Patient Access Representative - Patient Access Center

CHRISTUS Health•Mount Pleasant, TX

About The Position

Patient Access Representatives facilitate a welcoming and easy-access experience and establish encounters for patients who meet hospital service guidelines. They ensure accurate entry of demographic and financial information, verify insurance, obtain service authorizations, and collect patient portions, including prior balances. The role contributes to the financial outcomes of patient services and helps maintain compliance with federal regulations, JCAHO, and applicable Department of Health and hospital standards. Representatives communicate with patients and families, physicians, nurses, insurance companies, and third-party payers. Professional appearance and conduct, effective communication and organization, dependability, flexibility, and teamwork are required. The role supports patient access operations across hospital areas and may require reassignment or a shift change to meet department needs.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent experience preferred.
One to three years of experience preferred.
Professional appearance and behavior, good communication skills, effective organizational skills, dependability, flexibility, and teamwork.
No licenses, registrations, or certifications required.

Responsibilities

Accurately enter required scheduling and registration data, including demographic, financial, and guarantor information and encounter notes.
Verify insurance eligibility and obtain necessary authorizations for services.
Calculate and collect estimated patient portions based on benefits and contract reimbursement, as well as prior balances.
Perform financial assessments for appropriate assistance programs.
Explain hospital documents and obtain required patient or legal guardian signatures.
Represent the Patient Access department professionally and courteously.
Assist the hospital during internal or external disasters.
Support flexible department needs, including working in another area or changing shifts to accommodate patient volume.
Support the department in meeting established performance targets and complete required training.
Follow established standard processes.
Work with High Performance Work Teams to maintain an efficient, clean, and orderly workplace using 5S principles and practices once implemented in the work unit.
Coordinate, communicate, and help monitor workflow and tasks to manage fluctuating volumes.
Report issues, problems, and opportunities to help identify educational and mediation needs.
Adapt assigned assessment, treatment, or service methods to the physical, psychosocial, cultural, age-specific, and developmental needs of those served.
Comply with applicable policies, procedures, and standards promulgated by state and federal agencies, the hospital, and other regulatory entities.
Protect patient confidentiality and disclose confidential information only when necessary to perform assigned duties.
Perform other duties as assigned.