Patient Access Specialist (Mon-Thurs 9:00 - 5:30, and 9 - 3:00 on Fridays)

Baptist Health•Homewood, AL

16d

About The Position

Provides complex registration, authorization, and financial clearance services for highly complex or high-dollar specialty services, such as Synagis scheduling and authorization. The role requires understanding the clinical nature of the services and building relationships with staff and physicians to address barriers that could lead to denials or poor patient service or outcomes. The specialist provides exemplary customer service, identifies and resolves service issues, and supports departmental customer-service and cash-collection goals. The specialist gathers and enters patient and guarantor information, explains forms and insurance benefits, obtains signatures and authorizations, collects applicable payments, documents information in registration systems, and screens patients for assistance programs. The role also performs scheduling and related communication with physicians, patients, and clinical areas, and may be cross-trained to work across multiple facility functions, including front desk, admitting, cashier, insurance verification, preregistration, scheduling, and the emergency department business office. The position requires compliance with applicable federal, state, hospital, and Baptist Health policies.

Requirements

Three years of experience in customer service, financial, business, or healthcare settings.
Associate’s degree preferred.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree.

Responsibilities

Build relationships with staff and physicians to address roadblocks that may cause denials or negatively affect patient service or outcomes.
Monitor and report issues promptly, identify trends, and problem-solve to ensure resolution.
Provide customer service, identify and resolve customer-service issues, and initiate follow-up or service recovery as appropriate.
Gather and accurately enter patient and guarantor demographic and financial information.
Explain required forms and obtain patient or guarantor signatures.
Contact payers to verify benefits and obtain necessary authorizations.
Explain insurance benefits and collect copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, self-pay amounts, and outstanding balances; establish payment arrangements when appropriate.
Contact primary care or admitting physicians to obtain authorizations, diagnoses, and procedure details as needed.
Document authorization and benefit information in the registration system and obtain authorization on behalf of the patient or physician as applicable.
Capture information about the patient’s primary care and ordering physicians.
Use registration and scheduling systems, electronic verification tools, and web-based resources.
Screen patients and guarantors for federal, state, county, or other assistance programs and complete required forms and applications.
Collect and inventory patient valuables according to policy when needed.
Apply knowledge of medical-necessity screening processes and relevant systems.
Maintain cross-training and skills to staff facility functions such as front desk, admitting, cashier, insurance verification, floor representative, preregistration, scheduling, and emergency department business office.
Schedule, reschedule, and cancel single or multiple tests and procedures, maintaining communication with physicians’ offices, patients, and ancillary and surgical areas.
Meet federal, state, and hospital compliance requirements and follow Baptist Health policies and procedures.
Maintain reasonably regular and punctual attendance consistent with applicable policies and laws.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
403(b) retirement savings plan with matching.
Health Savings Account (HSA).
Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
Paid Time Off, up to five weeks to start.
Life insurance.
Extended Leave Plan (ELP).
Family Care for childcare, elder care, and pet care.
Educational benefits, including tuition reimbursement and monthly payments to help pay down graduated school debt.
Benefits start on day one.