The Authorization Specialist Sr is responsible for coordinating and securing pre-certifications and pre-authorizations for procedures, diagnostic testing, and medications to ensure timely patient access to care. This role facilitates communication between referring providers, insurance carriers, and clinical departments to streamline scheduling and maintain continuity of care. The specialist triages and transcribes patient calls, schedules outpatient appointments, enters detailed documentation in the EMR, and provides guidance to patients throughout the authorization process. As a senior-level role, this position supports other authorization specialists and serves as the primary liaison to internal departments to resolve complex authorization issues and ensure efficient workflow operations.
Required:
High School Diploma or GED
Work Experience and Additional Information
Five (5) years of relevant medical office experience to include auth/pre-cert. Knowledge of medical terminology, CPT & ICD-9 coding. Excellent communication skills
Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Comprehensive knowledge of insurance authorization processes including pre-certification requirements, medical necessity guidelines, and payer-specific policies.
Strong proficiency in EMR systems (e.g., EPIC) with the ability to document detailed notes, track authorization statuses, and manage patient scheduling.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with physicians, insurance carriers, patients, and internal departments.
Ability to analyze and interpret clinical information to determine authorization needs and compile documentation for peer-to-peer reviews.
Strong organizational and time-management skills to manage multiple authorizations, meet deadlines, and ensure timely scheduling.
Customer service and patient education skills to guide patients through the authorization and scheduling process with clarity and compassion.
Tampa General is a private not-for-profit hospital and one of the most comprehensive medical facilities in West Central Florida serving a dozen counties with a population in excess of 4 million. As one of the largest hospitals in Florida, Tampa General is licensed for 982 beds, and with over 15,000 team members, is one of the region’s largest employers.
Consistently recognized for world-class care, Tampa General Hospital is ranked as the #1 hospital in Tampa Bay by U.S. News & World Report for 2024-25 and is nationally ranked as among the top 50 hospitals in the nation in eight specialties. Additionally, Tampa General was ranked as “high performing,” or among the top 10% of hospitals in the nation, in five more specialties along with 12 procedures and conditions.
TGH partners with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine to pioneer breakthrough treatments, conduct game-changing clinical research and train the next generation of health care professionals. TGH is the region's only academic health system, having been affiliated with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine since the school was created in the early 1970s.
TGH is the area’s only Level I trauma center and one of two ABA-verified Adult & Pediatric burn centers in Florida. With five medical helicopters, we are able to transport critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. The hospital is home to the leading organ transplant center in the country, having performed more than 14,000 adult solid organ transplants, including the state’s first successful heart transplant in 1985. Tampa General Hospital is committed to serving all residents of West Central Florida. We provide comprehensive health services, ranging from wellness and primary care to the most complex specialty care and post-acute services.
