CAR-PATIENT ACCESS SPECIALIST

Sparrow•Carson City, MI

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Access Representative creates a positive impression for patients and family members by accurately interviewing and entering patients into the iSparrow (Epic) system. The role also assists with switchboard operations and directs patients and visitors to the appropriate department. The representative collects confidential demographic and financial information, performs pre-registration and insurance verification, and collects copayments, deductibles, or deposits. The role requires accurate and timely patient-information entry in compliance with hospital policies and applicable regulations, including HIPAA and EMTALA. It also involves explaining patient financial responsibilities, obtaining required signatures, assigning appropriate ICD-10 codes for registration and billing compliance, and using electronic systems or phone contact to verify coverage and benefits. The position operates multiple computer applications to register patients, schedule appointments, and retrieve surgical, testing, insurance, and financial information. It coordinates with other departments and physician-office staff, handles registration-related exception accounts, cross-trains across Patient Access areas, supports process-improvement initiatives, provides occasional system support and education, and assists with onboarding and training new staff. The representative also screens patients and visitors for infectious disease upon hospital entry and performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least six months of experience working with the public.
Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Maintain strict adherence to patient confidentiality.

Nice To Haves

Previous clerical experience.
Experience working in a healthcare setting.
Working knowledge of EPIC, Passport, and Microsoft Outlook applications.
Working knowledge of insurance verification, benefit interpretation, and point-of-service collections.
Working knowledge of medical terminology.

Responsibilities

Interview patients and collect complete, accurate, confidential demographic and financial information for regulatory and billing requirements.
Perform pre-registration, verify insurance, and collect copayments and deductibles.
Enter patient information accurately and promptly in compliance with hospital policies and federal regulations, including HIPAA and EMTALA.
Provide empathetic customer service to patients and families.
Assign appropriate ICD-10 codes for registration and billing compliance at scheduling and registration.
Obtain signatures and information required by regulatory agencies while complying with HIPAA, EMTALA, and Identity Theft (Red Flag) reporting requirements.
Verify insurance eligibility and covered benefits using available electronic systems or by phone.
Explain patients’ financial responsibilities and collect prepayments for services not covered by insurance, including copayments, deductibles, and good-faith deposits.
Use multiple computer applications to register patients, schedule appointments, and retrieve surgical, testing, insurance, and financial information.
Coordinate with other departments and physician-office staff to obtain required information or escalate issues.
Work exception accounts held internally or rejected by payers due to registration errors.
Cross-train to support various Patient Access areas with minimal supervision.
Support continuous-improvement and lean initiatives in the Patient Access Department.
Provide occasional system support and education to other caregivers on applications used in patient access procedures.
Assist with onboarding and training new staff.
Screen patients and visitors for infectious disease upon hospital entry.
Assist with switchboard operations and direct patients and visitors to the appropriate department.
Perform other duties as assigned.