My journey in healthcare started over 20 years ago working in accounts receivable at a small town hospital where I learned the ins and outs of hospital billing, claims processing, insurance, and prior authorization. I moved over to the clinic side to cardiology where I learned coding and scheduling. I worked with an amazing group of providers that loved to teach and I became a Medical Assistant under their guidance. After a personal traumatic event, I felt called to become a nurse. I went to nursing school at night while working full-time in a busy family practice. It was at this time I began to have a deeper understanding of the financial hardships patients face with healthcare. I tried to provide sample medication to as many patients I could and educated on the benefits of pharmacy shopping for the lowest prices. I often sent self-pay and high deductible patients to an outside lab as they offered a lower fee schedule and decreased their out-of-pocket costs. It became apparent that I had found my true passion – helping ease the financial burden that comes along with caring for ourselves or others. Even as a nurse I was still the go-to for insurance related questions. Whether it be patients or co-workers, they knew I would provide clarity to something that is confusing for so many. After many years in family practice and a few more in memory care, I was provided an opportunity to combine my nurse brain with my insurance brain and entered the TPA world and haven’t looked back. I spent 6 years with a TPA where I learned all aspects of the health plan they offered to best understand any gaps in care and how to resolve them. Working as a Case Manager, I advocated to obtain coverage for non-covered services to ensure members received the necessary care when no other options were available. Creating a patient assistance and medication review program helped to reduce and/or eliminate the financial burden some members faced and improved treatment compliance. This program grew in success which was demonstrated in the member and plan savings it generated. At Carepath Benefits, I continue to work with members to ensure their medical needs are being met. Reviewing medications and savings opportunities as well as providing education on how best to utilize their benefits without creating an undue financial burden is a daily conversation. Letting the members know I genuinely care about their needs, and I see them as a person not just an ID number, is extremely important to me. Looking at benefits with a nurse's eye brings a different perspective to the plan.