Referral Specialist

Cornell Scott - Hill Health Center; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Medical, Dental, Vision

Employee Referral Bonus

CME time

License reimbursement

HRSA loan repayment

401(k) with match

Sign on Bonus for Bilingual candidates

Job summary

Cornell Scott–Hill Health Center seeks a Referral Specialist to coordinate and manage patient referrals across Behavioral Health, Primary Care, Specialty Care, and ancillary services. The role emphasizes insurance verification, authorization, scheduling, and referral tracking to ensure timely access to care.

The ideal candidate will have experience with EHR systems, strong communication skills, and the ability to navigate community resources to support patients in accessing high-quality care.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma / G.E.D or equivalent required; Associate degree preferred.
• Minimum of six months related experience.
• Experience in a customer service-oriented position.
• Knowledge of medical terminology preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.
• Excellent computer skills and familiarity with Microsoft, internet, and e-mail required.
• Bilingual Spanish speaking preferred.
• Must have a valid Connecticut driver’s license and daily access to a car to attend meetings.

Responsibilities

• Obtain authorization from the appropriate insurance company for the specialist and/or procedure.
• Verify insurance eligibility, benefits and referral requirements.
• Schedule appointments with internal and external providers.
• Provide patients with all instructions, including appointment details and directions.
• Update patients’ EHR with notes on services provided.
• Track referrals from initiation through completion and close per policy.
• Maintain and monitor wait list; collaborate with specialties team to fill schedules.
• Complete initial work on urgent referrals within required timeframe.
• Monitor processed referrals to ensure patient compliance is verified.
• Receive, place, and transfer calls to the appropriate department.
• Complete behavioral health screening questions with patients and document in the medical record for BH referrals.
• Work closely with Behavioral Health staff to ensure rapid access for urgent cases.
• Report concerns to supervisors as needed.
• Attend trainings, in-service programs, and department meetings.
• Perform other duties as required.

Skills

Communication skills

Customer service

Spanish language

Attention to detail

Computer skills

Education

High School Diploma / G.E.D.

Associate degree preferred

Tools

EHR (Electronic Health Records)

Microsoft Office

Job description

About The Role

We are seeking a detail-oriented and compassionate Referral Specialist to join Cornell Scott–Hill Health Center. In this role, you will coordinate and manage patient referrals across Behavioral Health, Primary Care, Specialty Care, and ancillary services to ensure timely and seamless access to care. The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of insurance verification and authorization processes, appointment scheduling, referral tracking, and community-based resources while demonstrating excellent communication and organizational skills. This position will work closely with internal departments, patients, and external providers to facilitate care coordination, resolve referral barriers, and ensure referrals are completed efficiently and appropriately. The Referral Specialist plays a critical role in helping patients navigate both internal healthcare services and community resources while supporting continuity of care and positive patient outcomes. This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about patient advocacy, care coordination, and improving access to high-quality community health services.

About The Role

We are seeking a detail-oriented and compassionate Referral Specialist to join Cornell Scott–Hill Health Center. In this role, you will coordinate and manage patient referrals across Behavioral Health, Primary Care, Specialty Care, and ancillary services to ensure timely and seamless access to care. The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of insurance verification and authorization processes, appointment scheduling, referral tracking, and community-based resources while demonstrating excellent communication and organizational skills. This position will work closely with internal departments, patients, and external providers to facilitate care coordination, resolve referral barriers, and ensure referrals are completed efficiently and appropriately. The Referral Specialist plays a critical role in helping patients navigate both internal healthcare services and community resources while supporting continuity of care and positive patient outcomes. This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about patient advocacy, care coordination, and improving access to high-quality community health services.

Key Responsibilities

• Obtains authorization from the appropriate insurance company for the specialist and/or procedure recommended
• Verifies insurance eligibility, benefits and referral requirements
• Schedule appointments with the internal and external providers
• Provides patients with all instructions, including appointment details, preparation requirements, and directions etc. )
• Updates clients' EHR with notes on services provided in the field
• Tracks referrals from initiation through completion and closes them in accordance with policy
• Maintains and monitors wait list, works with specialties team to fill schedules
• Completes initial work on urgent referrals within required timeframe
• Monitors processed referrals to ensure patient compliance is verified
• Receives, places, and transfers calls to the appropriate department
• Completes behavioral health screening questions with patients and documents appropriately in the medical record (for BH referrals)
• Works closely with Behavioral Health clinical staff, ensuring rapid access for urgent cases
• Communicates concerns with supervisors (behavioral health / medical specialty)
• Attends required trainings, in-service programs, and department meetings
• Performs all other duties as required

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma / G.E.D, OR equivalent required. Associate degree preferred
• Minimum of six (6) months related experience
• Experience in customer service-oriented position
• Knowledge of medical terminology preferred
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required
• Excellent computer skills and familiarity with Microsoft, internet, and e-mail is required.
• Bilingual Spanish speaking preferred.
• Must have a valid Connecticut driver’s license and daily access to a car in order to attend meetings.

Why Join Us

• Above market and competitive salaries
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short/Long‑Term Disability
• Employee Referral Bonus Program
• 1 week of CME time each year
• License reimbursement
• HRSA and Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Generous paid time off
• COBRA Reimbursement
• 401(k) with match up to 5 percent
• Sign on Bonus for Bilingual candidates
• Liability Insurance
• We are an approved HRSA loan repayment agency including newly expanded federal substance repayment program.
• We provide continued education credits to advance learning opportunities and maintain your professional license.

CSHHC is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.