New Patient/Referral Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: New Patient Coordinator – Pain Management
Location: San Diego, CA (On-site or Hybrid, depending on practice)

Position Overview:
We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented New Patient Coordinator to join a fast-paced pain management practice in the San Diego region. This role is critical in ensuring a seamless onboarding experience for new patients while navigating complex insurance requirements and specialty care referral processes. The ideal candidate brings strong knowledge of insurance verification, prior authorizations, and referral management within a specialty medical setting.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the first point of contact for new patients, providing a professional and welcoming experience via phone and electronic communication
• Coordinate and schedule new patient appointments in alignment with provider availability and referral requirements
• Verify insurance benefits, eligibility, and coverage specifics for pain management services
• Obtain and process referrals and prior authorizations in accordance with HMO, PPO, Medicare, Medi-Cal, and Workers’ Compensation guidelines
• Communicate with referring providers, case managers, and insurance companies to ensure all required documentation is received prior to scheduling
• Accurately enter and maintain patient demographics, insurance information, and referral data in the EMR system
• Educate patients on insurance coverage, out-of-pocket costs, and required documentation before their visit
• Ensure compliance with state, federal, and payer-specific regulations
• Track referral status and follow up on pending authorizations to prevent delays in care
• Collaborate with clinical and billing teams to resolve insurance or scheduling issues

Qualifications:

• Minimum 2–3 years of experience in a medical front office, preferably in pain management or another specialty care setting
• Strong understanding of insurance plans, including HMO referral workflows, PPO plans, Medicare, Medi-Cal, and Workers’ Compensation
• Proven experience with insurance verification, benefits investigation, and prior authorization processes
• Familiarity with EMR/EHR systems (e.g., Athena, Epic, NextGen, etc.)
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage high patient volume and multiple priorities
• Strong communication skills and ability to explain complex insurance information to patients clearly
• Detail-oriented with a high level of accuracy in data entry and documentation
• Knowledge of San Diego-area IPA/medical group referral processes is highly preferred

Preferred Skills:

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus
• Experience working with interventional pain management or surgical specialties
• Understanding of compliance requirements and documentation standards in specialty care

Compensation & Benefits:

• Competitive hourly rate or salary based on experience
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Opportunities for growth within a specialty practice

Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to be part of a collaborative, patient-focused team in a growing pain management practice. Your expertise in navigating insurance and referrals will directly impact patient access to timely, high-quality care.