Payer Knowledge Associate

Company: Athenahealth
Location: Allston
Posted on: January 1, 2026

Job Description:

Join us as we work to create a thriving ecosystem that delivers accessible, high-quality, and sustainable healthcare for all. Position Summary: We are looking for a Payer Knowledge Associate to join our Payer Connection Services team within our Operations division. Your job will be to research, communicate, and manage complex payer and industry changes, with a special focus on government payers such as Medicare and Medicaid, and state-level health policy developments that impact athenahealth and its operations or strategies. But enough about us; let’s talk about you. You’re curious about key healthcare industry players and how national and state-specific trends impact providers, payers, and technology platforms. You enjoy being the gatekeeper of payer and policy knowledge and collaborating with stakeholders to help drive internal improvements that ensure service continuity and compliance with evolving regulatory expectations. The Team: 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. Job Responsibilities: Research and synthesize complex payer, regulatory, and industry changes to identify risks, impacts, and operational opportunities affecting key workflows in the claim cycle and our Rules Engine. Track and interpret state-level legislative and regulatory developments in areas such as prior authorization, coverage mandates, payment models, and provider enrollment requirements. Act as a central resource for Medicare, Medicaid, and state policy insight—bridging industry research with operational execution. Qualifications: 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 the changes in healthcare Strong communication skills, both verbal and written Resourceful and proactive Highly detail-oriented and a strong work ethic Expected Compensation $59,000 - $101,000 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. About athenahealth 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 athenistas, our partners, customers and the communities where we work and serve. What we can do for you: Along with health and financial benefits, athenistas enjoy perks specific to each location, including commuter support, employee assistance programs, tuition assistance, employee resource groups, and collaborative workspaces — some offices even welcome dogs. We also encourage a better work-life balance for athenistas with our flexibility. While we know in-office collaboration is critical to our vision, we recognize that not all work needs to be done within an office environment, full-time. With consistent communication and digital collaboration tools, athenahealth enables employees to find a balance that feels fulfilling and productive for each individual situation. In addition to our traditional benefits and perks, we sponsor events throughout the year, including book clubs, external speakers, and hackathons. We provide athenistas with a company culture based on learning, the support of an engaged team, and an inclusive environment where all employees are valued. Learn more about our culture and benefits here: athenahealth.com/careers https://www.athenahealth.com/careers/equal-opportunity

Keywords: Athenahealth, Providence , Payer Knowledge Associate, Human Resources , Allston, Rhode Island