Registered Nurse II - Prior Authorization and Referral

Job Title

Registered Nurse II - Prior Authorization and Referral

Agency

Texas A&M University

Department

University Health Services

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Who We Are

University Health Services empowers Texas A&M students through integrated care that supports their physical and mental health. As part of Texas A&M Health—the university’s comprehensive health science center—our clinicians provide the highest level of care in medicine, counseling, psychology and emergency medical services that fosters students’ academic, personal and professional success.

What We Want

The Registered Nurse II- Prior Authorization and Referral, manages the end-to-end administration of prior authorizations and external specialty referrals to ensure patients receive timely, continuous care. This role involves navigating complex payer policies, gathering clinical documentation, managing coverage denials through peer-to-peer reviews, and connecting patients with financial assistance programs. Additionally, the position supports daily clinic operations, educates patients on their coverage and care plans, and serves as a key resource for staff to drive ongoing workflows and quality improvements.

What You Need To Know

Salary: Commensurate based on selected candidates experience.

Cover Letter/Resume: A cover letter and resume are strongly recommended and will help in our review. You may upload them on the application under the CV/Resume section.

Responsibilities

Prior Authorizations & Care Coordination

Reviews and processes prior authorizations for medications, radiology procedures, and specialty services.

Navigates payer policies including step therapy protocols, quantity limits, preferred drug lists, and therapeutic substitutions.

Assists patients and providers in identifying and applying for patient assistance programs or financial assistance when available.

Facilitate peer-to-peer reviews with payers when pre-authorizations are denied.

Collaborate with providers to gather necessary clinical documentation and address denials or escalations.

Tracks status of authorizations and manages related communications with patients and staff.

Referral Management

Coordinates external referrals to specialty providers, ensuring completeness of documentation and timely submission.

Follow up with external offices, providers, and students to support continuity of care.

Maintains accurate tracking and communication regarding referral outcomes.

Staff Supervision and Leadership

Supervises designated nursing or medical support staff by managing workload distribution, scheduling, and coverage planning.

Reviews and approves time sheets, time off requests, and ensures coverage meets operational needs.

Provides coaching and timely feedback to support employee development and professional growth.

Participates in performance evaluations alongside the nursing leadership.

Patient Care and Education

Educates patients on referral processes, coverage details, and treatment plans.

Documents clinical and administrative activities in the electronic medical record.

Clinical Operations

Supports day-to-day operations in the clinic, assists in scheduling and patient flow.

Helps ensure compliance with healthcare regulations and university policies.

Assists with the implementation of clinic policies, standards, and procedural updates.

Resourcing and Quality Improvement

Serves as a resource for nursing and administrative staff on prior authorization and referral policies.

Participates in the development and implementation of workflow improvements related to access and coordination of care.

Participates in onboarding and training of new staff, ensuring orientation to clinic protocols and standards.

Represents the nursing team in interdisciplinary meetings or process improvement groups, as needed.

Qualifications

Required Education & Experience:

Associate Degree in Nursing.

Two years of experience as a Registered Nurse.

Required Licenses and Certifications:

Must be licensed by the State of Texas as a Registered Nurse.

CPR certified.

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Nursing.

Two years of experience as a Registered Nurse, within the last ten years, including experience in at least one of the following areas:

Prior authorizations or utilization management

Care coordination or case management

Insurance or payer policy navigation

Outpatient clinic operations or referral processing

Reviewing medical documentation for insurance or compliance purposes

Working in a college health, primary care, or ambulatory care setting

Experience spanning multiple areas listed above (e.g., combining prior authorizations with outside medication management, clinic operations, or care coordination).

Experience with direct supervision of employees, performance evaluations, staffing, and/or scheduling.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of standard nursing procedures and techniques.

Strong understanding of insurance guidelines and prior authorization processes.

Ability to review and interpret clinical documentation to determine what is required for prior authorizations and referrals.

High level of comfort with computers, databases, and web-based systems; able to independently navigate payer portals, referral platforms, and electronic records systems.

Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

Ability to handle sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.

Proficiency in documenting and navigating electronic medical records.

Other Requirements and Factors

The individual in this position may be required to handle Personally Identifiable Information 1 (PII) as defined by Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations and Protected Health Information 2 (PHI) as defined by Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. The individual is required to handle PII and PHI in accordance with University Health Services (UHS), Texas A&M University System policies, and all applicable federal regulations.

1PII includes information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity, either alone or when combined with other personal or identifying information.

2PHI refers to any health information that can be linked to a specific individual and is protected under federal privacy regulations.

FERPA and HIPAA training are required upon employment and must be completed on a recurring basis as determined by policy and job duties.

Why Texas A&M University?

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration. Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you. Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes.

Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts , and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums

12-15 days of annual paid holidays

Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month

Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas

Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time

Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more

Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee

Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees

Our