Director, Patient Access

Responsibilities

• Leads and manages a high-performing team across multiple functions including benefits verification, prior authorization, and copay assistance.
• Safeguards team performance against KPIs such as speed to therapy, PA turnaround time, patient onboarding success, and adherence to manufacturer expectations.
• Supports staff development, training, and quality assurance processes to maintain excellence and compliance.
• Maintains staffing levels, workflow distribution, and productivity to ensure optimal performance and scalability.
• Navigates and resolves operational challenges with a proactive, solutions-focused mindset.
• Oversees operational implementation of new manufacturer agreements and specialty drug launches in coordination with business development and the implementation team.
• Serves as the patient access leader for onboarding new products, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems, staffing plans, and reporting protocols.
• Maintains strong relationships with internal stakeholders (Product Management) to ensure contractual obligations with pharmaceutical manufacturers are fulfilled consistently.
• Continuously evaluates and improves patient access workflows for speed, quality, compliance, and efficiency.
• Drives execution of complex programs with a commitment to meeting deadlines and exceeding service expectations.
• Maintains up-to-date documentation and SOPs aligned with both regulatory requirements and manufacturer expectations.
• Partners with compliance, training, and IT teams to ensure accurate data collection, reporting, and audit readiness.
• Proactively identifies and resolves issues that may impact access performance or patient satisfaction.
• Continuously improves workflows to deliver better results for patients and partners.
• Ensures SOPs and day-to-day execution adhere to payer, regulatory, and contractual standards.
• Collaborates closely with Pharmacy Operations, Revenue Cycle, Product, and IT teams to ensure end-to-end patient support and alignment with broader business objectives.
• Supports system implementations or enhancements (e.g., CRM, workflow automation) to improve team performance and reporting capabilities.
• Represents Patient Access in cross-functional meetings and project workstreams related to drug onboarding, process change, or performance review.
• Communicates clearly and effectively across teams and with frontline staff.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Minimum of six (6) years of experience in healthcare.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in managing teams.
• Preferred qualifications include a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Business, Nursing, or related field.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in patient access, pharmacy services, or specialty healthcare; minimum of three (3) years in a leadership role managing large teams.
• Strong operational knowledge of specialty pharmacy access processes including benefits verification, prior authorization, copay support, and hub programs.
• Demonstrated experience implementing patient access workflows aligned with manufacturer programs or contracts.
• Excellent organizational, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong understanding of payer policies, access barriers, and financial assistance resources.
• Familiarity with CRM or case management platforms and access reporting tools.