Patient Access Specialist - Daytona Admitting

Halifax Health•Daytona Beach, FL

About The Position

The Patient Access Specialist performs duties related to scheduling, pre-registration, registration, insurance verification, and financial counseling. The role schedules hospital services accurately, obtains the documents needed for scheduling and registration, and creates thorough patient registration records. The specialist obtains signatures and financial information, identifies and collects patient balances, screens for medical-necessity and benefit requirements, and coordinates admission reservations and bed placement with nursing. The position obtains insurance eligibility, benefits, authorizations, pre-certifications, and referrals for inpatient and outpatient visits, updates demographic and insurance records, and initiates collection processes for deductibles, co-insurance, and co-payments. It establishes financial arrangements according to policy and serves as a primary documentation source for access and billing staff. The specialist is expected to provide compassionate, customer-focused service and help patients and representatives understand the hospital's financial policies. Work includes scheduling and coordinating appointments, communicating with patients, physicians, payers, and hospital departments, documenting information in registration systems, collecting and safeguarding payments, and helping patients with financial assistance and insurance matters. The role also requires compliance with organizational policies and applicable regulations, including EMTALA and HIPAA, and active attention to patient safety.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent required.
Must complete Revenue Cycle Orientation courses within six months of hire.
Two years of related work experience preferred, preferably in healthcare or a customer-service environment.
Ability to communicate effectively with people from varied socioeconomic backgrounds and obtain pertinent information.
Familiarity with medical terminology.
Ability to accurately verify demographic information and insurance benefits.
Ability to operate office equipment, such as a fax machine.
Knowledge of computer programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel.
Organizational and time-management skills to complete multiple tasks.
Customer-service orientation and ability to communicate effectively and build relationships with team members at all organizational levels.
Professional verbal and written communication skills with colleagues, physicians, and ancillary department personnel.

Nice To Haves

Associate's or bachelor's degree.
EPIC EHR experience.

Responsibilities

Schedule patient visits accurately and in a timely manner, ensuring appointment details and related information are complete.
Coordinate appointments with other departments and respond to phone inquiries with excellent customer service.
Maintain knowledge of scheduling criteria for procedures and protect confidential patient charts, records, and scheduling information.
Pre-register patients by obtaining and documenting information needed for scheduled services and complete patient accounts.
Communicate with third-party payers to obtain authorizations and pre-certifications when needed.
Collaborate with patients, patient access staff, clinical departments, and referring physician offices to obtain necessary information before scheduled services.
Refer uninsured, underinsured, and low-income patients to patient financial advocates when financial arrangements are needed before service.
Enter patients into the patient tracking system upon arrival and interpret physician orders to determine service needs.
Collect or verify complete and valid physician orders.
Collect, analyze, and record demographic, insurance, financial, and clinical information accurately in the computer system.
Review and explain registration forms and obtain signatures from patients or appropriate representatives.
Ensure the patient's identification band is securely fastened after registration.
Collect self-pay balances, post collections, safeguard collected funds, and ensure cash drawers are balanced before closing.
Refer patients for in-depth financial counseling and provide financial assistance applications according to department guidelines.
Identify payer medical-necessity and pre-certification requirements and complete or verify required screening.
Advise patients and family members about financial obligations, service expenses, payment requirements, and insurance coverage.
Obtain payment in full or establish appropriate payment arrangements and eligibility or benefit information for inpatient and outpatient accounts.
Discuss third-party coverage and arrange the disposition of out-of-pocket balances.
Assist patients with insurance issues, coverage activation, required paperwork, and applications such as Medicaid and Halifax Health's charity program.
Serve as a resource to financial counseling staff, social workers, and other hospital staff in identifying funding sources for patient health services.
Follow the Statement of Organizational Ethics, Corporate Compliance Program policies, and applicable organizational procedures; complete required education and report infractions through the appropriate chain of command.
Complete annual learning requirements covering topics such as fire safety, isolation precautions, codes, disaster plans, hazardous and toxic substances, and risk management.
Participate proactively in patient-safety education and identify problems or incidents that could put patients, visitors, or staff at risk.
Follow EMTALA, HIPAA, payer, and other applicable regulations and standards.
Maintain a positive, friendly, and respectful manner with patients, families, and colleagues, including during stressful situations.