Pharmacy Medication Access Coordinator

Emory•Decatur, GA

21h•Onsite

About The Position

The Medication Access Pharmacy Coordinator is responsible for designing, implementing, and sustaining a comprehensive medication access program to support patients transitioning from the hospital to the outpatient setting. This role focuses on ensuring timely, affordable, and clinically appropriate access to medications post-discharge to reduce gaps in therapy, prevent adverse events, and minimize avoidable readmissions. The pharmacist collaborates closely with inpatient and ambulatory care teams, case management, social work, payers, and community partners to address financial, benefit-related, and system barriers to medication access. Primary duties and responsibilities: Program Leadership, Strategy & Operations: Leads the development, implementation, and ongoing optimization of a hospital-based medication access program supporting patients at discharge. Develops workflows, policies, and best practice standards related to medication access and transitions of care. Design technology pathways related to medication access, tracking key performance indicators, workflows and identification of target patient populations Serves as a subject matter expert in medication access, pharmacy benefits, payer requirements, and financial assistance resources. Oversees and supports the work of pharmacy technicians, students, or other staff involved in medication access activities to ensure quality and regulatory compliance. Supports institutional goals related to reduced readmissions, improved patient experience, quality outcomes, and value-based care performance. Patient Medication Access & Care Coordination: Collaborates with providers, nurses, case managers, social workers, inpatient pharmacists and interdisciplinary care teams members to identify patients at high risk for medication access barriers during transitions of care. Performs or oversees benefit investigations and coverage determinations to ensure prescribed medications are accessible and affordable. Manages and supports prior authorization processes, including clinical documentation, payer communication, and follow-up to prevent delays in therapy. Identifies and facilitates enrollment in patient assistance programs, manufacturer copay programs, foundation support, and other financial assistance resources. Assesses eligibility and assists with enrollment in low-income subsidies, Medicaid, Medicare Part D plans, or other applicable coverage programs in collaboration with care management and financial counseling teams. Evaluates alternative, evidence-based therapeutic options when access barriers exist, and works with prescribers to recommend clinically appropriate and cost-effective alternatives. Coordinates education programs related to medication access, affordability options, adherence, and navigation of pharmacy benefits. Program Performance, Compliance & Continuous Improvement: Leads Monitors program performance metrics (e.g., time to therapy, readmissions, patient out-of-pocket costs, prior authorization turnaround times) and identifies opportunities for process improvement. Recognizes process failures and actively engages in root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives. Documents medication access interventions, adverse drug reactions, and medication variances per organizational policy. Stays current with evolving payer policies, drug pricing trends, specialty pharmacy models, and regulations impacting medication access. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited school of pharmacy (PharmD required).
Completion of an ASHP-accredited Post Graduate Year 1 (PGY1) residency or equivalent experience required.
Eligible for Georgia Licensure.
Candidate is required to be licensed in Georgia prior to official start date.
BLS required within 90 days

Nice To Haves

PGY2 residency, fellowship
Equivalent experience in transitions of care, ambulatory care, population health, or specialty pharmacy
Board Certification (e.g., BCPS, BCACP or other relevant specialty)

Responsibilities

Leads the development, implementation, and ongoing optimization of a hospital-based medication access program supporting patients at discharge.
Develops workflows, policies, and best practice standards related to medication access and transitions of care.
Design technology pathways related to medication access, tracking key performance indicators, workflows and identification of target patient populations
Serves as a subject matter expert in medication access, pharmacy benefits, payer requirements, and financial assistance resources.
Oversees and supports the work of pharmacy technicians, students, or other staff involved in medication access activities to ensure quality and regulatory compliance.
Supports institutional goals related to reduced readmissions, improved patient experience, quality outcomes, and value-based care performance.
Collaborates with providers, nurses, case managers, social workers, inpatient pharmacists and interdisciplinary care teams members to identify patients at high risk for medication access barriers during transitions of care.
Performs or oversees benefit investigations and coverage determinations to ensure prescribed medications are accessible and affordable.
Manages and supports prior authorization processes, including clinical documentation, payer communication, and follow-up to prevent delays in therapy.
Identifies and facilitates enrollment in patient assistance programs, manufacturer copay programs, foundation support, and other financial assistance resources.
Assesses eligibility and assists with enrollment in low-income subsidies, Medicaid, Medicare Part D plans, or other applicable coverage programs in collaboration with care management and financial counseling teams.
Evaluates alternative, evidence-based therapeutic options when access barriers exist, and works with prescribers to recommend clinically appropriate and cost-effective alternatives.
Coordinates education programs related to medication access, affordability options, adherence, and navigation of pharmacy benefits.
Monitors program performance metrics (e.g., time to therapy, readmissions, patient out-of-pocket costs, prior authorization turnaround times) and identifies opportunities for process improvement.
Recognizes process failures and actively engages in root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives.
Documents medication access interventions, adverse drug reactions, and medication variances per organizational policy.
Stays current with evolving payer policies, drug pricing trends, specialty pharmacy models, and regulations impacting medication access.
Other duties as assigned.