in teams to achieve results in a complex, fast-paced service environment

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES (KSA)

• Excellent English oral and written communication skills are required, as well as the ability to communicate professionally over the phone.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to provide superb personalized customer service and to instill confidence and to advocate for patients; ability to explain required information to customers in a comprehensible manner.
• Other professional skills and qualities: proactive demeanor, independently problem solve, organized, detail oriented, ability to self-direct through multitasking and prioritizing, dependable, empathetic, focused on quality service, goal-oriented.
• Cultural sensitivity, understanding, and comfort with of various social, racial, and ethnic populations.
• Must practice discretion and confidentiality as the position deals with highly sensitive and private data.
• Ability to understand, explain, and actively promote the hospital’s objectives through direct coordination and commitment to the program’s goals.
• Flexibility to adapt to changes in the departmental needs, including but not limited to offering assistance to other team members, adjusting assignments, etc.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Ability to quickly learn other relevant applications that support patient care management and assigned responsibilities; and ability to extract necessary information.

Compensation

Compensation Range: $25.48- $37.02

Benefits

• benefits (medical, dental, vision, pharmacy)
• discretionary annual bonuses and merit increases
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 403(b) savings matches
• paid time off
• career advancement opportunities
• resources to support employee and family well-being

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Veterans

Boston Medical Center is an equal employment/affirmative action employer. We ensure equal employment opportunities for all, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression or any other non-job-related characteristic.

If you need accommodation for any part of the application process because of a medical condition or disability, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] or call 617-638-8582 to let us know the nature of your request.

Boston Medical Center participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. As an E-Verify employer, prospective employees of BMC must complete a background check before beginning their employment at the hospital.

BMC requires all staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and flu, as well as receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.