Stacy Pinkston
Farmington,MI
Summary
Reimbursement and patient access professional with expertise in navigating complex Medicare Part B, Medicaid, and commercial payer pathways for specialty therapies. Secured timely access to high-cost oncology treatments for over 100 patients annually, enhancing approval outcomes and reducing therapy initiation delays. Strong foundation in oncology support services and clinical research operations.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Clinical Research Coordinator / Data Manager
Trinity Health
Ann Arbor, MI
12.2024 - Current
- Coordinate oncology clinical trials in compliance with ICH-GCP, FDA, NCI, and institutional regulatory requirements, ensuring adherence to study protocols and regulatory standards.
- Manage and maintain accurate clinical trial data, performing data entry, validation, and reconciliation to ensure high-quality datasets for sponsor review and regulatory reporting.
- Collaborate with research staff, sponsors, and CROs to ensure efficient trial activation, enrollment, and study execution.
- Utilize Epic EMR and clinical trial management systems to abstract source documentation, verify data accuracy, and support regulatory reporting.
- Verify patient eligibility, protocol requirements, study calendars, and informed consent documentation prior to clinical trial enrollment.
- Support sponsor monitoring visits, site initiation visits, and regulatory audits, maintaining audit-ready documentation and resolving data queries in a timely manner.
- Track and report protocol deviations, adverse events (AEs), and serious adverse events (SAEs) in accordance with sponsor and regulatory guidelines.
- Serve as Team Lead for ECOG-ACRIN TMIST clinical trial, ensuring protocol compliance, data integrity, and coordinating communication between research staff and sponsors.
- Serve as Team Lead for Alliance Clinical Trials protocols, ensuring protocol compliance, data integrity, and coordinating communication between research staff and sponsors.
- Michigan Cancer Research Consortium
Financial Navigator, Regional Oncology Services
Trinity Health
Ann Arbor, MI
11.2020 - 12.2024
- Navigated complex reimbursement pathways for high-cost infused oncology, immunology, and specialty biologic therapies across Medicare Part B, Medicaid, and commercial payers to support timely access to oncology and specialty therapies.
- Secured prior authorizations for high-cost oncology and specialty biologic therapies, supporting timely treatment access for 100+ patients annually while ensuring compliance with payer coverage criteria.
- Interpreted and applied clinical guidelines, FDA labeling, and payer medical policies to support medical necessity determinations and optimize reimbursement outcomes for specialty drugs.
- Managed denials and appeals for high-cost specialty therapies, compiling clinical documentation and guideline-supported evidence to enhance payer approval outcomes.
- Coordinated reimbursement strategies across buy-and-bill infusion centers and specialty pharmacy distribution models, ensuring alignment with payer requirements and manufacturer patient support programs.
- Conducted payer policy analysis to anticipate coverage barriers and guide providers on documentation requirements necessary for authorization and reimbursement approval.
- Reviewed and validated ICD-10 diagnosis codes, HCPCS drug codes, and treatment documentation to support compliant ordering, authorization approval, and claims reimbursement.
- Educated providers and clinical staff on reimbursement strategies, focusing on ICD-10 and HCPCS coding and documentation standards to ensure compliance.
- Verified patient insurance benefits and cost-sharing obligations while identifying financial assistance resources to reduce patient financial burden.
- Secured financial assistance through manufacturer copay programs, Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs), and disease-specific charitable foundation grants, facilitating $500,000+ in annual funding for patient treatment.
- Guided patients through financial assistance enrollment processes, coordinating documentation and follow-up with pharmaceutical manufacturers and charitable foundations.
- Managed claims submission and reimbursement tracking for copay and foundation assistance programs, ensuring accurate reconciliation of financial support payments.
- Developed treatment cost estimates and benefit education for patients, improving understanding of insurance coverage and out-of-pocket responsibilities.
- Served as a liaison between providers, payers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, specialty pharmacies, and financial assistance organizations to resolve reimbursement and patient access barriers.
- Ensured compliance with NCCN guidelines, FDA labeling, Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs), payer policies, and institutional financial assistance regulations.
- Collaborated with operational leadership to develop the financial navigation workflow for the launch of ArrIVe Infusion Therapy, a specialty infusion service line, supporting reimbursement coordination and patient access to high-cost therapies.
Clinical Office Coordinator, Specialty Oncology and Cancer Infusion Center
Trinity Health
Livonia, MI
10.2014 - 11.2020
- Coordinated scheduling operations within a high-volume oncology specialty practice, managing multidisciplinary appointments across multiple providers to ensure continuity of care.
- Coordinated infusion center scheduling for chemotherapy, biologic, supportive care injections, laboratory appointments, port flushes, and non-oncology infusion therapies, aligning chair availability to improve patient flow.
- Verified insurance benefits, secured prior authorizations, and ensured all required clinical documentation was completed in advance of patient visits and infusion appointments to support timely treatment access and reduce delays in care.
- Created and launched scheduling templates and operational workflows for newly onboarded physicians, enhancing clinic efficiency and standardizing front-end processes across specialty practice.
- Acted as central liaison among patients, providers, and nursing staff, facilitating communication and ensuring seamless coordination of complex oncology care.
- Supported the Women’s Cancer Support Group and collaborated on internal workflow initiatives to enhance patient experience and access to supportive resources.
- Managed billing and financial processing for the Inspirit Salon within the Our Lady of Hope Cancer Center, ensuring accurate charge capture and coordination of patient wellness services.
- Developed a comprehensive front-office training manual, standardizing procedures, compliance, and operational consistency across the practice.
- Our Lady of Hope Cancer Center
Epic Super User
Trinity Health
Livonia, MI
11.2019 - 02.2020
- Achieved Epic Super-User certification and acted as a key resource during system go-live, training front-end staff and providing real-time support.
- Developed and implemented Epic scheduling templates and workflows to support operational efficiency within the Cancer Infusion Center and Specialty Oncology clinics.
- Supported oncology service lines, including Cancer Infusion, Radiation Oncology, and Specialty Oncology, by facilitating effective system utilization and integrating workflows.
- Educated staff on system optimization and consistent workflow practices post-implementation, enhancing overall user proficiency.
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Healthcare Administration
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT10-2026
Bachelor of Science - Health Information Management
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT09-2024
Associate of Applied Science - Health Information Technology
Schoolcraft College
Livonia, MI05-2020
Certificate - Health Coding Specialist
Schoolcraft College
Livonia, MI05-2020
Skills
- Specialty Therapy Reimbursement
- Patient Access
- Payer Navigation Expertise
- Oncology reimbursement
- Medicare Part B reimbursement
- Prior authorization strategy
- Payer policy interpretation
- Buy-and-bill models
- Specialty pharmacy distribution
- Denials management
- Appeals management
- Provider reimbursement education
- Coding guidance
- Manufacturer patient support programs
- Copay assistance programs
- Patient Assistance Programs
- Coordination with pharmaceutical manufacturers
- Specialty pharmacies
- Infusion centers
- Patient access navigation
- Reimbursement & Patient Access
- Prior authorizations
- Denials & appeals management
- Buy-and-bill reimbursement models
- Financial Assistance Programs
- Manufacturer copay programs
- Disease-specific foundation grants
- Financial navigation
- Treatment cost estimation
- Clinical & Regulatory Knowledge
- NCCN guidelines
- FDA labeling interpretation
- Local coverage determination (LCD)
- Medical necessity documentation
- Oncology infusion workflows
- Clinical trial regulatory compliance
- Coding & Documentation
- ICD-10 diagnosis coding
- HCPCS drug coding
- CPT coding
- Claims validation
- Reimbursement review
- Systems & Technology
- Epic EHR
- Clinical trial management systems
- Data validation
- Reconciliation
- Workflow optimization
- Technical & Analytical Skills
- Epic EHR Proficiency
- Clinical Data Management
- Health Information Management
- Medical Terminology
Affiliations
- ACS, Taste of Hope Detroit, Committee Member, 03/01/26, Present
- Make-A-Wish Michigan, Wish Granter, 08/01/25, Present
- ACS Gen Now, Detroit Chapter, Board Member, 08/01/24, Present
- National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), Member, 09/01/23, Present
Certification
- Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), AHIMA, 02/01/25
- Good Clinical Practice (GCP), CITI Program, 11/01/25
- Human Subjects Research (HSR), CITI Program, 12/01/24
- Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), CITI Program, 12/01/24
- Conflicts of Interest (COI), CITI Program, 12/01/24
Volunteer Experience
- American Cancer Society, Detroit Chapter, Volunteer, 08/01/24, Present
- Make-A-Wish Michigan, Volunteer, 07/01/24, Present
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Patient Navigator, 07/01/13, 12/01/13
Awards
- Excellence Award, Western Governors University, 2023, Achievement for exemplary work in Data Analytics & Information Governance
- Sunflower Award, Trinity Health, 2022, Outstanding patient care excellence
Core Competencies
Medicare Part B reimbursement, Prior authorizations, Denials & appeals management, Buy-and-bill reimbursement models, Specialty pharmacy distribution, Payer policy interpretation, Manufacturer copay programs, Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs), Disease-specific foundation grants, Financial navigation, Treatment cost estimation, NCCN guidelines, FDA labeling interpretation, Medical necessity documentation, Oncology infusion workflows, Clinical trial regulatory compliance, ICD-10 diagnosis coding, HCPCS drug coding, CPT coding, Claims validation and reimbursement review, Epic HER, Clinical trial management systems, Data validation and reconciliation, Workflow optimization
Timeline
Clinical Research Coordinator / Data Manager
Trinity Health
12.2024 - Current
Financial Navigator, Regional Oncology Services
Trinity Health
11.2020 - 12.2024
Epic Super User
Trinity Health
11.2019 - 02.2020
Clinical Office Coordinator, Specialty Oncology and Cancer Infusion Center
Trinity Health
10.2014 - 11.2020
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Healthcare Administration
Western Governors University
Bachelor of Science - Health Information Management
Western Governors University
Associate of Applied Science - Health Information Technology
Schoolcraft College
Certificate - Health Coding Specialist
Schoolcraft College