Pharmacy Technician Specialist - Patient Assistance Program, Pharmacy Business Office at University of Texas Medical Branch – Galveston, Texas

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School or equivalent
• Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP)
• Three (3) years of technician experience with one (1) year of professional work experience in a related field of specialty

OR

• One (1) year of pharmacy technician experience and an associate or bachelor's degree in a directly related field of specialty

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate or bachelor's degree in a directly related field of specialty
• Experience with Pharmacy Patient Assistance Programs a plus

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Pharmacy Technician Specialist assists pharmacists in providing drug distribution, technical services, and clinical services associated with the preparation, storage, and dispensing of pharmaceuticals. The Pharmacy Technologist Specialist has advanced skills in a specialty area and works in a campus-level or system-level capacity.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Performs the job functions and duties of Senior Pharmacy Technologist when needed.
• Collects data and analyzes complex information and prepares precise written summaries, reports, and/or recommendations for a variety of purposes for pharmacy leadership as appropriate or as directed.
• Assists with the maintenance of policies and standard operating procedures for area of specialty to ensure the pharmacy department meets all legal, accreditation, and certification requirements
• Completes documentation and maintains records according to established policies and procedures
• Essential job functions vary depending on the assigned specialty area:
  • Patient Assistance Program:
    • Assists self-pay and underinsured patients in enrolling in drug replacement and patient assistance programs offered by drug manufacturers to ensure access to prescribed medications
    • Ensures drug accountability and maintains complete and accurate records for drug replacement and patient assistance programs to ensure compliance with Health System, state, and federal requirements
    • Ensure patients are not charged if free drug is provided
    • Coordinates and assists the Health System financial care counselors and care managers in identifying eligible patients.
    • Provides information on co-pay assistance programs, national foundations, and manufacturer assistance programs by sharing information with patients and financial care counselors and care managers as appropriate and needed
    • Collaborates with Revenue Cycle team to assist in drug replacement for insured patients with drug denials.
    • Follow up on requests to receive determination decisions in a timely manner
    • Communicates and documents all status updates to patients, providers, and pharmacies.
    • Maintains data collection instrument on drug replacement and patient assistance programs

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Has advanced skills in area of specialty.
• Must have current knowledge of safety regulations in the department and in the implementation of new policies and procedures.
• Proficient knowledge of operating system software, desktop applications such as excel, power point, etc., interfaces, and pharmacy information system applications as they relate to the automated dispensing machines.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and solve problems.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Communicates effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, work well under pressure, take initiative, and be flexible and cooperative.
• Able to spend most of the day standing, walking, or bending. Able to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, pull, reach, push up to 50 lbs., and regularly and occasionally lift 0-30 lbs.

Qualifications - External

Equal Employment Opportunity

UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Internal Description

Description - Internal

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School or equivalent
• Registered as a Pharmacy Technician with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP)
• Three (3) years of technician experience with one (1) year of professional work experience in a related field of specialty

OR

• One (1) year of pharmacy technician experience and an associate or bachelor's degree in a directly related field of specialty

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate or bachelor's degree in a directly related field of specialty
• ACPE approved IV (sterile products) certification

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Pharmacy Technician Specialist assists pharmacists in providing drug distribution, technical services, and clinical services associated with the preparation, storage, and dispensing of pharmaceuticals. The Pharmacy Technologist Specialist has advanced skills in a specialty area and works in a campus-level or system-level capacity.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Performs the job functions and duties of Senior Pharmacy Technologist when needed.
• Collects data and analyzes complex information and prepares precise written summaries, reports, and/or recommendations for a variety of purposes for pharmacy leadership as appropriate or as directed.
• Assists with the maintenance of policies and standard operating procedures for area of specialty to ensure the pharmacy department meets all legal, accreditation, and certification requirements
• Completes documentation and maintains records according to established policies and procedures
• Essential job functions vary depending on the assigned specialty area:
  • Patient Assistance Program:
    • Assists self-pay and underinsured patients in enrolling in drug replacement and patient assistance programs offered by drug manufacturers to ensure access to prescribed medications
    • Ensures drug accountability and maintains complete and accurate records for drug replacement and patient assistance programs to ensure compliance with Health System, state, and federal requirements
    • Ensure patients are not charged if free drug is provided
    • Coordinates and assists the Health System financial care counselors and care managers in identifying eligible patients.
    • Provides information on co-pay assistance programs, national foundations, and manufacturer assistance programs by sharing information with patients and financial care counselors and care managers as appropriate and needed
    • Collaborates with Revenue Cycle team to assist in drug replacement for insured patients with drug denials.
    • Follow up on requests to receive determination decisions in a timely manner
    • Communicates and documents all status updates to patients, providers, and pharmacies.
    • Maintains data collection instrument on drug replacement and patient assistance programs

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Has advanced skills in area of specialty.
• Must have current knowledge of safety regulations in the department and in the implementation of new policies and procedures.
• Proficient knowledge of operating system software, desktop applications such as excel, power point, etc., interfaces, and pharmacy information system applications as they relate to the automated dispensing machines.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and solve problems.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Communicates effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, work well under pressure, take initiative, and be flexible and cooperative.
• Able to spend most of the day standing, walking, or bending. Able to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, pull, reach, push up to 50 lbs., and regularly and occasionally lift 0-30 lbs.

Equal Employment Opportunity

UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.