Research Specialist, ONC - (Budget Analyst)
About The Position
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is hiring a regular full-time Research Specialist - Budget Analyst, ONC, to support the Oncology Clinical Research Services Financial Compliance team in Shadyside/Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The role works Monday through Friday during daylight hours on a remote schedule. The position develops clinical trial budgets and coverage analyses, ensuring financial compliance and appropriate coverage of trial procedures. It reviews protocols to determine which services may be billed to third-party payers under Medicare and other insurance rules and which costs should be covered by study sponsors. The specialist collaborates with clinical research, finance, contracting, and compliance teams to support accurate financial planning and billing. The role uses EPIC EHR and OnCore CTMS to segregate charges for compliant research billing and provide pricing for budgeting. The Clinical Research Services team, comprising nearly 200 staff members, facilitates the development, implementation, coordination, internal data monitoring, and completion of oncology-focused trials at Hillman. These include investigator-initiated, multi-center cooperative group/National Clinical Trial Network, consortium, and industry-sponsored trials. CRS supports study development and implementation, FDA submissions, IRB processing, patient recruitment, study coordination and training, data collection, and specimen collection and processing.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in a health-related field.
- Three years of experience in clinical trials.
- Knowledge of clinical research protocols and budgeting.
- Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Nice To Haves
- One year of experience in Medicare coverage determination.
- Clinical Research Professional Certification or a related certification.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development, analysis, and maintenance of comprehensive clinical trial budgets, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with protocol requirements, coverage analysis outcomes, and institutional standards.
- Build, enter, and maintain study budgets in OnCore CTMS, ensuring synchronization with final protocols, contracts, and coverage analysis documentation.
- Conduct coverage analyses under Medicare’s Clinical Trial Policy, CMS guidelines, and commercial payer requirements to distinguish study-related costs from routine care.
- Apply appropriate CDM and CPT coding to identify billable versus sponsor-covered services and support compliant billing workflows and downstream claims review.
- Negotiate clinical trial budgets with sponsors and CROs alongside contracting and finance teams, advocating for institutional cost recovery and policy adherence.
- Enforce institutional policies, financial compliance standards, and payer regulations throughout budget development, negotiation, and study activation.
- Collaborate with investigators, clinical research coordinators, finance, contracting, and compliance teams to resolve budget questions and align financial expectations.
- Communicate coverage analysis determinations and finalized budget details to research teams to support accurate study conduct and billing execution.
- Support resolution of billing discrepancies or compliance concerns by reviewing documentation and coordinating with appropriate teams.
- Maintain current knowledge of clinical trial financial regulations, reimbursement guidelines, and payer coverage policies, incorporating updates into budgeting and coverage analysis practices.
- Provide education and guidance to research staff regarding clinical trial budgeting, coverage analysis interpretation, and compliant financial practices.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
