Ophthalmology Front Desk, Insurance Support & Prior Authorization
Ophthalmology Front Desk, Insurance Support & Prior Authorization
Remote | Ophthalmology | 40 hours/week | $5-$6/hour
Role Overview
We are looking for an experienced Virtual Medical Assistant to provide front-desk, insurance, and prior authorization support for a busy ophthalmology practice supporting two physicians .
This is a highly phone-focused role requiring someone who is comfortable managing a high volume of inbound and outbound calls while coordinating patient scheduling, insurance-related concerns, prior authorizations, and other administrative needs. The ideal candidate is organized, confident speaking with patients and insurance representatives, and able to manage competing priorities independently in a fast-paced clinical environment.
Key Responsibilities
High-Volume Phone & Front Desk Support
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Manage a high volume of inbound and outbound patient calls while providing professional, efficient, and compassionate assistance.
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Answer patient questions, route clinical concerns appropriately, take accurate messages, and coordinate follow-up for both physicians.
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Monitor voicemails, patient requests, and outstanding callbacks to ensure time-sensitive concerns are addressed promptly.
Appointment Scheduling & Patient Coordination
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Schedule, reschedule, and confirm ophthalmology appointments based on provider availability, visit type, and established clinic protocols.
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Coordinate appointments and follow-up care for patients of two physicians , ensuring schedules remain accurate and efficiently utilized.
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Communicate appointment instructions, reminders, required documentation, and other pre-visit information to patients.
Insurance Verification & Eligibility
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Verify patient insurance eligibility, benefits, coverage, copays, deductibles, and other relevant information before scheduled services.
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Contact insurance companies and payer portals to clarify coverage requirements, referral requirements, and authorization status.
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Document insurance information accurately in the patient's record and communicate potential coverage or eligibility issues to the appropriate clinic team.
Prior Authorization & Referral Support
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Initiate and follow up on prior authorization requests for medications, procedures, diagnostic testing, or other ophthalmology-related services.
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Gather required clinical information, submit documentation through payer portals or other authorization platforms, and monitor pending requests.
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Communicate authorization approvals, denials, additional documentation requests, and next steps to providers and appropriate clinic staff.
Administrative & Clinical Support
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Maintain accurate patient demographics, insurance information, scheduling notes, authorization records, and communication documentation within the EMR.
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Work through assigned tasks, patient messages, provider requests, and administrative follow-ups while prioritizing urgent items appropriately.
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Coordinate closely with physicians and clinic staff to ensure patient concerns, insurance issues, and pending administrative requirements are resolved efficiently.
Qualifications
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At least 1 year of experience as a Medical Virtual Assistant, Medical Receptionist, Patient Coordinator, or similar healthcare administrative role .
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Experience handling high-volume medical phone calls is strongly preferred.
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Experience supporting multiple physicians or providers simultaneously is highly preferred.
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Hands-on experience with insurance verification, eligibility and benefits, referrals, and prior authorizations .
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Familiarity with US healthcare terminology, insurance processes, HIPAA requirements, and medical office workflows.
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Previous experience in ophthalmology, optometry, or another specialty practice is an advantage.
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Comfortable working with EMR/EHR systems, insurance portals, Microsoft Teams, and other healthcare communication platforms.
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Strong spoken and written English commun