Pharm Resource Specialist, Outpatient Department

Overview

The Pharmacy Resource Specialist II, OPD (Outpatient) is responsible for delivery of concrete financial resource services to patients and donors in need of pharmaceutical assistance. They will facilitate work processes including identification of need, match of medication needs to appropriate assistance programs, education of patient on application completion, follow-up on outcome and communication to team regarding that outcome.

Additionally, the Pharmacy Resource Specialist II, OPD will provide cross-coverage to other disease groups and provide leadership at department meetings related to staff updates on relevant topics.

When working onsite, this person could be based either at the Longwood location in Boston or at the Methuen location.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conducts resource assessment with patient and/or family in light of patient responsibility for pharmacy expenses and capacity of patient and/or family to meet that financial responsibility.
• As member of multidisciplinary team, assists patients in securing pharmaceutical assistance through skillful matching of needs to available programs.
• Identifies appropriate resources for pharmacy assistance, including identifying potential gaps, reporting gaps to team as appropriate and problem solving with an eye towards improving pharmacy program.
• Provides resource information; refers patients and/or their families to other hospital and community resources/services as appropriate.
• Refers patient and/or family for financial counseling as indicated.
• Accepts referrals for pharmaceutical assistance assessment from members of the multidisciplinary team and responds in a timely manner.
• Collaborates with patients, donors, and family members in securing pharmaceutical resources.
• Regularly communicates status of pharmacy benefit applications and updates on specific patients to appropriate team members.
• Prepares productivity reports on activity and documents work as appropriate.
• Communicates work across DF/BWCC system as appropriate.
• Communicates, consults, and collaborates with a wide range of agencies and specialty programs servicing patient financial and access needs, including Mass. Health or other entitlement programs, Patient Advocate Foundation or other foundations, Mass Medline, and the SHINE program.
• Maintains administrative record keeping, including compilation of written reports, statistical reports, progress notes, records of clinic patients and correspondence with community resources and pharmaceutical assistance programs.
• Serves as patient advocate in negotiating a variety of systems including but not limited to pharmaceutical assistance programs, insurers, philanthropic entities and entitlement programs, as well as Social Security Administration, CMS, etc. 
• Researches and maintains current information on pharmacy benefit programs and maintains current data on available resources.
• Responsible for consistently executing internal and external scans of the environment, as well as researching and tracking new pharmaceutical assistance resources for patients and families.
• Coordinates and leads pharmacy information update sessions for staff and, as requested, by other departments.
• Attends and participates in appropriate pharmacy resource specific meetings, including but not limited to team meetings, BMT/SCT Insurance Rounds, and appropriate Access Management meetings.
• Obtains signatures from appropriate licensed providers in order to expedite pharmaceutical assistance.
• Assists with general resource support as needed.
• Provides cross-coverage to colleagues as needed.
• Ensures regular and consistent collaboration with Access Management, Ambulatory and Inpatient RNCCs, Program Nurses, MD’s, Pharmacists, Social Workers and other team members.
• Will be expected to manager larger caseload, multiple caseloads &/or more complex cases.
• Cross training (ben specialist, shadow resource specialist).
• Cross coverage (covers ben specialist roles if appropriate), knowledge beyond scope to ben spec team.
• Assists in the training and onboarding of Pharmacy Resource Specialists.
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Knowledge of pharmaceutical assistance programs and drug benefits preferred.
• Knowledge of current public assistance programs and regulations: Medicare, Medicaid and SSI. Familiarity with the various systems and forms associated with these programs.  Proven ability to access these programs in a timely manner.
• Knowledge of pharmacy benefit structure.
• Familiarity with forms applicable to pharmacy assistance programs and capable of guiding patients and/or families through successful completion of applications.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, problem solving and organizational skills.
• Attention to detail, and excellent follow-through.
• Computer skills including keyboarding, Internet search and MS Office.
• Ability to follow work processes related to securing pharmaceutical assistance programs, including guiding patient and/or family in application process.
• Ability to work independently within the structure of the department and the disease-based teams.
• Ability to work independently on case load.
• Ability to navigate complex conversations with patients related to health/financial impact.
• Ability to manage escalated patient calls for Resource Specialists.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: May supervise students/interns/volunteers.

PATIENT CONTACT: None

MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Education:
Bachelor’s degree required.  5 years of specific relevant experience (e.g. benefit specialist role, patient care coordinator, or equivalent role) may replace the need for a bachelor’s degree.

Minimum Experience:
5 years of experience in a health industry related field (i.e. health insurance, etc.) required.  3 years of experience with pharmaceutical assistance programs required.

License/Certification/Registration:
Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy Registration as Pharmacy Technician or Intern preferred.  Nationally Certified Pharmacy Technician license preferred.

At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are committed to having faculty and staff who offer multifaceted experiences. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and compassionate professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.  

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Pay Transparency Statement

The hiring range is based on market pay structures, with individual salaries determined by factors such as business needs, market conditions, internal equity, and based on the candidate’s relevant experience, skills and qualifications.

For union positions, the pay range is determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

$75,296.00 - $83,959.20