Pharmacy Medication Access Specialist II

HHC

20h•Onsite

About The Position

Eskenazi Health serves as the public hospital division of the Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County, providing a comprehensive range of primary and specialty care services at its 333-bed hospital and outpatient facilities across Indianapolis. The Pharmacy Medication Access Specialist II is responsible for improving patient access to and ensuring optimal reimbursement for medications and therapies administered and prescribed by Eskenazi Health, with a focus on patient assistance and medical benefit precertification. This position acts as a liaison and navigator for patients, clinical staff, the pharmacy department, payors, and programs to remove barriers to care. The specialist uses a proactive approach to identify patient insurance coverage and programs that affect costs for therapies, particularly high-cost, high-reimbursement medications used in various specialty and primary care clinics.

Requirements

Completion of a high school education or equivalent required
Bachelor’s degree required; a minimum of five years of relevant pharmacy experience may be accepted in lieu of degree
Pharmacy Technician License, Pharmacy Intern License, or Technician in Training License in the State of Indiana
Successful completion of Eskenazi Health Pharmacy Technician Training Program within 122-day probationary period
Participation in continuing education activities to meet licensure and certification requirements
Knowledge of medication reimbursement, healthcare insurance, and prior authorization/coding
Knowledge of and ability to use a variety of computer programs including database management, EHR, and spreadsheets
Strong oral and written communication skills
Ability to effectively manage conflicts and resolve problems
Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to effect collaborative alliances, promote teamwork, and ensure a high level of internal and external customer satisfaction
Ability to function effectively in fast-paced changing environment with multiple priorities
Strong critical thinking skills and ability to work independently, quickly and with initiative

Nice To Haves

Two years of experience in program development or staff education preferred
CPhT certification through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board preferred

Responsibilities

Proactively contributes to Eskenazi Health’s mission: Advocate, Care, Teach and Serve with special emphasis on the vulnerable population of Marion County; models Eskenazi Health values of Professionalism, Respect, Innovation, Development and Excellence
Assists with responsibility for implementation, documentation and maintenance of Eskenazi Health’s Medication Access Program (MAP)
Contributes to maximizing revenue capture for high-cost clinic-administered and take-home medications by completing third party (external) medical benefit authorizations
Works to maximize Eskenazi Health and patient participation in pharmaceutical company sponsored medication assistance programs – institutional, individual and foundation-based
Continuously seeks new programs and opportunities for medication access
Develops a thorough understanding of reimbursement policies and patterns for pharmacy claims with third parties and resolves discrepancies
Communicates effectively with care teams and insurance companies as necessary to follow up on rejected claims, denials, or other barriers to therapy
Triages, processes, and manages pharmacy prior authorization requests with diligent follow-up to patients and providers as appropriate
Pre-screens patients for viable payment sources and educates care teams on outcomes and processes necessary to achieve coverage
Analyzes payor responses and seeks available wraparound sources of support for patient therapy plans
Identifies pathways to coverage for uninsured and underinsured patients
Facilitates adherence by ensuring that patients receive prescribed medications and therapies in a timely manner
Ensures medications can be physically obtained by patients through a variety of modalities (delivery, home delivery, mail delivery, pickup, etc.)
Maintains multiple queues and portals, internal and external, that provide baseline functionality to operate medication access program (EHR, Prior Authorization request, Medicaid, specialty pharmacy, manufacturer, foundations, etc.)
Identifies opportunities to improve reimbursement optimization and works collaboratively to develop and institute successful action plans
Works in collaboration with care teams (physicians, nurses, clinical specialists, pharmacists, social workers, precertification analysts) to ensure patients are adequately triaged and monitored throughout therapy
Trains or instructs staff members and peers on use of patient assistant programs and other programs or actions that affect the MAP
Provides ongoing feedback to staff resulting from MAP quality assurance audits
Collaborates with other care providers to promote a high standard of care