Patient Access Specialist I | Admissions

Monument Health•Rapid City, SD

3d•$17 - $20•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Access Specialist I is responsible for the integrity of front-end patient access and registration functions, supporting patient care and the revenue cycle. This role is often the first point of contact for patients entering a facility or department and provides service to patients, families, physicians, clinicians, and internal departments. No prior experience is necessary to begin a healthcare career in this role. The specialist collects and verifies patient and coverage information, supports financial clearance and collections, maintains registration work queues, handles business office tasks, and provides reception and way-finding. The role may also include patient scheduling, check-out, patient movement and transportation support, and assisting the clinical care team as directed. Employees must attend required education, compliance, and safety sessions and comply with organizational policies and procedures.

Requirements

Ability to work assigned schedules and hours as determined by the department.
Compliance with Monument Health policies and procedures, including the Attendance Policy.
Ability to attend mandatory education, compliance, and safety program sessions.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
At least 1 year of customer service experience.
At least 1 year of patient relations experience.
At least 1 year of medical patient accounts or financial services experience.

Responsibilities

Accurately collect patient demographics, confirm identity and guarantor assignment, verify coverage, and obtain necessary check-in or admission documents using appropriate communication methods.
Follow Revenue Cycle guidelines and participate in quality assurance and improvement activities.
Demonstrate knowledge of payer information and benefits, including Medicare, Medicaid, commercial payers, and third-party liability payers.
Collect prepayments, outstanding balances, copayments, and coinsurance; reconcile the cash drawer daily and provide basic account reconciliation to patients.
Initiate financial clearance by providing cost estimates for scheduled services and escalating financial clearance needs appropriately.
Review authorization and referral records to confirm financial clearance.
Distribute and obtain required forms and signatures, including treatment consents, financial agreements, ABNs, waivers, and other regulatory forms; educate patients and maintain regulatory compliance.
Perform business office duties such as answering calls and messages, handling in-basket and patient communications, communicating within departments, scanning and faxing, and managing taxi vouchers, mail, lost and found, and safe and valuables.
Provide service excellence through reception and way-finding, responding to customers' emotional and physical needs and maintaining communication throughout their experience.
Obtain referrals and order transcription when applicable to the service area.
Schedule patients and perform check-out, including pre-arrival management, and manage patient wait lists and recall lists according to protocols.
Maintain registration-related work queues and resolve errors on an ongoing basis.
Use the electronic medical record for tasks including advanced directives, release of information, and patient portal proxy forms; explain their basic purposes and applicable regulations to patients.
Address account inquiries and resolve or escalate them as appropriate.
Work beyond normal scheduled shifts when required and comply with the Attendance Policy.
Perform patient movement activities in the electronic medical record when needed.
Arrange patient transportation and other enabling services when needed.
Assist the clinical care team as needed, including providing transport under clinical team direction.
Attend mandatory education, compliance, and safety program sessions; comply with current and future policies and procedures and report directly to the supervisor.
Perform other duties as assigned.