Job Description
The MA+CH Pharmacy Technician Specialist supports the Medication Access + Coordination Hub (MA+CH), a centralized team that streamlines ambulatory infusion referrals. This role ensures referrals move efficiently through insurance review, authorization, and scheduling while aligning clinical, patient, and payer requirements.
The Pharmacy Technician Specialist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.
Under the direction of a registered pharmacist, performs all technical duties associated with the daily operation of the dispensing areas; performs prescription-related, unit dose-related, and sterile product-related functions; performs manufacturing procedures that have been documented in the Department records.
Responsibilities:
- Triage new infusion referrals using Epic work queues
- Review insurance coverage and payer requirements to identify authorization risks
- Evaluate and coordinate site-of-care options based on payer, prescriber, and patient preferences
- Communicate findings and recommendations to pharmacists
- Contact patients to explain site of care options and payer requirements
- Document actions clearly and accurately in Epic to support downstream teams
- Monitor referrals for timely release of completed cases to the precertification team
- Performs the duties and responsibilities of a Pharmacy Technician at advanced level.
- Leads performance improvement initiatives
- Liaison between pharmacy and other departments
- Assists with/coordinates pharmacy technician schedule, services, prioritizing assignments and workflow, and promoting situational decision making/problem solving
- Fosters a team environment by providing education and training
- Maintains documentation of completion for media fill and fingertip testing
- Participates in site meetings (i.e. Drug Shortage, huddles, staff meetings)
- Responsible for controlled substance receiving, reconciliation, discrepancy tracking, and investigations
- Performs minor repairs of ADS machines
- Participates in projects as assigned by manager
- Handles recalls, crash carts monitoring, and kitcheck ordering
- Troubleshooting
- Restocks
- Performs Tech-Check-Tech (i.e. automated dispensing cabinet (ADC) runs/controlled substance in ADC; barcode scanned pills, pre-mixed IV bags)
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Required:
- Active Illinois Pharmacy Technician License (IDFPR)
- Pharmacy Technician licenses issued after 12/31/07 must have either CERTIFIED or STUDENT designation by their second license renew in accordance with Section 9 of the Illinois Pharmacy Practice Act
- Licensed Technicians prior to 1/1/2008 certification requirement must meet department skill level
- High School diploma or GED equivalent
- 1-2 years’ technician experience
- Previous experience as a Pharmacy Technician in a hospital or outpatient setting
- Excellent critical thinking skills, decisive judgement, and the ability to work with minimal supervision
- Specialty Pharmacy: Certified Pharmacy Technician through PTCB or ExCPT through NHA
- Medication Access + Coordination Hub (MA+CH): 2+ years of experience in pharmacy, medical benefits investigation, prior authorization, or infusion services required
Preferred:
- Minimum 5 years’ technician experience
- Epic EHR proficiency (work queues, therapy plan navigation, chart review, messaging)
- Experience with payer policies, medical benefits, and reimbursement processes
- Comfort working in a highly protocol-driven environment
- Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple concurrent workflows
- Experience in healthcare customer service or patient‑facing roles
- Collaborative mindset with experience working across interdisciplinary teams
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for patient outreach and cross-functional coordination
Additional Information
Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.
Background Check
Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.
Artificial Intelligence Disclosure
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.
Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.
Sign-on Bonus Eligibility: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.
