Pharmacy Customer Service Assistant II

HealthPartners is hiring a Pharmacy Customer Service Assistant. The Pharmacy Customer Service Assistant II reviews requests for medical policy or prescription drugs that require a coverage determination. This is primarily a pharmacy customer service position that serves as a resource to providers, members, member service staff, pharmacies, and department staff with regard to pharmacy benefits, pharmacy claims, formulary, and pharmacy policy and procedures. Physician and member requests are processed independently by reviewing requests based on pre-determined clinical criteria. This position also reviews and determines appropriate reimbursements/processing of all claims requested from members and providers. This position applies all accountabilities below to all of HealthPartners products including Fully Insured, Self-Insured, Medicare, and Medicaid.

QUALIFICATIONS:

REQUIRED:

• High School diploma or GED

• Three years recent Pharmacy Technician experience in a pharmacy that includes familiarity with pharmacy benefits, pharmacy claims, and working with difficult customers in person and via telephone; or three years Prior Authorization and pharmacy benefit experience at a pharmacy benefit company or health plan outside of HealthPartners/GHI.

• Six-months computer experience including pharmacy systems

• Pharmacy Technician certification (CPhT)

• Broad knowledge of drugs and drug categories 

• Broad knowledge of pharmacy benefits

• Demonstrated independent analytic problem solving skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Demonstrated ability to convey information to others in a clear, concise, and courteous manner by phone, direct contact, and in writing

• Ability to make decision based on established protocols. Ability to deal effectively with varying workloads, stress levels and tight deadlines

• Ability to work independently and establish work priorities in an environment with frequent interruptions

• Ability to maintain productive working relationships with team members and other internal and external customers with exceptional customer service skills

• Ability to work independently and make appropriate decision following corporate guidelines with the ability to research and fully document internal practices or problems that contribute to customer dissatisfaction in order to reduce future complaints and errors.

• Exceptional organizational skills

   

PREFERRED:

• Completion of Pharmacy Tech program

• Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) Certification

• Knowledge of HealthPartners and HealthPartners Pharmacy Administration department

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

This position requires the use of close, visual perception and normal manual dexterity. Incumbent must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time. Must be able to speak, read and write English fluently.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

1. Key contact for expedited, urgent, and complex benefit and pharmacy issues including coverage determination, benefit design, and claims. Interpret unique and complex benefits.

2. Organize, retrieve, and share member information under tight timelines in accordance with state and federal policies including but not limited to National Council Quality Assurance, ERISA, and CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) 

3. Process requests using HIPAA security measures. 

4. Assist in internal and external audits. 

5. Identify and interpret Explanation of Benefits received from members and other carriers.

6. Provide excellent customer service to, providers, members, member services staff, internal and external staff, and pharmacies regarding pharmacy benefits and claims, formulary, and pharmacy policy and procedures for all HealthPartners products (i.e. Fully Insured, Self Insured, Medicare, and Medicaid). Focus on ownership and first call resolution. Evaluate and redirect calls to appropriate areas or departments. 

7. Correspond with Medicare members, Member Services, Sales, brokers, Membership Accounting, clinics, pharmacies, and other departments regarding coverage determinations and pharmacy benefits. Independently process a high volume of coverage determination requests within established guidelines and based on pre-determined clinical criteria.

8. Research and triage pharmacy claims submitted by members and providers.

9. Handle all call center duties with knowledge of department functions, processes and pr