Patient Access Representative Outpatient

Conifer Health Solutions•Brownsville, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Access Representative supports departmental efficiency through scheduling, registration, pre-admission and admission, reception, and discharge functions. The role obtains complete and accurate patient demographic information and uses compliant techniques to collect patient liabilities before, during, and after the date of service. Spanish is required. The position is based at Valley Baptist Brownsville and is scheduled Monday through Friday for an eight-hour shift between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.; hours and days may vary based on departmental or system demands. The representative greets patients, completes registrations, explains and secures required legal and hospital forms, scans protected health information, and prepares patient information packets for upcoming services. The role may also support diagnostic procedure scheduling and post-discharge care coordination. It includes educating patients about financial liabilities, handling payments and cash reconciliation according to policy, verifying medical necessity and insurance coverage, completing financial-clearance work, obtaining authorizations, and notifying payors of inpatient visits. The role requires customer-service and communication skills, the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and the ability to perform essential duties in at least two Patient Access service areas, including the Emergency Department. The employee must interpret physician orders, medical terminology, and insurance cards while maintaining Conifer Standards of Care. Required vaccinations and screenings must be confirmed before employment where applicable and permitted by law. The work is in hospital administration and may take place in patient-care locations where there is potential exposure to life-threatening patient conditions. Physical demands include extended computer-terminal work, frequent prolonged standing, sitting, and walking, occasional lifting or carrying of up to 25 pounds, and occasionally pushing a wheelchair. The employee may encounter extreme patient volumes and uncooperative patients.

Requirements

Spanish required.
High school diploma or GED required.
0–1 year in a customer-service role.
Minimum typing speed of 35 words per minute.
Demonstrated working knowledge of PC, CRT, and printer.
Customer-service skills and experience.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to receive and express detailed information through oral and written communication.
Ability to perform essential job duties in at least two Patient Access service areas, including the Emergency Department.
Ability to use professional negotiation techniques to collect payments from patients or guarantors.
Ability to interpret physician orders, medical terminology, and insurance cards.
Must meet applicable vaccination and screening requirements before employment, as permitted by law.
Ability to sit at a computer terminal for extended periods; frequently stand, sit, and walk for prolonged periods; occasionally lift or carry up to 25 pounds; and occasionally push a wheelchair.
Must be available to work hours and days as needed based on departmental or system demands.

Nice To Haves

0–1 year of administrative experience in a medical facility, health insurance, or a related area.
Some college coursework.
Knowledge of functions and relationships within a hospital environment.
Understanding of third-party payor requirements.
Understanding of compliance standards.

Responsibilities

Greet patients according to Conifer Standards of Care and provide customer service.
Complete patient registration at the date of service and obtain accurate demographic information.
Follow financial and cash-control policies and procedures.
Explain and secure required hospital and patient legal forms, including advance directives, conditions of service, consent for treatment, Medicare notices, and EMTALA forms.
Scan protected health information and create and file patient information packets or folders for upcoming hospital services.
Assist with scheduling diagnostic procedures, entering information in scheduling systems, and providing appointment instructions, as needed.
Educate patients about financial liabilities and use proper, compliant techniques to collect patient payments before, during, and after service.
Perform hospital cash reconciliation and secure payment entry in accordance with policy.
Verify medical necessity, insurance, benefits, coverage, and eligibility in accordance with applicable requirements.
Complete assigned registration financial-clearance work-list activities.
Obtain insurance authorizations for scheduled and unscheduled hospital services and secure inpatient visit notification to payors.
Assist with scheduling and coordinating post-discharge care, as needed.
Perform essential duties in at least two Patient Access service areas, including the Emergency Department.
Professionally negotiate and collect money owed by patients or guarantors.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external clients to support effective communication, productivity, and accuracy.
Interpret physician orders, medical terminology, and insurance cards while maintaining Conifer Standards of Care.
Be available to work hours and days as needed based on departmental or system demands.