Referral Authorization Specialist

Job Description

Your experience matters
Memorial Medical Center is part of Lifepoint Health, a diversified healthcare delivery network with facilities coast to coast. We are driven by a profound commitment to prioritize your well-being so you can provide exceptional care to others. As a Referral Authorization Specialist,joining our team, you're embracing a vital mission dedicated to making communities healthier ®. Join us on this meaningful journey where your skills, compassion and dedication will make a remarkable difference in the lives of those we serve.


How you'll contribute
A Referral Authorization Specialist who excels in this role:

• Ensures patients receive the care they need in a timely manner by processing referrals completely, accurately, and promptly; verifying that patients receive the required care; and notifying providers when patients do not follow through with referrals.
• Completes pre-authorizations for diagnostic testing, therapy, surgical procedures, and specialty care appointments according to insurance requirements within three days of issuance.
• Notifies patients when referrals are approved and notifies providers when referrals are denied or when a second opinion or additional information is required.
• Documents all communication with patients, nurses, and providers in the clinic EMR.
• Updates referral records in the EMR following each communication with patients, insurance providers, nurses, or providers.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of health care plans and interprets and communicates plan policies and procedures to employees, physicians, and patients when changes occur.
• Identifies and attempts to resolve patient barriers to specialty care, including assisting with appointment scheduling and coordinating with specialist offices.
• Assists with tracking high-priority referrals to ensure patients in high-risk categories receive necessary follow-up care.
• Assists with patient assessments and treatments under the supervision of a physician or nurse.
• Performs administrative and clerical duties as assigned, including filing, reception, scheduling, data entry, and patient registration.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What we're looking for
Education :

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Two years of college preferred.

Skills & Experience:

• Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Must be able to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action.

Schedule : Full-time with some flexibility in start and end time. For example: 7:30a-4:30p, 8a-5p, 8:30a-5:30p

Why join us

We believe that investing in our employees is the first step to providing excellent patient care. In addition to your base compensation, this position also offers:

• Comprehensive Benefits : Multiple levels of medical, dental and vision coverage for full-time and part-time employees.
• Financial Protection & PTO : Life, accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity insurance, short- and long-term disability, paid family leave and paid time off.
• Financial & Career Growth : Higher education and certification tuition assistance, loan assistance and 401(k) retirement package and company match.
• Employee Well-being : Mental, physical, and financial wellness programs (free gym memberships, virtual care appointments, mental health services and discount programs).
• Professional Development : Ongoing learning and career advancement opportunities.

More about Memorial Medical Center
Memorial Medical Center is a 199-bed acute medical/surgical teaching hospital located in Las Cruces, NM, and is part of Lifepoint Health, a diversified healthcare delivery network committed to making communities healthier® with acute care, rehabilitation, and behavioral health facilities from coast to coast. From your first day to your next career milestone-your experience matters.

EEOC Statement
Memorial Medical Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Memorial Medical Center is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity for all applicants and employees and complies with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination and harassment in employment.

About Us

Lifepoint Health is a leader in community-based care and driven by a mission of Making Communities Healthier. Our diversified healthcare delivery network spans 29 states and includes 63 community hospital campuses, 32 rehabilitation and behavioral health hospitals, and more than 170 additional sites of care across the healthcare continuum, such as acute rehabilitation units, outpatient centers and post-acute care facilities. We believe that success is achieved through talented people. We want to create places where employees want to work, with opportunities to pursue meaningful and satisfying careers that truly make a difference in communities across the country.

About the Team

We employ and provide care to people from all walks of life. We are committed to promoting healing, providing hope, preserving dignity and producing value with an inclusive workforce in which diversity is leveraged, respected, and reflective of the patients, family members, customers and team members we serve.