Payer Advocacy Associate

Join us as we work to create a thriving ecosystem that delivers accessible, high-quality, and sustainable healthcare for all.

The Payer Advocacy Associate partners with payers and athenistas to identify, investigate, and resolve operational issues that impact revenue cycle and practice efficiency. This role monitors operational metrics, researches root causes, and directly engages payer contacts to implement practical levers and automation that reduce manual work, increase customers satisfaction, and lower operational costs. The Associate leads complex cross‑functional projects, builds strategic payer relationships, and problem‑solves to deliver measurable improvements for our customers and the business.

But enough about us; let’s talk about you.

You care deeply about removing friction for providers and payers and are energized by operational problem‑solving. You’re data‑driven: you use metrics to diagnose issues, build cases, and measure impact. You’re a confident communicator and relationship‑builder who can influence payers and internal partners at multiple levels. You get things done: you manage complex, cross‑functional projects with accountability and a bias for measurable outcomes.

Our Payer Connection Services team is responsible for building the network knowledge and connectivity that enables performance—acquiring, curating, and communicating payer, industry, and regulatory intelligence that underpins our service offerings.

• Monitor payer performance and investigate root causes using operational metrics; recommend and drive data‑backed fixes that reduce denials, rework, and cycle time.
• Serve as the primary operational liaison for payer relationships: source and maintain contacts, hold regular alignment meetings, and elevate strategic issues when needed.
• Influence payer behavior and internal processes by proposing practical levers (policy clarifications, workflow changes, automation pilots) and manage cross‑functional projects to implement them.

• Bachelor of Arts or Science degree or commensurate experience
• Able to keep track of numerous, detail‑intensive and interdependent tasks and ensure their completion;
• High degree of intellectual curiosity in healthcare
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written
• Resourceful and proactive
• Highly detail‑oriented and a strong work ethic

$54,000 - $92,000

The base salary range shown reflects the full range for this role from minimum to maximum. At athenahealth, base pay depends on multiple factors, including job‑related experience, relevant knowledge and skills, how your qualifications compare to others in similar roles,and geographical market rates. Base pay is only one part of our competitive Total Rewards package - depending on role eligibility, we offer both short and long‑term incentives by way of an annual discretionary bonus plan, variable compensation plan, and equity plans.

Our vision: In an industry that becomes more complex by the day, we stand for simplicity. We offer IT solutions and expert services that eliminate the daily hurdles preventing healthcare providers from focusing entirely on their patients — powered by our vision to create a thriving ecosystem that delivers accessible, high‑quality, and sustainable healthcare for all.

Our company culture: Our talented employees — or athenistas, as we call ourselves — spark the innovation and passion needed to accomplish our vision. We are a diverse group of dreamers and do‑ers with unique knowledge, expertise, backgrounds, and perspectives. We unite as mission‑driven problem‑solvers with a deep desire to achieve our vision and make our time here count. Our award‑winning culture is built around shared values of inclusiveness, accountability, and support.

Our DEI commitment: Our vision of accessible, high‑quality, and sustainable healthcare for all requires addressing the inequities that stand in the way. That's one reason we prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in every aspect of our business, from attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce to maintaining an inclusive environment for…