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Medication Access Technician

University of California - San Francisco

United States, California, San Francisco

654 Minnesota Street (Show on map)

Jun 26, 2026

As a patient-centered organization, UCSF Medical Center exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership and respect. UCSF Medical Center seeks faculty and staff that are committed to the values of professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence that are integral to our mission

Under the supervision of the Medication Access Manager and guided by the policies and procedures of the Ambulatory and Outpatient Pharmacy Services, the Pharmacy Medication Support Specialist (MSS) facilitates prescription prior authorization (PA) and refill requests This role involves obtaining, preparing and submitting the necessary forms for insurance authorizations, requesting information from insurance companies regarding possible alternative therapies, and providing patients with timely communications regarding the status of the PA. In addition, this position is also responsible in facilitating medication refills requests. Using a refill protocol, the MSS evaluates refill requests for adherence to the refill protocol criteria which includes reviewing a patient's medical record in APeX and contacting a patient for needed information. The MSS also performs medication benefits investigations and explores financial assistance options where applicable, to ensure patients have access to the medication they need, acting as the primary contact for all medication authorization and refill requests.

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

% of time	Essential Function (Yes/No)	Key Responsibilities (To be completed by Supervisor)
45	YES	Prior Authorization (PA) and Financial Assistance Facilitation Under the oversight of pharmacists, drives the Prior Authorization (PA) process to completion and resolves any related issues. Performs medication benefits investigation and accurately submits prior authorizations to insurance manually, electronically, or telephonically as necessary Notifies the patient and documents the status of the PA and financial assistance in APeX Follows up with health insurance payors that don't respond to submitted PA requests Works with pharmacists or providers for any denials and appeals Evaluates patient assistance program opportunities if necessary
45	YES	Refill Authorization Receives and processes refill requests from clinic personnel, a pharmacy or patients Using a refill protocol, evaluates refill requests for adherence to the refill protocol criteria; this involves reviewing APeX and contacting a patient Notifies pharmacist of specific refill protocol criteria that are not met after assessment Notates the need for a provider appointment where applicable Discusses recommendations and other pertinent information with the pharmacist Conducts a search for any lab test(s) that is needed to fulfill the protocol and analyzes EMR for any needed lab test(s) and notates this need; if needed, inform patients about needed labs Pend the order or request for provider appointment based on pharmacist judgment via APeX Properly documents each refill request in the patient's chart
10	YES	Administrative Functions Assists in training and onboarding new staff and learners regarding the refill and PA processes Participates in the pharmacy's continuous quality improvement Completes training requirements timely and stay up to date on policies and procedures Performs additional tasks as deemed appropriate or necessary by the supervisor/manager pertaining to pharmacy operations and patient care
100%		(To update total %, enter the amount of time in whole numbers (without the % symbol - e.g., 15, 20) then highlight the total sum (e.g., 1%) at the bottom of the column and press F9. The total sum should add up to 100%.)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

This position requires flexibility to orient and work at all UCSF Medical Center locations.
Completion of a recognized/accredited Pharmacy Technician Training Program.
Minimum three (3) years' experience as a Pharmacy Technician or allied healthcare professional in a hospital, pharmacy, or other health care setting, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Strong computer skills and use of Microsoft Office
Ability to prioritize work efficiently
Excellent interpersonal communication skills, writing skills, and ability to work effectively with a large, diverse population, including maintaining good relationships between the Pharmacy and Ambulatory clinics.
Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills
Must be able to multitask and be flexible in changing work assignments at short notice
Basic math skills

PREFERRED QUALIFICATION

Recent experience processing third-party billing, including prior authorization facilitation and refill authorization
Bilingual in Spanish, Cantonese, and/or Russian preferred
Bachelor's degree in health or behavioral science.
Medical Assistant Certification
Ability to use EMR and perform chart abstraction into EMR - specifically APeX
Adaptable to learn new technologies including AI solutions.

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

* Licensed Pharmacy Technician by the California Board of Pharmacy and in good standing

About UCSF

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world's leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.

Pride Values

UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence - also known as our PRIDE values.

In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity - both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available here.

Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Salary Information

The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy.

Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement.

To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

This position requires flexibility to orient and work at all UCSF Medical Center locations.
Completion of a recognized/accredited Pharmacy Technician Training Program.
Minimum three (3) years' experience as a Pharmacy Technician or allied healthcare professional in a hospital, pharmacy, or other health care setting, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Strong computer skills and use of Microsoft Office
Ability to prioritize work efficiently
Excellent interpersonal communication skills, writing skills, and ability to work effectively with a large, diverse population, including maintaining good relationships between the Pharmacy and Ambulatory clinics.
Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills
Must be able to multitask and be flexible in changing work assignments at short notice
Basic math skills

PREFERRED QUALIFICATION

Recent experience processing third-party billing, including prior authorization facilitation and refill authorization
Bilingual in Spanish, Cantonese, and/or Russian preferred
Bachelor's degree in health or behavioral science.
Medical Assistant Certification
Ability to use EMR and perform chart abstraction into EMR - specifically APeX
Adaptable to learn new technologies including AI solutions.

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

* Licensed Pharmacy Technician by the California Board of Pharmacy and in good standing