Pharmacy Technician Specialist - Ambulatory Services - Mercy San Diego

Pharmacy Technician Specialist - Ambulatory Services – Mercy San Diego

This is a full time, benefited position, with 8-hour day shifts, generally Monday through Friday, located at the pharmacy office in Mercy San Diego (Hillcrest area). Join the Scripps Health team and work alongside passionate caregivers and provide patient-centered healthcare. Receive endless appreciation while you build a rewarding career with one of the most respected healthcare organizations nationwide. Why join Scripps Health? At Scripps Health, your ambition is empowered and your abilities are appreciated: Nearly a quarter of our employees have been with Scripps Health for over 10 years. Scripps is a Great Place to Work Certified company for 2025. Scripps Health has been consistently ranked as a top employer for women, millennials, diversity, and as an overall workplace by various national publications. Beckers Healthcare ranked Scripps Health on its 2024 list of 150 top places to work in health care. We have transitional and professional development programs to create a learning environment that enables you to thrive in your specific field as well as in your overall career. Our specialties have been nationally recognized for quality in areas such as cardiovascular care, oncology, orthopedics, geriatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and gastroenterology.

Why join this team? The Pharmacy Technician Specialist will support Ambulatory Services. The Pharmacy Technician Specialist will be working in an office setting assisting with scheduling, answering phone calls, processing referrals, working through authorization and billing issues, and reconciling medication history. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys customer service, comfortable on the phone and prefers working in an office setting and has some prior knowledge of pharmacy and medical insurance processing. Responsibilities include:

• Under the direct supervision of a pharmacist, the technician supports outpatient specialty and ambulatory pharmacy services by completing benefits investigations, coordinating prior authorizations and appeals, and ensuring timely patient access to therapy.
• Manages first fills and refills, delivery logistics, and collaboration with manufacturer hubs and financial assistance programs to streamline onboarding.
• Provides proactive patient outreach, triages need, schedules refills, monitors adherence, and coordinates clinic visits and labs.
• Oversees referral processing, inventory, and purchasing while maintaining regulatory and accreditation compliance.
• Assists with staff training and workflow optimization, requiring strong communication skills, attention to detail, and expertise in complex payer and medication processes.

Qualifications:

• Required Education/Experience/Specialized Skills: High-school diploma or equivalent Advanced knowledge of specialty-drug formularies, payer prior authorization (PA) & appeal portals (e.g., CoverMyMeds, Optum, CVS Caremark, Express Scripts), ICD-10/CPT/HCPCS coding, REMS programs, and limited-distribution drug networks as appropriate to the role. Proficiency with EMR systems (Epic preferred), payer websites, Microsoft Office, and workflow proficiency in area of practice. Experience in inventory management, purchasing processes, and maintaining compliance with storage, handling, and ordering standards for specialty medications. Excellent written/verbal communication, critical-thinking, and customer-service skills.
• Required Certification/Registration: California Pharmacy Technician License National Pharmacy Technician Certification (CPhT) required within six (6) months of hire Minimum two (2) years of pharmacy-technician experience, with at least one (1) year in practice area
• Preferred Education/Experience/Specialized Skills/Certification: CPhT Five (5) years combined inpatient/outpatient or specialty-pharmacy experience