Pharmacy Technician Specialist-Specialty Pharmacy Call Center, Full-time Days

Northwestern Memorial Hospital; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 37,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition Reimbursement

Student Loan Repayment

Professional Development

Wellbeing Fund

Matching 401(k)

Excellent medical, dental and vision

Job summary

Northwestern Medicine is seeking a Pharmacy Technician Specialist to support Specialty Pharmacy Call Center and daily dispensing operations within a hospital setting. This role requires an active Illinois Pharmacy Technician License and relevant certification, with emphasis on patient assistance programs and third-party billing processes.

The position includes a broad range of responsibilities from coordinating workflows to ensuring accurate patient information, billing, and insurance responses,

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED equivalent.
• Active Illinois Pharmacy Technician License (IDFPR).
• Pharmacy Technician licenses issued after 12/31/07 must have either CERTIFIED or STUDENT designation by their second license renew in accordance with Section 9 of the Illinois Pharmacy Practice Act.
• Specialty Pharmacy: Certified Pharmacy Technician through PTCB or ExCPT through NHA.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates and effectively communicates with management, co-workers, customers, and other healthcare professionals regarding changes to workflows, updates, backorder, and new drug information when/where appropriate.
• Directly enrolls eligible patients into manufacturer patient assistance co-pay programs
• Identify, research, and resolve issues and consumer complaints
• Possess working knowledge of participating third-party payors and their requirements
• Establish and maintain open communication with pharmacy operations analysts regarding third-party billing issues and centralized procurement team regarding ordering and inventory matters
• Assists with prescription audits as needed
• Educate pharmacy staff regarding third-party billing policies and procedures as needed
• Answers and triages patient, provider, and third-party calls to appropriate individuals adhering to phone scripts in a courteous and professional manner
• Coordinate prescription orders accurately and appropriately, including, but not limited to, “ready at” date, time, and shipping/delivery method
• Possess thorough understanding of the processes and procedures for shipping patient’s medications and can independently resolve any complications
• Spend ≤ 5% of time on quality management of the program

Skills

Critical thinking

1-2 years technician experience

Education

High School diploma or GED equivalent (Education)

Active Illinois Pharmacy Technician License (IDFPR)

Tools

PTCB Certification

ExCPT Certification

Job description

The salary range for this position is $26.69 - $37.37 (Hourly Rate)

Placement within the salary range is dependent on several factors such as relevant work experience and internal equity. For positions represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range is guided by the rules outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section located at jobs.nm.org/benefits to learn more.

Northwestern Medicine is powered by a community of colleagues who are purpose-driven and committed to our mission to deliver world-class care. Here, you'll work alongside some of the best clinical talent in the nation leading the way in medical innovation and breakthrough research with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

We recognize where you've been, and we support where you're headed. We celebrate diverse perspectives and experiences, which fuel our commitment to equity and culture of service.

Grow your career with comprehensive training and development opportunities, mentorship programs, educational support and student loan repayment.

Create the life you envision for yourself with flexible work options, a Reimbursable Well-Being Fund and a Total Rewards package that support your physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.

Make a difference through volunteer opportunities we offer in local communities and drive inclusive change through our workforce-led resource groups.

From discovery to delivery, come help us shape the future of medicine.

Benefits

• $10,000 Tuition Reimbursement per year ($5,700 part-time)
• $10,000 Student Loan Repayment ($5,000 part-time)
• $1,000 Professional Development per year ($500 part-time)
• $250 Wellbeing Fund per year ($125 for part-time)
• Matching 401(k)
• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage
• Life insurance
• Annual Employee Salary Increase and Incentive Bonus
• Paid time off and Holiday pay

Description

The Pharmacy Technician Specialist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

Under the direction of a registered pharmacist, performs all technical duties associated with the daily operation of the dispensing areas; performs prescription-related, unit dose-related, and sterile product-related functions; performs manufacturing procedures that have been documented in the Department records.

Specialty Pharmacy Call Center Responsibilities

• Coordinates and effectively communicates with management, co-workers, customers, and other healthcare professionals regarding changes to workflows, updates, backorder, and new drug information when/where appropriate
• Directly enrolls eligible patients into manufacturer patient assistance co-pay programs
• Identify, research, and resolve issues and consumer complaints
• Possess working knowledge of participating third-party payors and their requirements
• Establish and maintain open communication with pharmacy operations analysts regarding third-party billing issues and centralized procurement team regarding ordering and inventory matters
• Assists with prescription audits as needed
• Educate pharmacy staff regarding third-party billing policies and procedures as needed
• Answers and triages patient, provider, and third-party calls to appropriate individuals adhering to phone scripts in a courteous and professional manner
• Contact payers for lost medication, replacement, or vacation overrides
• Troubleshoot and resolve billing rejections and subsequently rebill claims to appropriate carriers for all commercial, federal, and state insurance plans
• Verify and accurately update patient demographic information in appropriate system(s)
• Document patient’s insurance information in appropriate system(s)
• Refer and document any clinical questions regarding prescriptions, drug information, or health conditions requiring follow-up to a pharmacist
• Utilize case management and pharmacy software systems to schedule prescription refills and adjudicate claims
• Coordinate prescription orders accurately and appropriately, including, but not limited to, “ready at” date, time, and shipping/delivery method
• Possess thorough understanding of the processes and procedures for shipping patient’s medications and can independently resolve any complications
• Spend ≤ 5% of time on quality management of the program

Pharmacy Technician Specialist Core Job Description Responsibilities

• Performs the duties and responsibilities of a Pharmacy Technician at advanced level.
• Leads performance improvement initiatives
• Liaison between pharmacy and other departments
• Assists with/coordinates pharmacy technician schedule, services, prioritizing assignments and workflow, and promoting situational decision making/problem solving
• Fosters a team environment by providing education and training
• Maintains documentation of completion for media fill and fingertip testing
• Participates in site meetings (i.e. Drug Shortage, huddles, staff meetings)
• Responsible for controlled substance receiving, reconciliation, discrepancy tracking, and investigations
• Performs minor repairs of ADS machines
• Participates in projects as assigned by manager
• Handles recalls, crash carts monitoring, and kitcheck ordering
• Troubleshooting
• Restocks
• Performs Tech-Check-Tech (i.e. automated dispensing cabinet (ADC) runs/controlled substance in ADC; barcode scanned pills, pre-mixed IV bags)
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements

Education

• High School diploma or GED equivalent

Licensure

• Active Illinois Pharmacy Technician License (IDFPR)
• Pharmacy Technician licenses issued after 12/31/07 must have either CERTIFIED or STUDENT designation by their second license renew in accordance with Section 9 of the Illinois Pharmacy Practice Act
• Licensed Technicians prior to 1/1/2008 certification requirement must meet department skill level

Certification

• Specialty Pharmacy: Certified Pharmacy Technician through PTCB or ExCPT through NHA

Experience

• 1-2 years’ technician experience
• Previous experience as a Pharmacy Technician in a hospital or outpatient setting

Physical Demands

• Excellent critical thinking skills, decisive judgement, and the ability to work with minimal supervision

Preferred

• Minimum 5 years’ technician experience

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events.

Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings.

If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.