Authorization Specialist

KIDS ABA SERVICES•Conway, AR

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Authorization Specialist secures and maintains the payor authorizations that keep our clients in services and our claims clean. This role owns the full authorization lifecycle across all KAS locations, supports provider credentialing, and works closely with clinical and operations teams to prevent gaps in care and revenue.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent; associate's degree or higher preferred.
1+ year of experience in healthcare authorizations, prior auth, billing, credentialing, or medical office administration.
Working knowledge of Medicaid and managed care authorization processes.
Strong organization and follow-through, with the ability to track many deadlines at once without dropping them.
Comfortable working in practice-management/EHR systems and spreadsheets.
Clear written and verbal communication for working with payors, clinical staff, and operations teams.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience with ABA, behavioral health, or pediatric therapy authorizations.
Familiarity with Arkansas Medicaid, Arkansas Total Care/NovaSys, and CAQH.
Experience managing credentialing and provider enrollment.
Experience with denials and appeals.

Responsibilities

Obtain, track, and renew prior authorizations and reauthorizations for ABA services
Monitor authorization expiration dates and submit reauthorization requests ahead of deadlines to prevent lapses in client services.
Compile and submit authorization request packets, including assessments, treatment plans, and supporting documentation from the clinical team.
Track authorization status, units approved versus units used, and flag utilization concerns to clinical and operations leadership.
Maintain accurate authorization records in the practice-management system and keep schedulers and operations managers updated on approvals, denials, and pending requests.
Manage denials and appeals — research the reason, gather documentation, and resubmit or appeal within payor timelines.
Support provider and clinic credentialing and re-credentialing: prepare and submit applications, maintain CAQH and payor enrollment, track expirations (licenses, certifications, re-credentialing cycles), and follow up with payors to completion.
Serve as a point of contact for payor communication on authorization and credentialing matters.
Maintain confidentiality and compliance with HIPAA and payor requirements at all times.
Maintain compliance with waiver program requirements
Run weekly AAP (waiver) reports
Complete waiver billing, and resolve related issues
Maintain comprehensive records for waiver clients and staff, including training and service hours
Support the oversight and success of the waiver program, ensuring compliance and quality
Other duties as assigned.