Sr. Authorizations Associate

Role Scope: 

The Sr. Authorizations Associate is a key member of Habitat Health’s centralized, shared authorizations team within Value Based Care Operations. This non-clinical role owns the end-to-end authorization workflow, from validating new referrals through finalization, post-service authorizations, and follow-up, with local clinical teams. Working within strict regulatory timeframes, the Authorizations Coordinator keeps every referral accurate and moving so participants receive services on time, and so Habitat Health always knows what has been authorized, delivered, and billed. 

The role’s core accountability will include: 

• Ensures all referrals and authorizations, across all systems of record, including post-service and retro-authorization requests, are processed within strict regulatory timeframes to support timely delivery of services to participants. 

• Tracks authorization timelines, expirations, and extensions to help guarantee regulatory and internal turnaround times are met. 

• Reviews and validates all referrals for completeness (participant, provider, and reason details; required clinical approvals, network status) before handing off to scheduling. 

• Owns timely, compliant follow-up and close-out of referrals, including confirming follow-up from after visit summaries. 

• Works closely with the local care delivery teams to route requests that require clinical review to the appropriate PCP or IDT members and tracks them to a decision. Partners with Patient Access, Medical Records, Network Management, Claims, and local care teams to resolve authorization-related discrepancies and keep handoffs on time. 

• Facilitates single case agreements end-to-end with the Network team when needed. 

• Keeps referral and authorization status accurate as enrollment changes (new enrollees, disenrollment, completed visits). 

• Documents all actions, contacts, and outcomes accurately in the EHR and authorization systems, following standardized workflows and HIPAA requirements. 

  Qualifications:  

  • Associate’s degree (or equivalent combination of education and experience) and 2+ years of experience in prior authorization, referral coordination, or healthcare administration required. 
  • Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration or a related field preferred; 
  • Working knowledge of medical terminology, health insurance benefits, and authorization processes; Medicare/Medicaid managed care experience strongly preferred 
  • Experience with single case agreements, out-of-network authorizations, or retro-authorizations preferred; familiarity with Kaiser Permanente referral processes is a plus 
  • Experience with electronic health records (e.g., Epic), payer portals, and authorization management systems; proficiency in Microsoft Office 
  • Strong attention to detail, organization, and time management, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and own turnaround times 
  • Ability to adapt to changes and learn new systems quickly 
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills 
  • A strong passion for our mission, with a high degree of empathy for the populations we serve. 

  Compensation:  

  We consider an individual’s qualifications, skillset, and experience in determining final salary. This role is eligible for health insurance, life insurance, participation in the company’s equity program, and paid time off, including vacation and sick leave. The expected salary range for this position is $70,000 to $88,000 and is bonus eligible. The actual offer will be at the company’s sole discretion and determined by relevant business considerations, including the final candidate’s qualifications, years of experience, skillset, and geographic location. 

  Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: 

  Habitat Health is an Equal Opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Habitat Health applicants are considered solely based on their qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member), or other status protected by applicable law. 

  Habitat Health is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, Habitat Health will take steps to provide people with disabilities and sincerely held religious beliefs with reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable law.  Accordingly, if you require a reasonable accommodation to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact us at careers@habitathealth.com.