Retail Specialty Technician

HHSC East Hawaii Region; Hilo (HI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO 20 days

10 state holidays

Medical/Dental/Vision

401(k) 4% match

Job summary

East Hawaii Health Pharmacy, located in the lobby of Hilo Medical Center, is seeking a Pharmacy Specialty Technician to support daily operations in a fast-paced retail setting. You will assist with prior authorizations, patient assistance, and provide excellent customer service to patients and providers.

Responsibilities include processing prescriptions, handling cash and insurance transactions, answering phones, and transporting medications within the pharmacy.

Qualifications

• Must have strong organizational and communication abilities.
• Proficiency with basic computer tasks and pharmacy software is preferred.
• Candidate must maintain patient confidentiality and HIPAA compliance.

Responsibilities

• Assist pharmacists and patients with insurance prior authorization and financial assistance.
• Process prescriptions and transactions at the point-of-sale with accuracy.
• Answer phones, manage voicemails, and respond to non-clinical patient questions.
• Restock shelves, monitor expiration dates, and help organize prescription records.
• Communicate with providers, insurers, and patients to obtain required documentation.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Multitasking

Computer literacy

Attention to detail

Confidentiality

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Pharmacy software systems

Job description

Job Description

Under the direct supervision of our licensed Pharmacist, the Pharmacy Specialty Technician plays a key role in supporting the daily operations of the retail pharmacy by performing administrative, clerical, and customer service duties. This role is responsible for assisting with prior authorization and patient assistance processes, answering phones, cashiering, transporting medications, and providing excellent customer service to patients and providers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist pharmacists and patients with insurance prior authorization requests.
• Assist pharmacists and patients with financial assistance requests.
• Communicate with providers' offices, insurance companies, and patients to obtain necessary documentation.
• Track and follow up on pending/expiring authorizations to ensure timely resolution.
• Maintain accurate and organized records of prior authorization activities.
• Greet/engage customers and patients in a professional, courteous manner.
• Process prescription and over-the-counter transactions accurately at the point-of-sale system.
• Handle cash, credit card, and insurance co-payment transactions in compliance with company policies.
• Answer phones, checks voicemails, and resolve non-clinical patient questions.
• Responds to the requests of the patients and providers, answering questions and referring various inquiries to the Pharmacist on duty.
• Process and prepare prescriptions for dispensing.
• Safely and timely transport medications between the pharmacy and delivery areas.
• Prepare prescriptions for delivery to patient (FedEx, USPS, courier, or delivery to clinic).
• Deliver prescriptions to patients as directed (within the facility or curbside).
• Assist in restocking shelves, organizing medications, and monitoring drug expiration dates.
• Assist with filing, scanning, and organizing prescription records.
• Help maintain inventory by checking stock levels and reporting shortages to the pharmacist.
• Maintaining patient confidentiality under HIPAA law and company policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Manager.

Qualifications:

Education:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

Certification:

• Valid certificate of registration as a registered pharmacy technician issued by Board of Pharmacy, State of Hawaii.
• Current certification in BLS Health Care Provider (adult, child, and infant) is preferred.
• Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) issued by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) is preferred.

Experience:

• Two (2) years of work experience as a pharmacy technician in a retail/community pharmacy setting. This experience must demonstrate the applicant's understanding of a pharmacy technician's scope of practice; knowledge of the procedures, policies and practices of a retail pharmacy operation; various third-party plans; pharmaceutical vocabulary; storage requirements; the ability to perform pharmaceutical calculations; current drug forms, dosage strengths, and generic/trade name and traditional equivalents.
• Experience in a high-volume pharmacy preferred.

Additional Skills:

• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to multitask and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Basic computer proficiency; experience with pharmacy software systems preferred.
• Must be detail-oriented, reliable, and committed to patient confidentiality and compliance.

Company Description

East Hawaii Health Pharmacy is the East Hawaii Region's retail pharmacy located in the lobby of Hilo Medical Center. We offer prescription pick-up, refill, and over-the-counter items for our patients and families, including a "Meds to Beds" program that delivers prescriptions to patients in the hospital before they are discharged.

Benefits

• 20 days of paid time off (PTO)
  • Will increase after five years of service
• 10 state holidays
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription plans
• Participation in a 401(K) retirement account with a 4% match after 90 days of employment

About Hilo & The Big Island

Hilo is located on the east side of the island of Hawaii, and has a quaint, old-Hawaii, small town atmosphere. Our island offers amazing rainforests, waterfalls and beaches. The hospital staff is community-oriented and strive to provide competent and compassionate care to every patient that enters our doors. The area is home to the Hawaii Community College, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, excellent schools and convenient shopping.

Pre-Employment Assessments for External Candidates

As part of the recruiting process for this position, external applicants (job applicants NOTemployed by HHSC's East Hawaii Region) are required to complete pre-employment assessments shortly after application submission. If you are not an employee of the East Hawaii Region of HHSC, you will receive an email containing assessment instructions. We ask that you complete the assessments within two days of receipt of the request.

Pre-Employment Health Requirements

Offers of employment will be contingent on successfully passing a pre-employment examination, which includes a drug screen and other regulatory medical requirements such as, but not limited to, a tuberculosis (TB) screen. The cost for drug screening and blood draw for QuantiFERON and Titers, shall be borne by the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

EHHP - Drug Free, Equal Opportunity Employer, E-Verify

East Hawaii Health Pharmacy is a drug-free workplace, an Equal Opportunity Employer, and conducts employment verification through E-Verify.