Patient Access Rep I

BJC HealthCare•O'Fallon, MO

About The Position

The Patient Access Representative is often the first point of contact for patients and represents BJC through compassionate, professional customer service consistent with its mission, vision, values, and service standards. The role facilitates patients’ entry into BJC facilities and requires emotional intelligence, attention to detail, and the ability to connect with patients whose medical needs and acuity vary. Accurate demographic and insurance information, benefit verification, and point-of-service collections support reimbursement and help prevent denials. Correctly selecting a patient from the Master Patient Index is critical to patient safety. The position performs hospital registration and scheduling across multiple BJC systems. It ensures proper patient identification, registers and schedules patients, verifies insurance, and scans and retrieves documents. The representative validates that orders are complete, signed by the ordering provider, and for the correct test; provides preparation instructions and financial-responsibility education; and collects applicable payments. The role also requires understanding and applying regulatory requirements, including Medicare Secondary Payer guidelines, HIPAA Privacy Standards, the Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, Advance Directives, Consent to Treat, EMTALA, and JCAHO requirements. Each patient completes a HIPAA acknowledgement. This is a safety-sensitive position requiring constant alertness and safe work practices.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
No experience required.
Professional, positive, patient-focused communication skills.
Exceptional attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate patient records.
Ability to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner.

Nice To Haves

Associate's degree.
Less than two years of experience.
Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) certification.

Responsibilities

Represent BJC with compassionate, professional, patient-focused customer service when interacting with patients, families, and coworkers in person, by computer, or by phone.
Use critical thinking to solve problems, anticipate patient needs, and respond appropriately.
Facilitate patient entry into BJC facilities, including hospital registration and scheduling in multiple BJC systems.
Ensure proper patient identification and select the correct patient from the Master Patient Index.
Register and schedule patients; verify insurance; and scan and retrieve documents in BJC systems.
Validate that orders are complete, signed by the ordering provider, and specify the correct test.
Provide preparation instructions for scheduled procedures and educate patients about financial responsibilities.
Collect applicable patient payments and accurately collect demographic and insurance information and verify benefits.
Understand, communicate, and enforce applicable hospital regulatory and compliance requirements, including Medicare Secondary Payer guidelines, HIPAA, patient rights and responsibilities, Advance Directives, Consent to Treat, EMTALA, and JCAHO requirements.
Obtain each patient's HIPAA acknowledgement and maintain the integrity of clinical, financial, and billing records.
Remain alert and perform work safely in this safety-sensitive position.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, and legal services available the first day of the month after hire.
Disability insurance paid for by BJC.
Annual 4% BJC Automatic Retirement Contribution.
401(k) plan with BJC match.
Tuition assistance available on the first day.
BJC Institute for Learning and Development.
Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
Paid Time Off combining vacation, sick days, holidays, and personal time.
Adoption assistance.
Daily pay.