Authorization & Referral Specialist

COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE•Yakima, WA

1d•$17 - $26

About The Position

Comprehensive Healthcare provides innovative behavioral health and integrated healthcare services to clients of all ages. We take pride in our creative and collaborative work environment and in delivering clinically excellent, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented services. The Authorization Specialist provides full-spectrum coordination of client referrals and obtainment, entry and tracking of authorizations in the electronic health record.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent is required.
Minimum one (1) year of experience in a healthcare setting required
Minimum one (1) year of experience in insurance verification, prior authorizations, or healthcare revenue cycle functions required.

Nice To Haves

Two (2) to three (3) years of experience in healthcare, authorizations, or utilization management strongly preferred.
Knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance payer requirements.
Experience working with prior authorizations across multiple service lines or programs.
Ability to interpret insurance benefits, coverage limitations, and authorization requirements.
Experience with electronic health records (EHR) and payer portals.
Understanding of coordination of benefits and payer hierarchy
Strong attention to detail and ability to analyze and resolve payer-related issues.

Responsibilities

Coordinates and manages prior authorizations across multiple programs within the organization.
Participates in process improvement efforts related to authorization workflows and payer compliance.
Reviews and interprets payer requirements to determine authorization necessity and coverage limitations prior to service delivery.
Submits authorization requests with appropriate clinical documentation and ensures compliance with payer guidelines.
Understands funding source requirements (i.e., Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance).
Performs detailed verification of insurance benefits and eligibility to support accurate authorization submission.
Identifies and resolves discrepancies related to payer requirements, coverage, and authorization status.
Monitors authorization timelines and proactively follows up to prevent delays or denials.
Communicates payer requirements, authorization status, and coverage limitations to internal teams.
Collaborates with clinical and administrative staff to ensure appropriate documentation supports medical necessity.
Maintains current knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payer policies.
Identifies potential financial liability scenarios and escalates as appropriate.

Benefits

A variety of career opportunities in a wide range of settings with room for mobility and promotion
Regular training opportunities including support, supervision, and consultation in implementing evidence-based services and programs
A strong reputation for providing quality, evidence-based services within a collaborative multi-disciplinary team environment
Innovative, forward-looking leadership that seeks to thrive in an ever-changing healthcare environment
Joint Commission-accredited organization committed to continuous quality improvement
Established partnerships with major research universities and other community and healthcare providers to implement cutting-edge treatment programs and services
Competitive salaries within our communities and industry
Healthcare coverage for employee and qualified family members
Generous vacation, paid holiday and sick leave policies
Access to Employee Assistance Program services
Agency-funded retirement plan with contributions equal to 5% of compensation
Additional retirement investment opportunities with a 50% investment match of up to 4% of compensation
Agency-funded life and disability insurance program
Financial incentives to further employee education