Prior Authorization Clinical Pharmacist

Elevance Health; Durham (NC); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Elevance Health is seeking a Prior Authorization Clinical Pharmacist to evaluate and manage pharmaceutical use and support key clinical pharmacy programs. This full-time role emphasizes DUR, DIS, and formulary management with hybrid/virtual work options.

Requires a BA/BS in Pharmacy and active pharmacist licensure; 2+ years PBM or residency experience preferred; PharmD is a plus. Flexible locations within commuting distance are considered.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in Pharmacy required; PharmD preferred.
• Licensed pharmacist with current state license.
• Experience in managed care pharmacy or residency preferred.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and manage selection and utilization of pharmaceuticals for safe, effective use.
• Support Drug Utilization Review (DUR), Drug Information Services (DIS), and formulary management.
• Present therapeutic class reviews and drug monographs to P&T Committee.
• Provide clinical guidance for interventions, dosage conversions, and medication use.
• Coordinate with network physicians and clinical teams on recommendations.
• Serve as clinical resource for pharmacists on DURs and related reviews.

Skills

PBM experience

Prior Authorization

Clinical pharmacology

Pharmacist licensure

Education

BA/BS in Pharmacy

PharmD preferred

Tools

DUR systems

Drug Information systems

Job description

Prior Authorization Clinical Pharmacist

Virtual:

This role enables associates to work virtually full-time, with the exception of required in-person training sessions, providing maximum flexibility and autonomy. This approach promotes productivity, supports work-life integration, and ensures essential face‑to‑face onboarding and skill development. Alternate locations may be considered if candidates reside within a commuting distance from an office.

Please note that per our policy on hybrid/virtual work, candidates not within a reasonable commuting distance from the posting location(s) will not be considered for employment, unless an accommodation is granted as required by law.

The Prior Authorization Clinical Pharmacist is responsible for evaluating and managing the selection and utilization of pharmaceuticals to ensure safe, effective, and cost‑efficient medication use. This role supports key clinical pharmacy programs, including Drug Utilization Review (DUR), Drug Information Services (DIS), and formulary management.

How you will make an impact:

• Researches and synthesizes detailed clinical data related to pharmaceuticals.
• Prepares and presents therapeutic class reviews and drug monograph information to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
• May review and approve or deny coverage for pharmaceuticals (as permitted by state/federal law or state/federal program contracts) based on medical necessity criteria, and coordinates with internal stakeholders or health plan medical directors as needed.
• Serves as a clinical resource to other pharmacists on areas such as prospective, inpatient and retrospective DURs and provides dosage conversion and clinical support for therapeutic interventions.
• Prepares information for network physicians.
• Prepares and presents therapeutic class reviews and drug monographs to the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee.
• Provides clinical guidance for therapeutic interventions, dosage conversions, and evidence‑based medication use.
• Develops and communicates drug information and recommendations to network physicians and clinical teams.

Minimum Requirements:

• Requires BA/BS in Pharmacy.
• Minimum of 2 years of managed care pharmacy (PBM) experience or residency in lieu of work experience; or any combination of education and experience, which would provide an equivalent background.
• Requires a registered pharmacist.
• Current unrestricted Pharmacist license in applicable state(s) required.
• For associates working within Puerto Rico who are member or patient facing either in a clinical setting or in the Best Transportation unit, a current PR health certificate and a current PR Law 300 certificate are required for this position.

Preferred Skills, Capabilities and Experiences:

• Active, unrestricted license to practice pharmacy as a Registered Pharmacist (RPh) in the states of Kansas, North Carolina, and/or Washington highly preferred.
• PharmD preferred.
• PBM experience preferred.
• Prior Authorization experience preferred.
• Specialty Medication experience preferred.

Unless expressly allowed by state or federal law, must be located in a state or territory of the United States when conducting utilization review or an appeals consideration and cannot be located on a US military base, vessel or any embassy located in or outside of the US, unless they are command‑sanctioned activities.

For URAC accredited areas, the following professional competencies apply: Associates in this role are expected to have strong oral, written and interpersonal communication skills, problem‑solving skills, facilitation skills, and analytical skills.

Who We Are

Elevance Health is a health company dedicated to improving lives and communities – and making healthcare simpler. We are a Fortune 25 company with a longstanding history in the healthcare industry, looking for leaders at all levels of the organization who are passionate about making an impact on our members and the communities we serve.

How We Work

At Elevance Health, we are creating a culture that is designed to advance our strategy but will also lead to personal and professional growth for our associates. Our values and behaviors are the root of our culture. They are how we achieve our strategy, power our business outcomes and drive our shared success - for our consumers, our associates, our communities and our business.

We offer a range of market‑competitive total rewards that include merit increases, paid holidays, Paid Time Off, and incentive bonus programs (unless covered by a collective bargaining agreement), medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability benefits, 401(k) +match, stock purchase plan, life insurance, wellness programs and financial education resources, to name a few.

Elevance Health operates in a Hybrid Workforce Strategy. Unless specified as primarily virtual by the hiring manager, associates are required to work at an Elevance Health location at least once per week, and potentially several times per week. Specific requirements and expectations for time onsite will be discussed as part of the hiring process.

The health of our associates and communities is a top priority for Elevance Health. We require all new candidates in certain patient/member‑facing roles to become vaccinated against COVID-19 and Influenza. If you are not vaccinated, your offer will be rescinded unless you provide an acceptable explanation. Elevance Health will also follow all relevant federal, state and local laws.

Elevance Health is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, genetic information, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Applicants who require accommodation to participate in the job application process should submit the Accessibility Accommodation Request Form and a member of the team will be in contact.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws, including, but not limited to, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act.

Prospective employees required to be screened under Florida law should review the education and awareness resources at HB531 | Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.