Supervisor of Pre-Authorization & Referrals

Altru Health System; Grand Forks (ND); On-site; USD 55,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Altru Health System in Grand Forks, ND, seeks a Supervisor Pre-Authorization & Referrals to lead the daily operations of the Pre-Authorization and Referral team. You will ensure timely, accurate insurance authorizations, referral processing, and payer-compliance to support patient access and revenue cycle integrity.

You will coach staff, plan staffing, and collaborate with clinical and payer teams to resolve issues, reduce denials, and promote exceptional service and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Requires Associates degree in Business/Finance/Healthcare or related field.
• Preferred: Bachelors degree in Business/Finance/Healthcare or related field.
• Minimum 3 years related experience.

Responsibilities

• Supervises pre-authorization and referral staff, including hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, coaching, performance management, and staff meetings.
• Fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, patient-centered service, and continuous improvement.
• Develops staffing plans to ensure adequate coverage, balanced workloads, and productivity, quality, and service targets.
• Oversees timely and accurate processing of insurance authorizations, prior authorizations, and specialty referrals per payer requirements.
• Monitors queues, workflows, and metrics to optimize turnaround times and reduce performance gaps.
• Identifies process gaps and implements improvements to enhance efficiency and patient experience.
• Collaborates with clinical departments, providers, scheduling, revenue cycle, and payer reps to resolve issues.
• Monitors denials/appeals and supports revenue cycle initiatives to minimize write-offs.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Staff supervision

Leadership

Coaching

Healthcare administration

Process improvement

Education

Associates degree (Business/Finance/Healthcare)

Bachelors degree (Business/Finance/Healthcare)

Job description

Everything we do is underscored by a why — and that why is one another.

Location:

Altru Health SystemPO Box 6002Grand Forks, ND 58201Pay Range: $55,078.40 - $82,617.60

Summary:

The Supervisor Pre-Authorization & Referrals is responsible for the daily operations, oversight, and performance of the Pre-Authorization and Referral team. This role ensures timely and accurate insurance authorization, referral processing, and compliance with payer requirements to support patient access, continuity of care, and revenue cycle integrity. The supervisor provides leadership, coaching, and development for staff while promoting exceptional customer service and operational excellence.

Essential Job Functions:

• Supervises pre-authorization and referral staff, including hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, coaching, performance management, and staff meetings.
• Fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, patient-centered service, and continuous improvement.
• Develops and maintain staffing plans to ensure adequate coverage, balanced workloads, and achievement of productivity, quality, and service expectations.
• Oversees the timely and accurate processing of insurance authorizations, prior authorizations, and specialty referrals in accordance with payer requirements, medical necessity guidelines, and organizational policies.
• Monitors work queues, workflows, and performance metrics to optimize turnaround times, address performance concerns, and improve operational efficiency.
• Identifies process gaps and implement improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, patient experience, and overall service delivery.
• Collaborates with clinical departments, providers, scheduling, revenue cycle teams, and payer representatives to resolve authorization and referral issues and address escalated concerns.
• Monitors denials, appeals, delays, and related trends; develop action plans and support revenue cycle initiatives to reduce financial risk, improve reimbursement, and minimize avoidable write-offs.
• Performs other duties as assigned or needed to meet the needs of the department/organization.

Notes:

• HFMA Membership within 1 month of start date

Education:

• Required: Associates - Business/Finance/Healthcare- OR -Associates - Related Field
• Preferred: Bachelors - Business/Finance/Healthcare- OR -Bachelors - Related Field

Work Experience:

• Required: A minimum of 3 years Related Experience

Language Requirements:

This position requires proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking English to ensure effective communication in the workplace and with patients, families, and team members.

Physical Demands :

• Sit: Frequently (34-66%)
• Stand: Occasionally (5-33%)
• Walk: Occasionally (5-33%)
• Stoop/Bend: Rarely (1-4%)
• Reach: Frequently (34-66%)
• Crawl: Not Applicable
• Squat/Crouch/Kneel: Rarely (1-4%)
• Twist: Occasionally (5-33%)
• Handle/Finger/Feel: Continuously (67-100%)
• See: Continuously (67-100%)
• Hear: Continuously (67-100%)

Weight Demands:

• Lift -Floor to Waist Level: Sedentary (<10 pounds)
• Carry: Sedentary (<10 pounds)
• Push/Pull: Sedentary (<10 pounds)
• Slide/Transfer: Not Applicable

Working Conditions:

• Indoor: Continuously (67-100%)
• Outdoor: Not Applicable
• Extreme Temperature: Not Applicable

Driving Requirement Definitions:

• Professional Drivers: Persons who drive as their main responsibility OR transport passengers or hazardous materials.
• Frequent Drivers: Persons whose main responsibility is not driving, but drive daily or almost daily.
• Occasional Drivers: Persons who drive from once per month to as frequently as once per week.
• Infrequent Drivers: Persons who are generally not expected to drive.

Driving Requirement for this position:

Infrequent DriverReference ID: R8353

Making a real difference. For one another.

To take the best care of our patients and community — including friends, family, and neighbors — we need people who are committed to growth, excellence, and one another.

At Altru, you’ll find a culture where support and teamwork are at the heart of what we do. You’ll have opportunities to advance your skills, work with the latest technologies, experience the fulfillment that comes from giving back, and take your career wherever you want it to go.

Join our team and be a part of a small community with a big heart.

Altru offers a comprehensive benefits package to its full- and part-time employees. Excellent benefits include a health plan and 401(k) retirement plan. Other benefits include a dental plan, vision plan, life and disability insurance, education assistance, paid time off (PTO)