School -BH Community Healthworker/Front Office Registrar

Optimus Health Care, Inc.•Bridgeport, CT

8h•Hybrid

About The Position

Optimus Health Care, the largest provider of primary health care services in Fairfield County, is seeking a dedicated Behavioral Health Community Health Worker/Front Office Registrar for its school-based services in the Bridgeport area. This is a full-time, year-round position with hours from Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. The role involves daily travel to schools with a home base at East Main. The position is a member of an integrated health care team responsible for supporting patient engagement, care coordination, and access to services within the School-Based Health Center (SBHC). This role collaborates with Behavioral Health staff, community partners, and school systems to ensure efficient patient flow while addressing social determinants of health and connecting patients to appropriate internal and external resources. It provides on-site support for patient registration as needed, with primary registration responsibilities supported by off-site FOR staff. The role plays a key part in community health work, including patient navigation, referrals to specialized services, outreach, and follow-up to improve health outcomes and reduce barriers to care.

Requirements

High School diploma /Associates degree preferred.
At least five years’ experience, preferably in the health care setting.
Familiarity with tele-medicine and prior experience a plus.
Bi-lingual English/Spanish is strongly preferred.
Professional positive attitude, vision, understanding of customer service principals, trustworthiness, and excellent interpersonal skills to successfully accomplish tasks necessary to meet high standards of ethical and social responsibility required by this position.

Nice To Haves

Associates degree preferred.
Familiarity with tele-medicine and prior experience a plus.
Bi-lingual English/Spanish is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Responsible for completing and updating patient demographic, insurance financial information and ensure that patients are processed in a timely, accurate and complete manner.
Review and update patient information such as address, telephone number, income, family size, insurance, emergency contact and other status and extended information.
Obtain registration form (including HIPAA consent) and review with patient to ensure that the information is accurate and consent to treat has been signed and dated at time of service.
Assist with on-site registration support as needed while coordinating with off-site FOR team.
Scan all documents into the computer system in a timely manner, not to exceed 24 hours.
Assist patient with sliding scale application, if necessary, and obtain all verification.
Document all necessary information on the system in an accurate and timely manner.
Responsible for collecting co-pays or self-payments at time of service as needed.
Collect payments for day of service, balance and close journals at the end of the day as needed.
Refer patients with outstanding balances, minimum ($200.00) to the Billing Department.
Work with the Practice Manager in re-scheduling patients when provider is not available and accommodate patient, when necessary.
Work with Practice Manager on various processes that pertain to patient flow and process improvement.
Review schedule for new patients to ensure that they receive a welcome/registration package.
Update and scan needed documents into the EPIC system with proper information, such as: Identification picture ID, Insurance Information (copy of card, make copy of front and back), Registration/Consent form and renewal, Documentation related to the treatment of Behavioral Health patients into their EMR as needed.
Performs other related duties as required.
Responsible and accountable for verification of insurance to ensure billing of services.
Review appointment schedules to identify insurance for verification, with insurance plans.
Verify insurance coverage, copays and deductibles through employer, insurance carrier, and/or online verification including the amounts “met to date” and any pre-authorization requirements.
Responsible for communicating with patient on insurance coverage concerns and any additional information required by carrier to process payment.
Performs other related duties as required.
Responsible for assisting school-based clinicians with community resources and coordination of care.
Conduct needs assessments related to social determinants of health.
Facilitate referrals to behavioral health, medical, and community services.
Track and follow up on referrals.
Advocate for patients navigating healthcare systems.
Build relationships with community organizations and school systems.
Assist with pre-screening for incoming BH referrals.
Assist clinicians with referral work queue management.