Patient Access Specialist

Ensemble Health Partners • Lima, OH

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Access Specialist performs admitting and patient-access duties for patients receiving hospital services, following organizational policies, mission and goals, and regulatory requirements. The role supports patient registration and account accuracy while delivering compassionate, high-quality service to patients, colleagues, and other callers. This is an onsite, part-time position at Mercy - St Rita's Medical Center in Lima, Ohio, with first- and second-shift hours and a required weekend rotation. The listed pay range is $17.00–$18.15 per hour, based on experience.

The position includes pre-registration, insurance and eligibility verification, medical-necessity and compliance screening, patient instruction, form distribution and signature collection, point-of-service collections, account audits, and telephone switchboard duties. Patient Access Specialists also explain financial liabilities and applicable forms, document required information, and support clean claims and accurate billing. The role is an entry-level career opportunity offering bonus incentives, paid certifications, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive benefits, and career advancement.

Requirements

• At least 1 year of customer service experience.
• High school diploma or GED.
• CRCR certification required within 9 months of hire; the company pays for the certification.
• Must be inquisitive and open to innovation, including AI, to explore improved processes and reduce friction in patient and client experiences.
• Able to work onsite at Mercy - St Rita's Medical Center in Lima, Ohio.
• Able to work first- and second-shift hours and participate in a weekend rotation.

Responsibilities

• Assign accurate medical record numbers (MRNs), complete medical-necessity and compliance checks, provide patient instructions, collect insurance information, receive and process physician orders, and use an overlay tool while providing excellent customer service.
• Operate the telephone switchboard to relay incoming, outgoing, and inter-office calls, following policies and providing compassionate service.
• Meet assigned point-of-service goals.
• Use quality auditing and reporting systems to identify and correct accounts, including accounts for other employees, departments, and facilities.
• Audit accounts, verify that forms are completed accurately and on time, and provide statistical data to Patient Access leadership.
• Pre-register patient accounts before visits, including making inbound and outbound calls to obtain demographic, insurance, and other patient information.
• Explain patient financial liabilities, collect point-of-service payments and past-due balances, and discuss payment-plan options.
• Explain general consent-for-treatment forms to patients, guarantors, or legal guardians; obtain required signatures and witness names.
• Explain and distribute patient education documents and designated forms, including Medicare and Tricare notices, observation forms, MOON forms, and consent forms.
• Review insurance eligibility responses, select the applicable insurance plan code, and enter benefit data to support point-of-service collections and billing processes.
• Screen medical necessity using Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) software, inform Medicare patients of possible non-payment for tests, and distribute ABNs when appropriate.
• Distribute and document other designated forms and pamphlets.

Benefits

• Bonus incentives.
• Paid certifications.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Comprehensive benefits, including healthcare, time off, retirement, and well-being programs.
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities.
• Quarterly and annual incentive programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED