Associate Specialist, Patient Access

Ensemble Health Partners • Pocatello, ID

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Access Specialist performs admitting and patient-access duties for patients receiving services at Ensemble Health Partners, following organizational policies and regulatory requirements while providing compassionate customer service. Responsibilities include assigning accurate medical record numbers, checking medical necessity and compliance, collecting and processing patient and insurance information, receiving and processing physician orders, and supporting clean claims and point-of-service collections. The position also includes explaining treatment and patient education forms, obtaining signatures, and documenting the distribution of required forms.

Senior-level duties described in the posting include serving as the department SMART, conducting account audits and reporting, developing training materials and staff schedules, providing ongoing education, and providing on-call support, including after-hours guidance and coverage for staffing needs. The role may also involve operating a telephone switchboard and collecting payments in emergency, outpatient, and inpatient settings.

The position is onsite at Ardent – Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, Idaho. The listed schedule is 6:30 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Pay is $18.65–$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 the revenue cycle, including admissions, 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 or 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.
• Operate the telephone switchboard to relay incoming, outgoing, and inter-office calls, as applicable.
• Use quality auditing and reporting systems to ensure accounts are corrected, including accounts for 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 within the patient access department.
• Provide on-call department support and after-hours guidance; work unscheduled times when needed to address staffing issues.
• Collect point-of-service payments in emergency, outpatient, and inpatient settings, including past-due balances, and offer payment-plan options.
• Audit accounts, ensure forms are completed accurately and on time to meet audit standards, and provide statistical data to Patient Access Leadership.
• Meet assigned point-of-service goals.
• Explain general consent for treatment forms, obtain required signatures, and record the witness’s name.
• Explain and distribute patient education documents and required forms, including Medicare notices, observation forms, and consent forms.
• Review insurance eligibility responses, select the applicable insurance plan code, and enter benefit data to support point-of-service collection and billing.
• Pre-register patient accounts and make inbound or outbound calls to obtain demographic, insurance, and other patient information.
• Screen medical necessity using Advanced Beneficiary Notice software, inform Medicare patients of possible non-payment, and distribute ABNs as appropriate.
• Distribute and document other designated forms and pamphlets.
• Perform other job-related duties as required by the supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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