Sr. Authorization Specialist

Astera Cancer Care; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

OneOncology is seeking a Sr. Authorization Specialist to support pre-authorizations for treatments and physician orders, ensuring insurance requirements are met before procedures.

The role involves collaborating with the authorization team, physicians, nurses, and social workers to verify financial feasibility and streamline approvals. Responsibilities include handling denials, updating EMR/PM systems, and maintaining documentation for audits.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Two years experience in a directly related role preferred, but not required.
• Experience with insurance pre-authorization and payer requirements preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support pre-authorization for treatments and procedures.
• Coordinate with physicians, nurses, and social workers on authorization status.
• Maintain and update patient accounts in EMR and Practice Management System.
• Communicate denial reasons and reschedule or appeal when needed.

Skills

MS Word

Excel

Outlook

EMR systems

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Practice Management System

Electronic Medical Records (EMR)

Job description

OneOncology is positioning community oncologists to drive the future of medical care through a patient-centric, physician-driven, and technology-powered model to help improve the lives of everyone living with cancer and other diseases. Our team is bringing together leaders to the market place to help drive OneOncology’s mission and vision. Why join us? This is an exciting time to join OneOncology. Our values-driven culture reflects our startup enthusiasm supported by industry leaders in oncology, urology, technology, and finance. We are looking for talented and highly-motivated individuals who demonstrate a natural desire to improve and build new processes that support the meaningful work of independent physicians and the patients they serve.

Job Description:

Role Summary:

The Sr. Authorization Specialist role is responsible for supporting all administrative aspects of treatments and procedures related to benefit verification and authorization. This role will ensure patient’s insurance requirements for reimbursement before treatments or procedures. Ensures pre-authorizations are obtained for Physician Orders for treatments or procedure as required by the patient’s insurance carrier. Ensure the financial feasibility of treating each patient in our clinics by communicating and working closely with authorization team members, patients, physician, nurse and social worker. Work in specific areas of concern in the department on a project basis. Assist authorization team leadership in training staff, projects and implementations. Maintain in-depth knowledge of authorization process as well as reimbursement methodologies. Maintain knowledge of collection techniques and collection laws.

Responsibilities:

• Attendance is an essential job function.
• Ability to work effectively with all levels of management and other colleagues
• Ability to demonstrate initiative and mature judgment.
• Ability to demonstrate high degree of professionalism and adaptability.
• Ability to demonstrate proficiency in the use of end-user computer applications (MS work, Excel,Outlook), database and patient scheduling and other medical information systems.
• Ability to demonstrate strong customer service delivery skills.
• Ability to utilize websites, portal and electronic options when available to increase efficiency
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to recognize and solve problems using creative thinking skills, hands on problem solving skills and the ability to analyze and respond to data.
• Skilled at effective verbal and written communications, including active listening skills and skill in presenting findings and recommendations.
• Skilled at Multi-tasking, organizational skills and superb attention to detail.
• Working knowledge of Hospice and other payer requirements.
• Knowledge of clinic office procedures, medical practice and medical terminology.
• Additional responsibilities as assigned to help drive our mission of improving the lives of everyone living with cancer.
• Attendance is an essential job function.

Required or Preferred Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Two years experience in a directly related role preferred, but not required.

Essential Competencies:

Supports the team responsible for obtaining pre-authorizations for Physician Orders for treatments or procedures as required by the patient’s insurance carrier. Engages with authorization vendors on quality and production. Communicates with authorization team members, physician/clinical staff on reimbursement issues and/or pre-certification requirements by the patient’s insurance carriers. Ensures up-to-date documentation on patient’s accounts in Electronic Medical Record and Practice Management System on authorization approvals and denials. Communicates with practice staff when the need for updated referrals arise. Communicates with practice staff in the case of denials that will require rescheduling and/or peer-to-peer review by the ordering physician. Communicates with hospitals or other diagnostic facilities to correct any discrepancies. Contacts practices staff to notify of termed insurances. Communicates as necessary and in a timely fashion with the practice staff with regards to the status of pending authorizations. Keeps current on insurance carrier requirements for treatments and procedures. Follows policy and procedures outlined by management to ensure standardization of processes across the clinics. Works with the Account Receivable Team on denials and complete retro authorization requests and or medically necessary appeals. Review payer guidelines for medically necessity guidelines including frequency and prior testing requirements. Attendance is an essential job function. This job description does not contain a full listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of this role. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

OneOncology was founded by community physicians, for community physicians, with the mission of improving the lives of everyone living with cancer and other diseases. Our goal is to enable community medical practices to remain independent and to improve patient access to care in their communities, all at a lower cost than in the hospital setting. OneOncology supports our platform of community medical practices through group purchasing, operational optimization, practice growth, and clinical innovation. Our partner practices comprise approximately 2,300+ providers who care for approximately 1.5 million patients across 20 states.