Referral Specialist

The Visual Group; Goleta (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) plan

Life Insurance

Disability

HSA

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

PTO / Vacation

Job summary

The Visual Group in Goleta, CA seeks a Referral Specialist to coordinate internal and external referrals to specialty providers, verify insurance coverage, and obtain prior authorizations in a fast-paced clinical office.

You will maintain thorough documentation in the EHR/EMR, communicate status to patients and providers, and collaborate with front and back office staff to ensure timely referrals and high-quality patient care.

Qualifications

• Experience in referrals, authorizations, or a medical office setting.
• Knowledge of insurance types (HMO, PPO, Medi-Cal) and referral workflows.
• Experience using EMR/EHR systems to enter, track, and update referrals.

Responsibilities

• Process and coordinate internal and external referrals to specialty providers in a timely and accurate manner.
• Verify insurance coverage and obtain prior authorizations as required.
• Submit referral requests and track status until completion.
• Ensure all supporting documentation is complete and attached to each referral.
• Communicate referral status clearly to patients, providers, and specialty offices.
• Maintain up-to-date documentation in the EHR/EMR for referrals and authorizations.
• Follow up on pending referrals to meet turnaround times.
• Collaborate with front and back office staff and providers to support patient care.
• Manage a high volume of referrals daily with organization and accuracy.
• Apply medical terminology to interpret and process referral documentation.

Skills

Healthcare experience

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Growth mindset

Insurance knowledge

EMR/EHR proficiency

Referral coordination

Tools

EMR/EHR systems

Referral management software

Job description

The Referral Specialist processes and coordinates internal and external referrals to specialty providers, ensuring timely and accurate completion of all referral-related activities. This role verifies insurance coverage, obtains prior authorizations, and maintains thorough documentation in the electronic health record system to support seamless patient care coordination. The Referral Specialist collaborates closely with clinical and administrative teams to manage high referral volumes in a fast-paced environment while providing clear communication to patients, providers, and specialty offices.

Responsibilities

• Process and coordinate internal and external referrals to specialty providers in a timely and accurate manner.
• Verify insurance coverage for patients and obtain prior authorizations as required by health plans and managed care organizations.
• Submit referral requests to health plans, independent practice associations (IPAs), or specialty offices and track status updates through completion.
• Ensure all supporting documentation, including chart notes, laboratory results, and imaging reports, is complete and attached to each referral.
• Communicate referral status and any updates clearly and professionally to patients, providers, and specialty offices.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation in the electronic health record (EHR) or electronic medical record (EMR) system for all referrals and authorizations.
• Follow up on pending referrals to meet established turnaround times and ensure completion of the referral process.
• Collaborate with front office staff, back office staff, and providers to support effective patient care coordination and resolve referral-related issues.
• Manage a high volume of referrals daily while maintaining organization, accuracy, and adherence to referral workflows.
• Apply medical terminology and knowledge of medical records to accurately interpret and process referral documentation.
• Previous experience in referrals, authorizations, or a medical office setting preferred.
• Strong understanding of insurance types, including HMO, PPO, and Medi-Cal, and related referral workflows.
• Experience working with EMR/EHR systems to enter, track, and update referral information.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in a healthcare or clinical environment supporting patient care coordination.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Comfort with adapting to changing priorities and workflows as needed.
• Motivation to grow within the organization and develop professionally.

This is a full-time position with a Monday through Friday schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The role operates in a fast-paced healthcare setting that relies heavily on electronic health record (EHR) and electronic medical record (EMR) systems for documentation and communication. The environment is team oriented, with close collaboration among front office staff, back office staff, and providers to support coordinated patient care. The position involves managing a high volume of referrals each day, requiring sustained focus, organization, and effective communication throughout the workday.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Goleta, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $23.00 - $26.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your jobclassification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may besubject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefitsavailable for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&DD for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Goleta,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 2, 2026.

Equal Opportunity Employer The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.