Lab Assistant .4 FTE

Waverly Health Center•Waverly, IA

26d•Onsite

About The Position

The billing clerk is responsible for daily review and correction of laboratory charges applied to patient accounts. In addition, the lab billing clerk is responsible for the following: Resolve patient billing errors including removal or write-off of charges to the appropriate department; communicates changes to the appropriate business office. Maintains complete documentation of charge and chart reviews. Miscellaneous tasks to include: receptionist duties, processing laboratory orders, updating information resources, reviewing the account hold list, and printing Medicare waivers. Add appropriate charges to accounts related to the Unity Point and Mayo bills. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Charge Evaluation: Daily Review Works with billing office to post charges prior to receiving a reference laboratory bill. Works with insurance and claims to reduce the number of late charges. Reviews daily charges within time limits set by the Lab Manager. Responsible for daily review of inpatient or observation accounts for accuracy and completeness of information and documentation. Ensures completion of all forms needed for billing. Responsible for obtaining patient waivers when procedures are not deemed as medically necessary. Documentation: Information resources Updates address, telephone number, and fax number file by submitting IS helpdesk tickets with request for additions or changes to provider contact information in timely fashion. Assists in the maintenance of informational resources within the laboratory. Assists in the maintenance of the laboratory’s information data and lab information system. Acts as a super user assistant within the laboratory. Creates new tests in the LIS. Troubleshoots interface problems with Quest. Charge Review: Documentation Accurately codes, diseases, procedures, and other conditions and services using standard classification systems for all Health Center patient medical encounters. Verifies patient name and number on all discharge documents in file. Reviews all records and ensures completion of face sheet, order, reports, and appropriate signatures or designated documents. Always seeks guidance from lab management for situations requiring follow-up. Reviews hold list monthly. Assesses the adequacy of order documentation to ensure that it supports the principal procedure, and principal diagnosis. Verifies that coded information is entered into the database without any errors within required timeframes. Completes inpatient and outpatient reports, including proper processing and delivery according to policies. Maintains miscellaneous and nursing home charge records. Compiles patient charts accurately and performs chart reviews. Files lab reports according to lab procedure. Properly stores end of the year reports. Annotates orders when needed. Charge Review: Problem Resolution Resolves patient inquiries, complaints, and problems regarding their accounts. Follows-up on any billing problems, and scans required documents. Makes appropriate corrections and obtains missing information/documentation as needed. Serves as a resource to patient registration staff in resolving problems. Assists providers, clinicians, and ancillary departments with coding, billing issues, Medicare coverage concerns, and related issues with timeliness, courtesy, and tact. Reviews the Health Information Management queue and provides appropriate follow-up for problem accounts. Works on the HIM queue. Continuing Education Keeps current with all internal and external policy and procedures that may affect reimbursement. Remains abreast of developments in medical record technology by pursuing a program of professional growth and development, attending educational programs and meetings, reviewing pertinent literature, attending required seminars, and utilizing professional affiliations. NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Lab Assistant Backup Meets and directs patients and visitors, performs telephone duties, schedules patient appointments as needed. Greets patients/family in a professional, friendly manner. Answers incoming calls and communicates information appropriately and in a polite manner. Performs phlebotomy duties as needed. Organizes operations within the blood collection area. Prepares and accurately performs phlebotomies. Processes specimens appropriately for requested tests and delivers specimens to appropriate department for testing. Prepares paperwork and samples to be sent out to reference labs. Inventories and stocks supplies as needed. Orders supplies from reference labs as needed. Performs phlebotomies on hospital inpatients and outpatients. Collects blood at nursing homes. Assists with specimen processing by ensuring prompt delivery of specimens to lab area. Helps prepare and track send out specimens. Assists with the orientation of new staff to the blood collection area. Keeps current in the profession by seeking out continuing education sources and opportunities. Completes annual competency review as assigned. Assist with review and update of specimen collection and billing procedures as assigned.

Requirements

Must possess high school diploma or equivalent
Must have proficiency in clerical skills, computer skills, and phone etiquette
Ability to learn and navigate computer systems including the online training modules, the employee timesheet and the performance appraisal system. Job specific systems are also required
Must have strong interpersonal and organizational skills
Must be able to perform many different functions, often changing from one task to another without loss of efficiency or composure
Must be able to work under stress when confronted with critical or unusual situations
Must be able to work in situations requiring staying within an exact set of limits and work accurately
Must possess the ability to operate a variety of office machines, including calculator, fax machine, and copy machine
Must be able to read, speak, and write fluent English
Sitting – Approximately 100% of shift

Nice To Haves

A Medical Assistant Degree is preferred
Previous experience in a healthcare setting preferred
Previous experience in phlebotomy is preferred
Previous experience in data entry, medical insurance, accounting, and/or credit and collections preferred
Knowledge of medical terminology is preferred

Responsibilities

Resolve patient billing errors including removal or write-off of charges to the appropriate department
Communicates changes to the appropriate business office
Maintains complete documentation of charge and chart reviews
Receptionist duties
Processing laboratory orders
Updating information resources
Reviewing the account hold list
Printing Medicare waivers
Add appropriate charges to accounts related to the Unity Point and Mayo bills
Daily Review Works with billing office to post charges prior to receiving a reference laboratory bill
Works with insurance and claims to reduce the number of late charges
Reviews daily charges within time limits set by the Lab Manager
Responsible for daily review of inpatient or observation accounts for accuracy and completeness of information and documentation
Ensures completion of all forms needed for billing
Responsible for obtaining patient waivers when procedures are not deemed as medically necessary
Updates address, telephone number, and fax number file by submitting IS helpdesk tickets with request for additions or changes to provider contact information in timely fashion
Assists in the maintenance of informational resources within the laboratory
Assists in the maintenance of the laboratory’s information data and lab information system
Acts as a super user assistant within the laboratory
Creates new tests in the LIS
Troubleshoots interface problems with Quest
Accurately codes, diseases, procedures, and other conditions and services using standard classification systems for all Health Center patient medical encounters
Verifies patient name and number on all discharge documents in file
Reviews all records and ensures completion of face sheet, order, reports, and appropriate signatures or designated documents
Always seeks guidance from lab management for situations requiring follow-up
Reviews hold list monthly
Assesses the adequacy of order documentation to ensure that it supports the principal procedure, and principal diagnosis
Verifies that coded information is entered into the database without any errors within required timeframes
Completes inpatient and outpatient reports, including proper processing and delivery according to policies
Maintains miscellaneous and nursing home charge records
Compiles patient charts accurately and performs chart reviews
Files lab reports according to lab procedure
Properly stores end of the year reports
Annotates orders when needed
Resolves patient inquiries, complaints, and problems regarding their accounts
Follows-up on any billing problems, and scans required documents
Makes appropriate corrections and obtains missing information/documentation as needed
Serves as a resource to patient registration staff in resolving problems
Assists providers, clinicians, and ancillary departments with coding, billing issues, Medicare coverage concerns, and related issues with timeliness, courtesy, and tact
Reviews the Health Information Management queue and provides appropriate follow-up for problem accounts
Works on the HIM queue
Keeps current with all internal and external policy and procedures that may affect reimbursement
Remains abreast of developments in medical record technology by pursuing a program of professional growth and development, attending educational programs and meetings, reviewing pertinent literature, attending required seminars, and utilizing professional affiliations
Meets and directs patients and visitors, performs telephone duties, schedules patient appointments as needed
Greets patients/family in a professional, friendly manner
Answers incoming calls and communicates information appropriately and in a polite manner
Performs phlebotomy duties as needed
Organizes operations within the blood collection area
Prepares and accurately performs phlebotomies
Processes specimens appropriately for requested tests and delivers specimens to appropriate department for testing
Prepares paperwork and samples to be sent out to reference labs
Inventories and stocks supplies as needed
Orders supplies from reference labs as needed
Performs phlebotomies on hospital inpatients and outpatients
Collects blood at nursing homes
Assists with specimen processing by ensuring prompt delivery of specimens to lab area
Helps prepare and track send out specimens
Assists with the orientation of new staff to the blood collection area
Keeps current in the profession by seeking out continuing education sources and opportunities
Completes annual competency review as assigned
Assist with review and update of specimen collection and billing procedures as assigned