Patient Access Specialist I WMCG - Nights

Wellstar Health System

About The Position

The Patient Access Specialist I is typically the first point of contact for patients and visitors and helps provide a pleasant, professional experience. The role obtains and updates accurate demographic, financial, and insurance information; completes patient registration and pre-admission arrangements; verifies insurance benefits and coverage; and obtains required signatures, consents, and attestations. The specialist screens patients for payer pre-certification and eligibility requirements and coordinates collection of estimated patient liabilities, including copayments, deductibles, and self-pay balances. The position responds to questions and requests, assists with hospital information and directions, and resolves customer concerns using established procedures. It also documents account activity, processes transactions and receipts, maintains patient confidentiality, addresses work-queue errors and payer denials, and makes financial arrangements to reduce financial risk and support reimbursement. The role coordinates with clinical, registration, utilization review, social services, and financial services teams. The schedule is 7 PM to 7 AM, three nights per week, with occasional weekend coverage. The position requires completion of PAS Operations Onboarding Training and a passing final exam within 45 days of hire.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED; an associate degree is preferred.
At least 1 year of experience in a healthcare or institutional (corporate) work setting.
Computer and data-entry experience.
Ability to communicate with various members of the healthcare team.
Effective written and verbal communication, attention to detail, self-direction, and a positive attitude.
Effective problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
Complete PAS Operations Onboarding Training and achieve the required passing score on the final exam within 45 days of hire.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree.
Working knowledge of patient registration systems.
Intermediate Microsoft Office Suite skills.
Epic experience.

Responsibilities

Receive patient reservation and scheduling requests from physicians' offices and make necessary pre-admission arrangements.
Interview patients or representatives to obtain accurate demographic, financial, and insurance information.
Enter, correct, and update patient information in registration and account systems.
Obtain required signatures and consents, and follow payer-specific form requirements.
Review physician orders to determine requested procedures and provide instructions to patients.
Escort patients or arrange for their escort to procedure areas and assigned rooms.
Obtain new medical record numbers for newborn admissions and other new patients.
Document non-routine account circumstances, billing processes, and collection activity clearly in patient accounts.
Maintain knowledge of information-system capabilities and complete required system applications.
Maintain patient confidentiality in accordance with organizational policy and HIPAA regulations.
Organize work, prioritize tasks, meet time frames, and avoid work backlogs.
Assist physicians' offices with scheduling, pre-admission, Medicaid screening, and pre-certifications.
Resolve errors and applicable Claim, DNB, and Patient Work Queues, and address payer denials as indicated.
Greet guests professionally, answer incoming calls, and follow through on requests.
Receive patient valuables for safekeeping in the hospital safe.
Maintain courteous and cooperative working relationships and tactfully handle difficult situations.
Follow department and hospital dress codes and present a professional image.
Attempt to collect estimated self-pay balances at the earliest appropriate collection point.
Monitor in-house accounts and arrange payment with guarantors before discharge or within the specified follow-up period.
Complete financial evaluation forms and identify patients who may lack adequate coverage or qualify for financial assistance.
Refer patients or guarantors to Medicaid and other available funding assistance programs when appropriate.
Contact scheduled patients before admission to obtain information, explain financial policies, estimate balances, and seek a payment commitment.
Interview inpatients and selected self-pay outpatients to verify financial and insurance information and collect estimated balances.
Coordinate financial counseling with Admitting, Outpatient Registration, Emergency Registration, Utilization Review, Nursing, Social Services, and Patient Financial Services.
Verify insurance coverage and benefits and work efficiently and accurately within designated time frames.
Meet monthly collection quotas and report self-pay collection results and data integrity issues to management.
Observe work hours, give proper notice of absences or schedule changes, attend requested meetings, and complete mandatory training.
Comply with Wellstar policies, standards of work, and code of conduct, and perform other duties as assigned.