The Lead Pharmacy Technician, Medication Access Services plays a critical role in supporting UVA Health’s Specialty Pharmacy medication access initiatives by facilitating timely and accurate benefits investigations (BI) including prior authorizations, appeals, reauthorizations, grants, foundations, copay cards (where applicable) and patient financial assistance support. This lead role serves as a subject matter expert and point-of-contact for day-to-day operations, provides team training and quality oversight, and ensures alignment with accreditation standards and patient access goals. The Lead Technician will collaborate with pharmacists, providers, clinic staff, biopharmaceutical industry stakeholders and payers to help patients begin or maintain therapy with specialty, rare, and cell & gene (CGT) service lines. Key Responsibilities Daily Operations & Workflow Support • Serve as lead technician for daily medication access workflows across multiple therapeutic areas, including specialty, rare, and CGT disease states. • Conduct benefit investigations, submit prior authorization documentation, track payer responses, and respond to escalated access barriers • Support intake, onboarding, and refill coordination for patients requiring specialty medication therapies. Training & Quality Oversight • Train, assist with onboarding and mentor Medication Access Technicians (MATs) on access workflows, payer processes, documentation standards, and compliance expectations. • Perform routine quality checks on technician-submitted documentation, payer submissions, and patient follow-ups. • Assist the Pharmacy Manager & Specialty Pharmacy leadership team in maintaining standard operating procedures and ensuring team competency and consistency. Compliance & Accreditation Readiness • Ensure adherence to URAC, ACHC, and payer-specific patient management program (PMP) standards including turnaround times, warm handoffs, and documentation requirements. • Assist with audit preparation and ongoing readiness for accreditation surveys and internal quality reviews. Team & Communication Liaison • Act as a liaison between the medication access team, pharmacists, clinical staff, and third-party payers to facilitate high-quality patient service. • Communicate effectively to coordinate benefit-related processes across departments and ensure continuity of care. Patient-Centered Access Support • Champion proactive outreach strategies to minimize therapy delays due to insurance barriers. • Support financial assistance applications, grants foundations, and co-pay program coordination for high-cost therapies when applicable. • Help maintain and improve UVA Health’s industry-leading patient and provider specialty pharmacy net promoter scores (NPS). **Creates pharmacy technician work schedules in assigned units.** **Manages pharmacy technician onboarding and retention.** **Manages compliance for audits.** **Provides effective coordination of departmental projects/operations.** **Ensures accuracy and integrity in the medication use process.** **In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.** Position Compensation Range: - MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS Education: High School Graduate or Equivalent required. Associate’s Degree or above preferred. Experience: Two years of relevant experience required License/Certification: Commonwealth of Virginia Pharmacy Technician Registration required. CPhT credential through National Healthcareer Association (NHA) or Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) required. For team members hired prior to February 1, 2020, certification as CPhT through NHA or PTCB is required by January 31, 2022 PHYSICAL DEMANDS Job requires standing for prolonged periods. Proficient communicative, auditory and visual skills; Attention to detail and ability to write legibly; Ability to lift/push/pull < 20lbs. _The University of Virginia, i_ _ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physicians Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library,_ _are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experience. We are equal opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information._