Referral Coordinator - MD071

Title: Referral Coordinator

Location: Wellness Center - 12360 E Burnside St., Portland, OR 97233

Schedule: This is an in-person position, Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm

Wage Range: $26.00 – $30.00 hourly, non-exempt

If you are a motivated and dedicated

Referral Coordinator looking for an opportunity to contribute to an organization making a positive impact, we want to hear from you!

At NARA Northwest, you’ll find a supportive work environment where every team member is valued and respected. Whether you’re passionate about healthcare, behavioral health, education, or social services, there’s a place for you to make a meaningful difference.

Company Mission

The mission of NARA NW is to provide education, physical, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment that is culturally appropriate to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and anyone in need.

About the Company

At NARA NW, we deliver services and support to Native American and Alaska Native communities, helping individuals lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

With over 450 employees across a variety of programs—including medical and dental care, addiction treatment, housing assistance, and enrichment initiatives NARA NW offers numerous opportunities for growth and advancement, all while making a tangible, positive impact on the lives of others.

Position Overview

The Referral Coordinator coordinates internal and external referrals to ensure patients/clients are successfully connected to specialty healthcare services and other appropriate resources. This position works closely with providers, billing staff, insurance companies, and other support staff to process and track referrals, maintain knowledge of insurance and grant benefits and NARA NW programs, ensure required documentation is sent, received, and added to the medical record, and coordinate care throughout the referral process. The Referral Coordinator also completes internal referrals to NARA NW programs, maintains referral tracking reports, and provides regular referral updates to management.

What you will do

• Track referrals and documenting referrals and/or authorizations with the use of Athena.
• Understand insurance coverage benefits and limitations.
• Address client/patient inquiries, questions and concerns in all areas including enrollment, claims, benefit interpretation, and referrals/authorizations for specialty care or other resources.
• Receive, respond to, and direct client/patient, provider, and insurance vendor phone calls. Provides available information upon request and escalates issues as appropriate.
• Maintain confidentiality per HIPAA guidelines. Obtains proper patient/client signature prior to notifying insurance of referral and/or authorization request.
• Determine insurance/grant eligibility and proceed with completion of referral/authorization paperwork when notified by NARA NW staff or EHR report of the need to obtain a referral/authorization on a patient/client.
• Coordinate with insurance the process for receiving and sending referrals and/or authorizations.
• Follow up with referrals to determine if completed and ensuring documentation is obtained from the receiving provider or organization.

We would like to hear from people that have:

• Either High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certification required.
• Two to four years of experience in referrals, care coordination, medical office administration, behavioral health administration, insurance authorization, or a related field.
• Experience working in a medical, behavioral health, mental health, substance use treatment, or other healthcare-related setting.
• Working knowledge of insurance eligibility, benefits, referrals, prior authorizations, and related documentation processes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and other related business software.
• Strong organizational, customer service, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and interact professionally with clients, providers, staff, insurance representatives, and community partners.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively while maintaining professionalism, confidentiality, accurate documentation, and sound judgment.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in writing, verbally, and through documentation and reporting.
• Experience using electronic health record (EHR) systems, medical practice management systems, or similar client/patient documentation systems (e.g., Athena, Epic, Cerner) preferred.
• Experience coordinating referrals, prior authorizations, insurance verification, or care coordination services preferred.
• Knowledge of behavioral health, mental health, substance use treatment, or community-based healthcare services preferred.
• Experience working within the Native American/Alaska Native community preferred.
• Must pass a pre-employment or for cause drug tests.
• Must pass criminal background and DMV checks

What’s in it for you?

15 Paid Holidays: New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Battle of Little Big Horn, Independence Day, Labor Day, Native American Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, day after Thanksgiving, December 25th and your birthday!

Benefits: Employees working 20 hours, or more are eligible for benefits. Benefits are effective from the 1st of the month following the date of hire.

• Affordable Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance through Kaiser Permanente
• 15 Paid Holidays (Listed Above)
• 13 Paid Days of Sick Time
• 13 Paid Days of PTO (Vacation accruals increase with years of service to a maximum of 26 days)
• $50,000 Life Insurance & AD&D
• Short Term and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Spending Account
• 401(k) with 4% Match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Inclement Weather Days (Snow Days)
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness -NARA NW is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit, FQHC

How to apply

• To Quick Apply, go to Careers – NARA NW (naranorthwest.org)
• Look for the position you want to apply for and submit a resume (Required) and cover letter (Optional), that’s all!
• Feel free to contact ***email_hidden*** if you have any questions or would like to know where your application is in the process.

NARA NW Mission: Our mission is to provide education, physical and mental health services and substance abuse treatment that is culturally appropriate to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and everyone in need.

NARA NW is fully committed to supporting sobriety. To support NARA NW in its mission, all employees agree to refrain from illicit drug use, marijuana use, and prescription drug abuse, both on and off the job. In addition, all employees agree to model alcohol sobriety. Modeling alcohol sobriety means not consuming, discussing, or promoting the use of alcohol, on the job, on social media and when in the community where the employee would be likely to be seen by NARA NW clients or community. If in recovery, employees must have been sober/clean for a length of time sufficient to demonstrate that they will be able to remain sober.

Consistent with NARA NW’s sobriety policy, all employees, volunteers, interns, and contractors, as applicable, are required to sign a “Drug-Free/Alcohol-Free Workplace Certification Form” and NARA NW “Modeling Sobriety Policy Form” as a condition of employment to confirm that they are aware of this policy and that they agree to comply with it. Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. This policy is subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its state counterpart Preference in hiring is given to qualified Native Americans in accordance with the Indian Preference Act (Title 25, US Code, Sections 472 and 473). NARA Northwest is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Within the scope of Indian Preference, all candidates will receive equal consideration. Experience working with Native American/ Alaska Native community is considered a plus.

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position’s activities and requirements, the agency reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties, as necessary.