Patient Access Specialist (FT Nights)

Emerus•Milwaukee, WI

About The Position

The Patient Access Specialist serves as a liaison among patients and families, payers, Patient Financial Services, and other health care team members. The role facilitates patient tracking and billing by obtaining and verifying accurate, complete demographic information, financially securing accounts, and collecting guarantors’ out-of-pocket responsibility to maximize hospital reimbursement. The position also supports patient registration, insurance verification and authorization, medical records, transfers, and front-desk operations.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least 1 year of patient registration and insurance verification experience in a health care setting.
Knowledge of insurance plans, including HMO, PPO, POS, Medicare, and Medicaid, and of payers.
Basic understanding of medical terminology.
Excellent customer service skills.
Fluency in English and written and oral communication skills.

Nice To Haves

2 years of patient registration and insurance verification experience is preferred.
Emergency Department registration experience is strongly preferred.
Working knowledge of MS Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook, is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Comply with EMTALA, DNV, HIPAA, and other hospital and government regulations applicable to admissions and medical records.
Provide excellent customer service, meet customer needs, and build quality relationships.
Answer telephone calls professionally and courteously, record messages, and communicate them to appropriate medical staff.
Provide and obtain signatures on required forms and consents.
Obtain, verify, and enter complete and accurate demographic information on patient accounts.
Verify insurance benefits, confirm the correct payer and plan, and enter them into the patient accounting system.
Obtain insurance authorizations when required by individual insurance plans.
Pursue collections at the time of service in a customer service-oriented manner.
Scan registration and clinical documentation into the system and maintain medical records.
Assist with coordinating patient transfers to other hospitals when necessary.
Respond to medical record requests from patients, physicians, and hospitals.
Maintain the cash drawer according to policies.
Maintain logs of patients, payments, transfers, hospital admissions, and visitors or vendors.
Maintain a clean facility environment, including the front desk, restroom, waiting room, break area, and patient rooms when medical staff need assistance.
Receive deliveries, including mail, and forward them to appropriate departments.
Notify the appropriate contact about malfunctioning equipment or maintenance needs.
Attend required staff meetings and other company-sponsored or mandated meetings.
Assist medical staff as needed and perform additional duties as assigned.