Intake & Insurance Authorization Lead - Home Health

Join Synergy's dynamic intake and insurance authorization team as the Intake & Insurance Authorization Lead! We are seeking a detail oriented, operationally strong leader to oversee the full front-end patient access process-from referral intake through insurance authorization approval. In this role, you will ensure seamless, compliant, and efficient patient onboarding while safeguarding timely admissions, payer compliance, and revenue integrity.


About the Role


The Intake & Insurance Authorization Lead is responsible for coaching and guiding the team that manages all steps of the patient intake and authorization lifecycle. This includes referral intake, eligibility verification, authorization submission and tracking, and admission readiness. The role requires leadership, deep payer knowledge, and the ability to ensure workflows are executed with accuracy, timeliness, and compliance. This position also serves as a key escalation point for complex cases and drives continuous improvement across intake and authorization processes.


Key Responsibilities


Performance Coaching
• Train and mentor intake and authorization team members to ensure strong performance and accountability.
• Manage workload distribution and staffing coverage to meet turnaround expectations and service levels.
• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and training on payer requirements, workflows, and best practices.


Referral Intake & Data Management
• Oversee the receipt and processing of referrals from hospitals, physicians, and facilities.
• Ensure accurate and timely creation of patient records within Homecare Homebase (HCHB).
• Drive consistency and quality in demographic, clinical, and referral source data entry.


Eligibility, Verification & Financial Vetting
• Ensure all patients undergo thorough eligibility review aligned with regulatory and payer requirements.
• Oversee insurance verification and benefit checks to confirm coverage and identify financial risk.
• Establish processes for ongoing eligibility monitoring, including periodic re-verification for active patients.


Authorization Oversight & Execution
• Oversee the timely and accurate submission and tracking of initial prior authorization requests.
• Direct processes for ongoing authorization needs, including post-485 approvals and add-on service authorizations.
• Monitor authorization status and ensure approvals are secured prior to initiation of services when required.
• Serve as escalation point for complex authorization issues, delays, or denials.


Workflow Ownership & Process Improvement
• Own intake and authorization workflows to ensure clarity, efficiency, and consistency across teams.
• Identify bottlenecks, delays, or errors and implement process improvements to enhance performance.
• Step into workflow execution as needed to support high volumes, escalations, or team coverage gaps.
• Develop and maintain workflow documentation, job aids, and standard operating procedures.


Cross Functional Collaboration
• Partner closely with scheduling, clinical leadership, and operations teams to coordinate start of care.
• Ensure communication of referral status, eligibility findings, and authorization outcomes to key stakeholders.
• Support strong relationships with referral sources through timely communication and coordination.


Payer Relations, Compliance & Reporting
• Ensure all intake and authorization processes adhere to payer guidelines, regulatory requirements, and internal policies.
• Serve as a point of contact for payer escalations and complex authorization scenarios.
• Track and report on key metrics including referral turnaround time, authorization timeliness, and denial rates.
• Identify trends impacting intake conversion, authorization delays, or financial outcomes and escalate appropriately.


Qualifications


Required
• Minimum of 3+ years of experience in healthcare intake, insurance authorization, or patient access within Home Health or Hospice.
• Minimum of 1+ year of leadership or supervisory experience managing a team.
• Strong knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payer requirements for eligibility and authorization.
• Proficiency with Homecare Homebase (HCHB) or similar EMR systems.
• Solid understanding of medical terminology, documentation standards, and healthcare compliance requirements.
• Ability to lead teams while also stepping into operational workflow execution when needed.


Preferred
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business, or related field.
• Experience in utilization review, denial management, or appeals.
• Experience in a shared services or multi-agency environment.


Skills and Competencies


• Leadership and team development skills
• Deep understanding of intake and authorization workflows
• Excellent attention to detail and data accuracy
• Analytical thinking and problem solving
• Clear, professional, and timely communication
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong commitment to compliance and revenue cycle integrity


If you are a driven leader who thrives in fast paced intake and authorization environments and is passionate about ensuring seamless patient access and compliant care delivery, we invite you to apply for the Intake & Insurance Authorization Lead role with Synergy.


The employer for this position is stated in the job posting. The Pennant Group, Inc. is a holding company of independent operating subsidiaries that provide healthcare services through home health and hospice agencies and senior living communities located throughout the US. Each of these businesses is operated by a separate, independent operating subsidiary that has its own management, employees and assets. More information about The Pennant Group, Inc. is available at