Patient Access Specialist, PT, Days

Prisma Health•Richland, WA

About The Position

The Patient Access Specialist receives and interviews patients to collect and verify demographic and financial information, verifies insurance, and initiates pre-authorization when required. The role collects required payments or makes financial arrangements and performs assigned duties courteously and professionally. It may also include business office functions. The specialist interviews patients or other sources in accordance with HIPAA guidelines, enters and verifies information in computer systems, scans documents, and follows up on missing or incomplete information. The role verifies insurance coverage and benefits, documents verification, confirms insurance priorities, and initiates pre-certification as required. It also obtains signatures and required forms, receives payments, issues receipts, maintains cash funds and verification logs, and makes daily deposits. The specialist prepares and distributes reports, documents, and patient identification items; communicates estimated financial responsibility and requests payment before or at the time of service; and refers patients to payment or financial assistance programs when appropriate. The role reports to a supervisor, manager, director, or executive and may perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent, or post-high-school diploma/highest degree earned.
Two years of experience in Admissions, Billing, Collections, Insurance, and/or Customer Service.
Basic computer skills, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and data entry.
Mathematical skills.

Nice To Haves

Registration and scheduling experience preferred.
Familiarity with medical terminology preferred.

Responsibilities

Interview patients or other sources, in accordance with HIPAA guidelines, to obtain financial, demographic, and employment information.
Enter accurate information into computer databases, check Sovera for the most recent insurance card, scan documents, and follow up on missing or incomplete information.
Verify insurance coverage and benefits online or by telephone, document verification, assign the appropriate insurance plan, and ensure insurance priorities meet third-party and coordination-of-benefits requirements.
Initiate pre-certification as required and obtain signed waivers when required pre-certification has not been obtained.
Obtain required signatures and information on forms and documents, including consent forms, liability assignments, and waiver letters.
Receive payments, issue receipts, work toward collection goals, maintain cash funds and verification logs, and make daily deposits according to policy.
Prepare and distribute required reports, documents, patient identification items, notices, brochures, schedules, productivity logs, collection reports, armbands, and patient valuables.
Communicate estimated financial responsibility and request payment before or at the time of service.
Refer patients who may need extended payment terms to the Medical Services Payment Program and patients needing financial assistance to the appropriate program.
Perform other duties as assigned.