Associate Specialist, Patient Access

Ensemble Health Partners • Pocatello, ID

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Access Specialist performs admitting and patient access duties for patients receiving services at Ensemble Health Partners, while meeting the organization’s mission and regulatory compliance requirements. The role works within organization-wide policies and processes and provides compassionate, high-quality customer service. Duties include assigning accurate medical record numbers, completing medical necessity and compliance checks, collecting and processing patient and insurance information, handling physician orders, and helping support clean claims and point-of-service collections.

The position also includes account auditing, completing forms and documentation, explaining consent and patient education materials, verifying insurance eligibility and benefits, and screening Medicare medical necessity using ABN software. The role may conduct pre-registration and contact patients to obtain information. Senior-level duties described in the posting include serving as the department SMART, developing training materials and programs, providing continuing education, creating staff schedules, and providing on-call and after-hours support, including covering unscheduled staffing needs.

This is an onsite role at Ardent - Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, Idaho. The stated pay range is $18.65–$19.90 per hour, based on experience. The posting also describes bonus incentives, paid certifications, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive benefits, and career advancement opportunities.

Requirements

• 1 to 3 years of job experience.
• Associate degree or equivalent experience.
• Must be inquisitive and open to innovation, including AI, to explore improved processes and reduce friction in patient and client experiences.

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, or procedure codes.

Responsibilities

• Assign accurate medical record numbers and 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 adhere to Ensemble Health Partners policies and regulatory requirements.
• Operate the telephone switchboard to relay incoming, outgoing, and inter-office calls, as applicable.
• Use quality auditing and reporting systems to review and correct accounts, including accounts associated with other employees, departments, and facilities.
• Develop training materials and programs for new departmental hires and provide continuing education to associates in revenue cycle areas.
• Develop staff schedules within the patient access department.
• Provide on-call departmental support, including after-hours guidance and coverage for unscheduled staffing needs.
• 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, and provide statistical data to Patient Access Leadership.
• Meet assigned point-of-service goals.
• Explain general consent-for-treatment forms, obtain necessary signatures, and record the witness’s name.
• Explain and distribute patient education documents and required forms, including Medicare Important Message and observation forms.
• Review insurance eligibility responses, select the applicable insurance plan code, and enter benefit data to support point-of-service collections and billing.
• Support clean claims and pre-register patient accounts, including making inbound and outbound calls to obtain demographic, insurance, and other patient information.
• Screen Medicare medical necessity using Advanced Beneficiary Notice software, inform patients of possible Medicare nonpayment, and distribute ABNs when appropriate.
• Distribute and document other designated forms and pamphlets.
• Perform other job-related duties as required by a supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.

Benefits

• Bonus incentives and quarterly and annual incentive programs.
• Paid professional certifications relevant to the associate’s field.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Comprehensive benefits, including healthcare, time off, retirement, and well-being programs.
• Career advancement and professional development opportunities.

What This Job Offers

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