Director, Pre-Arrival

Emory Healthcare•Tucker, GA

About The Position

The Director of Pre-arrival provides strategic leadership for Emory Healthcare’s financial clearance operations. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate and timely verification of patient insurance eligibility, prior authorizations, and financial arrangements prior to the delivery of healthcare services. The Director will oversee departmental operations, optimize financial clearance workflows, and collaborate closely with clinical, operational, and revenue cycle teams to improve efficiency, regulatory compliance, and the overall patient financial experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required.
Minimum of 10 years of experience in healthcare financial services required.
At least 5 years of leadership experience in financial clearance or revenue cycle management.
Strong knowledge of insurance verification, prior authorization processes, and healthcare billing operations.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrated leadership and team management capabilities.
Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Proficiency with healthcare management systems and data analytics tools.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic oversight and management of the financial clearance department.
Lead and develop a high-performing team focused on operational excellence, efficiency, and service quality.
Develop and implement strategies to optimize financial clearance processes and improve departmental workflows.
Establish performance standards and operational goals aligned with system revenue cycle objectives.
Oversee processes for verifying patient insurance eligibility and coverage details.
Ensure prior authorizations are obtained accurately and in a timely manner prior to services being rendered.
Partner with clinical departments to facilitate efficient authorization workflows for scheduled services and procedures.
Collaborate with clinical, billing, and revenue cycle teams to ensure seamless coordination between patient registration, financial clearance, and billing functions.
Serve as a key liaison for insurance companies, vendors, and external stakeholders regarding financial clearance processes.
Partner with operational leaders to resolve complex financial clearance or authorization issues.
Ensure departmental compliance with federal, state, and local regulations related to financial clearance, insurance verification, and reimbursement processes.
Monitor regulatory changes impacting financial clearance operations and implement necessary operational adjustments.
Maintain adherence to organizational policies and healthcare regulatory requirements.
Monitor and analyze financial clearance metrics to identify operational trends and opportunities for improvement.
Evaluate departmental performance related to authorization turnaround times, eligibility accuracy, and financial clearance effectiveness.
Prepare and present regular performance reports to senior leadership.
Develop and implement training programs for financial clearance staff covering insurance processes, authorization procedures, and customer service practices.
Promote a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
Ensure staff remain informed about evolving payer requirements and healthcare financial practices.