Associate Specialist, Patient Access

Ensemble Health Partners • Pocatello, ID

5d • $19 - $20 • Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Access Specialist performs admitting and registration duties for patients receiving services at Ensemble Health Partners, working within organization-wide policies and processes and meeting applicable regulatory requirements. The role supports accurate patient records, insurance verification, medical necessity and compliance checks, patient instructions, physician-order processing, and compassionate customer service. It also includes operating the telephone switchboard and collecting point-of-service payments in emergency, outpatient, and inpatient settings, including addressing past-due balances and explaining payment-plan options.

The position reviews insurance eligibility responses, selects applicable plan codes, enters benefit information to support collections and billing, and may preregister patients by contacting them to obtain demographic, insurance, and other information. It also screens Medicare medical necessity using ABN software and distributes and documents required forms and educational materials.

Senior-level duties described in the posting include serving as the department SMART, auditing accounts and reporting quality issues, developing training materials and providing continuing education, creating staff schedules, and providing on-call and after-hours guidance. The role may require working unscheduled hours to address staffing needs. Associates may also perform other job-related duties as required by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.

This is an onsite position at Ardent - Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, Idaho. The stated schedule is 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The pay range is $18.65 to $19.90 per hour, based on experience.

Requirements

• 1 to 3 years of job experience.
• Associate degree or equivalent experience.
• Be inquisitive and open to innovation, including AI, to explore improved processes and reduce friction for patients and clients.

Nice To Haves

• Understanding of revenue cycle processes, including admission, billing, payments, and denials.
• Comprehensive knowledge of patient insurance processes for obtaining authorizations and verifying benefits.
• Knowledge of health insurance requirements.
• Knowledge of medical terminology, CPT codes, or procedure codes.

Responsibilities

• Perform admitting duties for patients receiving services and complete patient access functions in accordance with organizational policies and regulatory requirements.
• Assign accurate medical record numbers, complete medical necessity and compliance checks, provide patient instructions, collect insurance information, and receive and process physician orders using an overlay tool.
• Provide excellent, compassionate customer service and serve as the department SMART.
• Operate the telephone switchboard to relay incoming, outgoing, and inter-office calls, as applicable.
• Use quality auditing and reporting systems to identify and correct accounts, including accounts associated with other employees, departments, and facilities.
• Develop training materials and programs for new department hires and provide continuing education to associates in revenue-cycle areas.
• Develop staff schedules for the patient access department.
• Provide on-call department support and guidance after hours and work unscheduled times when needed to cover staffing issues.
• Collect point-of-service payments in emergency, outpatient, and inpatient settings, including past-due balances, and offer payment-plan options.
• Conduct account audits, ensure forms are completed accurately and on time, provide statistical data to Patient Access Leadership, and meet assigned point-of-service goals.
• Explain general consent-for-treatment forms, obtain required signatures and witness names, and explain and distribute patient education documents and applicable forms.
• Review insurance eligibility responses, select the applicable insurance plan code, and enter benefit data to support point-of-service collections and billing processes.
• Support clean claims and preregister patient accounts, including contacting patients to obtain demographic, insurance, and other information.
• Screen Medicare medical necessity using ABN software, inform patients of possible Medicare nonpayment, and distribute ABNs and other designated forms and pamphlets as appropriate.

Benefits

• Bonus incentives and quarterly and annual incentive programs.
• Paid professional certifications.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Comprehensive benefits, including healthcare, time off, retirement, and well-being programs.
• Career advancement and professional development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree