Associate Director, Access & Reimbursement

Job Description Summary

#LI-Remote

The AD, Access & Reimbursement, NPS CV is in Minneapolis, MN geography. This is a remote & field-based role that covers the following, but not limited to: Minneapolis, MN, Saint Paul, MN and Milwaukee, WI. Associate must reside within territory, or within a reasonable daily commuting distance of 60 miles from territory.

The Associate Director, Access & Reimbursement (ADAR) is a field-based role that proactively provides in person (or virtual as needed) education to defined accounts within their assigned geographies on a wide range of access and reimbursement topics and needs (see below) in support of aligned product(s) strategy. ADARs primarily focus on accounts with increased process and workflow complexity, typically including centralized and decentralized systems of care, integrated delivery networks, academic medical institutions, large multi-provider specialty practices, and alternate sites of care.

ADARs will serve as the patient access and reimbursement lead in business-to-business conversations with account executives. The ADAR role is responsible for managing the pull-through of access and reimbursement strategy and downstream operations within their aligned accounts. ADARs are expected to have deep expertise in communicating requirements and addressing barriers associated with local payer policy coverage, multi-channel acquisition pathways, billing and coding education (as needed), claims processing, reimbursement, and integration of manufacturer support programs into a range of account workflows. ADAR will continually need to demonstrate a keen ability to problem solve and manage multiple projects.

ADARs partner closely with other Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NPC) field associates, including Customer Engagement (Sales) and Market Access, representing NPC with the highest integrity in accordance with NPC Values and Behaviors. ADARs will also be required to coordinate and communicate cross-functionally within NPC (e.g., Patient Support Center, Customer Engagement, Marketing, Market Access, Public Affairs, State & Government Affairs, Trade, Specialty Pharmacy Account Management, and other applicable third party affiliates).

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Interact with large, complex accounts to support patient access within their aligned therapeutic area product(s), proactively provide face-to-face education on programs to providers and staff in order to support integration of those products into office processes and workflows.
• Work with key members of therapeutic area offices (e.g., executives, providers, administrators, billing and coding staff, claims departments, revenue cycle managers) in order to appropriately support patient access to products.
• Ability to analyze problems and offer solutions. Understand specifics and support questions associated with patient reimbursement and provide support on reimbursement issues with third party payers at the provider-level. Analyze account reimbursement issues (as needed).
• Supports pull through on local coverage decisions to enable meaningful patient access within the system. Proactively communicate policy changes or issues that could potentially affect other departments.
• Maintain expertise in regional and local access landscape, anticipating changes in the healthcare landscape, and act as their aligned therapeutic area product(s) reimbursement expert (as needed).
• Interface with Patient Support Center (hub) and Access & Reimbursement Managers on important matters related to patient case management, including tracking cases, issue resolution, reimbursement support, and appropriate office staff education.
• Collaborate with aligned cross-functional associates within NPC (see above) to share insights on customer needs and barriers for their aligned therapeutic area product(s) related to access and reimbursement.
• Responsible for educating HCPs using approved materials regarding acquisition pathways for Novartis products. Educate on buy-and-bill end-to-end processes, workflows, and facility pull-through in complex accounts, including scenarios of centralized and decentralized acquisition, and use of alternative channels such as white bagging, clear bagging, brown bagging, and alternate site of care for administration.

Buy and Bill Specific

• Assess access situation within the assigned geography and develop appropriate Plan of Action (POA).  Communicate POA to appropriate personnel.
• Responsible for educating HCPs using approved materials regarding acquisition pathways for Novartis products. Educate on buy-and-bill end-to-end processes, workflows, and facility pull-through in complex accounts, including scenarios of centralized and decentralized acquisition, and use of alternative channels such as white bagging, clear bagging, brown bagging, and alternate site of care for administration.
• Educates relevant stakeholders on logistics related to ordering, payment, inventory, and product returns & replacement.
• Analyze reimbursement issues, anticipating changes in the healthcare landscape, and act as the designated reimbursement expert for offices and field teams.
• Accountable for engagement with non-prescribers in regards to Novartis medicines, for example pharmacy, system leadership, financial counselors, office administrators, revenue cycle managers, etc.

Minimum Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree required.  Business and/or biological science education preferred. Advanced degree preferred.  
• 5+ Years of experience in pharmaceuticals / biotech industry focused in Patient Services, Market Access, Sales, and/or account management. With 2 of those years being in a Patient Services practice support role for a specialty product(s).
• Experience working with highly complex practices and/or health systems to establish access and acquisition pathways.
• Strategic account management experience using a proactive approach to anticipate access hurdles impacting accounts and patient access.
• Deep expertise and experience integrating manufacturer-sponsored patient support programs.
• Experience with specialty products acquired through Specialty Pharmacy networks.
• Knowledge of reimbursement pathways (specialty pharmacy, buy-and-bill, retail).
• Candidate must reside within territory, or within a reasonable daily commuting distance of 60 miles from the territory border. 
• Ability to travel 60-80% over a broad geography is required, with the ability to drive and/or fly within the territory.
• Must have a valid driver’s license. 

Novartis Compensation Summary:

The salary for this position is expected to range between $160,300, and $297,700 per year.

The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.

US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

Driving is an Essential Function of this Role: Meaning it is fundamental to the purpose of this job and cannot be eliminated. Because driving is an essential function of the role, you must have a fully valid and unrestricted driver’s license to be qualified for this role. The company provides reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified individuals with medical restrictions if an accommodation can be provided without eliminating the essential function of driving.

COVID-19 Vaccine Policy (customer-facing roles only): While Novartis does not require vaccination for COVID-19 or proof of a recent negative test result for COVID-19 at this time, employees working in customer-facing roles must adhere to and comply with customers’ (such as hospitals, physician offices, etc.) credentialing guidelines, which may require vaccination. As required by applicable law, Novartis will consider requests for reasonable accommodation for those unable to be vaccinated. This requirement is subject to applicable state and local laws and may not be applicable to employees working in certain jurisdictions. Please send accommodation requests to [email protected]

For Field Roles with a Dedicated Training Period:

The individual hired for this role will be required to successfully complete certain initial training, including home study, eight (8) or fewer hours per day and forty (40) or fewer hours per week.

EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. 

Accessibility and reasonable accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to [email protected] or call +1(877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Salary Range

$160,300.00 - $297,700.00

Skills Desired

Access And Reimbursement Strategy (Inactive), Agility (Inactive), Analytical Skill (Inactive), Analytical Thinking, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Customer-Centric Mindset (Inactive), Employee Development, Finance, Go-to-Market Strategies, Healthcare Policies, Healthcare Sector Understanding (Inactive), Health Economics, Health Technology Assessment (HTA), Innovation, Inspirational Leadership, Market Access Strategies, People Management, Process Management, Project Management, Public Affairs, Real World Evidence (RWE), Regulatory Compliance, Risk Management, Value Propositions