Zone Access Manager, Patient Services - Ardelyx, Inc.

Ardelyx was founded with a mission to discover, develop and commercialize innovative, first-in-class medicines that meet significant unmet medical needs. Ardelyx has two commercial products approved in the United States, IBSRELA®(tenapanor) and XPHOZAH® (tenapanor), as well as early-stage pipeline candidates.  

Zone Access Manager, Patient Services

The Zone Access Manager, Patient Services is a key customer support function on the Ardelyx Patient Services team.  Zone Access Managers serve as a dedicated point of contact to Ardelyx Area Business Directors and Patient Access Managers within their defined geography and aligned accounts. The role acts as an integral liaison between Ardelyx Area Business Directors, and HUB resources to optimize prescription pull-through efforts.  

• Support the entire patient access journey in collaboration with internal stakeholders, third party partners, and HCPs.
• Collaborate with Ardelyx Area Business Directors and Patient Access Managers to identify key members of the patient’s healthcare provider care team who are responsible for guiding patients along their journey to access Ardelyx medications.
• Educate HCPs and office staff on available patient assistance programs and explain the importance of their role in facilitating access to therapy for appropriate, eligible patients. This may include training on web-based provider tools.
• Provide majority of engagements virtually using a multichannel approach to enhance the HCP experience, using approved tools to support and address questions about coverage requirements; may provide in-person engagement as necessary.
• Serve as payer and pharmacy expert for defined geography and proactively communicate changes to key stakeholders, both internal and external, in a timely manner.
• Coordinate with other patient services, market access and field personnel where appropriate. Identify market access trends from local, regional or national payers in assigned geography, and partner with purpose to enable appropriate patient access and/or support patient pull-through.
• Maintain and grow knowledge of national, regional, local and account market dynamics including coverage and prior authorization requirements.
• Adapt and pivot to manage change and complexity; agility to flex when markets, policies and dynamics change; proactive and reactive managing through conflict; navigate complexity of accounts and patient journey.
• Maintain and grow knowledge of hub and specialty pharmacy channels to improve HCP support.
• Work collaboratively to share insights into customer needs, potential barriers and payer issues/opportunities for product access. Under guidance, provides access insights to local field teams, and home office functions as needed.
• Identify key customer insights through effective questioning; critical thinking and problem solving; analyze and disseminate data and information as appropriate to partners.
• Partner with Ardelyx sales leadership and field sales teams to ensure best-in-class patient services. Execute business in accordance with client values to the highest ethical, legal and compliance standards.

• A minimum of a B.A/B.S. required; Advanced degree within business or healthcare preferred.
• 3+ years of experience within Patient Access Services (hub/callcenter), healthcare operations, sales, and/or public or private reimbursement services. Other backgrounds with related experience in reimbursement support, market access, or healthcare will be considered. Pharmaceutical industry experience strongly preferred.
• Strong functional knowledge of specialty pharmacy and health insurance and benefits (i.e. Medicare Part D, commercial and Medicaid) with a solid understanding of insurance eligibility, benefit verification, prior authorization processes, reimbursement coverage, appealing insurance denials, application of financial assistance, co-pay support and bridge programs.
• Knowledge of HCP office processes regarding patient flow, prescription flow and clinic office operations. Direct experience with nephrology products or providers preferred.
• Outstanding customer relationship, interpersonal, and communication skills with the established ability to effectively work with diverse audiences and influence cross-functionally.
• Strong interpersonal skills including ability to communicate effectively with people individually and groups; ability to communicate with technical and non-technical colleagues; experience establishing and maintaining effective relationships across departments.
• Demonstrated being able to work well under pressure.
• Self-motivated, high degree of initiative, high achievement and superb attention to detail.
• Strong verbal communications skills and demonstrated ability to write clearly.
• High interest in working in the “roll up the sleeves” environment of a small biotechnology company, without the resources of larger companies.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. for any employer without the need for sponsorship.
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office
• Experience with using data visualization applications to monitor trends and key performance indicators such as Tableau or Power BI

• Remote with travel to needed locations.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% of time within the U.S.