Authorizations Specialist

FULL-TIME | ON-SITE | PHOENIX, ARIZONA

Authorizations Specialist

Insurance Authorizations & Benefits Verification

$55,000 Base Salary

About Odyssey Autism

At Odyssey Autism, we're on a mission to guide little heroes on their BIG adventures.

We provide individualized, evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for children ages 2–12, helping families access the support they need to thrive.

We're a growing, BCBA-led organization with clinics in Phoenix and Tucson, built around clinical excellence, strong relationships, and a genuine commitment to the families we serve.

As we grow, we're building a dedicated intake and authorizations team to help families start therapy sooner and avoid insurance-related interruptions.

About the Opportunity

We're hiring our first dedicated Authorizations Specialist.

Every child's therapy at Odyssey depends on active insurance authorization. You'll ensure approvals, tracking, and renewals happen on time so children can begin and continue care.

You'll own initial authorizations, re-authorizations, and support verifications of benefits (VOBs) for new families. You'll work closely with BCBAs, intake, and clinic leaders to help build this department from the ground up.

You'll join our intake team alongside our Intake Coordinator, with hands-on training and support from our VP of Growth.

This isn't a back-office data-entry job. Your follow-through directly helps children access uninterrupted therapy.

What You'll Do

Secure Initial Authorizations

• Submit assessment and treatment authorization requests to commercial insurers and AHCCCS health plans through payer portals, fax, and phone.
• Identify payers requiring authorization before an initial assessment and secure approval before the assessment.
• Partner with BCBAs to gather accurate treatment plans and required clinical documentation.
• Track each request through a decision and record approved versus requested hours.

Keep Every Authorization Current

• Maintain a calendar of active authorizations, approved units, start dates, and expiration dates.
• Initiate re-authorizations early and request reassessments and updated treatment plans from BCBAs ahead of deadlines.
• Monitor utilization against approved units and flag potential gaps to clinical and operations leaders.
• Coordinate peer-to-peer reviews, resubmissions, and appeals for reduced or denied requests.

Support Intake & Benefits Verification

• Complete VOBs for new families, confirming eligibility, ABA coverage, deductibles, coinsurance, and authorization requirements.
• Communicate clear results to intake so families receive timely answers.
• Work with our Intake Coordinator to move families from first call to first session.
• Maintain accurate authorization and VOB records in our practice management system and intake tracker.
• Identify recurring payer issues and recommend process improvements.

This role handles protected health information daily and must follow HIPAA privacy and security requirements.

What Success Looks Like

We believe in clear expectations, measurable results, and the support needed to succeed.

You'll work against a defined performance scorecard:

• First 30 Days: Complete onboarding and HIPAA training; learn payers, systems, and workflows; audit active authorizations; and build a 90-day expiration calendar.
• First 90 Days: Own the calendar with zero lapsed authorizations; submit re-authorizations by payer deadlines and at least 21 days before expiration; submit initial requests within two business days of receiving a completed treatment plan.
• First 6 Months: Maintain zero lapses, complete VOBs within one business day, and track approved versus requested hours to support peer-to-peer reviews.
• First 12 Months: Manage authorizations across clinics with zero lapses for the year, document a payer-by-payer playbook, and help train new team members.

A lapsed authorization is a gap between an authorization's end date and approved renewal. A completed treatment plan is BCBA-signed and includes all payer-required documentation.

Who We're Looking For

We're seeking an organized, detail-oriented professional who owns deadlines, communicates clearly, and wants to grow with a developing team.

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in a healthcare office, insurance, medical billing, or another detail-heavy administrative role.
• Working knowledge of insurance eligibility, benefits, and prior authorization, or a strong willingness to learn.
• Exceptional attention to detail and proven deadline management.
• Strong organization and follow-through across multiple open items.
• Professional phone and email communication with insurers, clinicians, and families.
• Comfort using insurance portals, spreadsheets, and new software.
• Commitment to protecting confidential health information.
• Ability to thrive in a growing team and company.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior authorizations experience in ABA or behavioral health.
• Familiarity with Arizona AHCCCS plans and commercial insurance.
• Knowledge of ABA CPT codes (97151, 97153, 97155, 97156) and unit-based authorizations.
• Experience with an EHR or ABA practice management system.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills.

You don't need to be an insurance expert on day one. We'll train you on our payers, systems, and workflow and provide the support to succeed.

Compensation & Benefits

Base Salary: $55,000 annually

Benefits Include:

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• 10 days of paid time off and 8 paid holidays
• Paid, hands-on training in authorizations, insurance, and our systems
• Professional development and ongoing leadership support
• Growth opportunities as our department expands

Schedule & Location

• Full-time, Monday–Friday, during business hours
• Primarily remote with some days at our Phoenix clinic as needed
• Home clinic: 1831 W. Rose Garden Lane, Phoenix, AZ
• Supports authorizations for both Phoenix (2) and Tucson (1) clinics

Build Your Career With Us

We're building an intake and authorizations department, not just a process. This is an opportunity to grow alongside it.

As Odyssey expands, successful team members may advance into roles such as:

• Senior Authorizations Specialist: Handle complex cases, appeals, payer escalations, and staff mentoring.
• Intake & Authorizations Lead: Guide daily VOB, authorization, and intake work across clinics.
• Intake & Authorizations Leadership: Help shape the department as Odyssey adds clinics and serves more families.

These are potential paths based on performance and organizational growth, not guaranteed promotions.

Why Odyssey Autism?

For families beginning ABA therapy, insurance can be confusing. For those already in care, an expired authorization can mean missed sessions.

Your job is to help ensure neither stands in the way of a child's progress.

You'll join a growing, BCBA-led organization where clinical, intake, and operations teams work together to serve children and families.

You'll have clear processes, hands-on training, supportive leaders, and the chance to see your work make a difference every week.

If you take pride in getting details right, keeping things on track, and making a meaningful difference for families, we'd love to meet you.

👉 Apply at odysseyautism.bamboohr.com/careers

Please include a brief introduction highlighting your insurance, authorization, or detail-heavy work experience and an example of how you've prevented an important deadline from slipping.

Odyssey Autism is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace. If you need an accommodation during hiring, contact HR@odysseyautism.com.