Patient Access Specialist I/II - Sacred Peaks Health Center

Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation•Flagstaff, AZ

12d

About The Position

The Patient Access Specialist schedules and registers patients by accurately collecting and analyzing demographic, insurance, and clinical data. The role interviews patients and helps them complete forms needed to process medical, dental, and pharmacy billing claims. It is responsible for maintaining data integrity to support third-party reimbursement and customer satisfaction, and performs clerical duties such as scheduling, changing, and cancelling appointments and building provider schedules. The position involves frequent interruptions and requires flexibility to meet business needs. Patient Access Specialist I requires six months of fast-paced office experience; Patient Access Specialist II requires two years of such experience, as well as experience with electronic patient registration or similar patient financial services software. Both levels require a high school diploma or GED and current Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Patient Access Specialist I: at least six months of experience in a fast-paced office environment, managing and prioritizing multiple assignments and meeting tight deadlines.
Patient Access Specialist II: at least two years of experience in a fast-paced office environment, managing and prioritizing multiple assignments and meeting tight deadlines.
Patient Access Specialist II: experience with electronic patient registration software or similar patient financial services software.
Maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association throughout employment.
Excellent customer service and personal and telephone communication skills.
Proficient knowledge of and ability to use computer software; proficient typing, spelling, and grammar.
Demonstrated ability to complete special projects, meet deadlines, analyze, research, troubleshoot, resolve issues, and work independently with minimal to no supervision.
Positive communication and working relationships with others; ability to respond positively to supervision.
High ethical standards, no history of complaints, reliability, and dependability, including reporting to work as scheduled without excessive absences.
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.
Ability to work amid frequent interruptions and maintain a flexible schedule, including adapting to shift work and meeting business needs.
Ability to communicate with patients and families during emotional and physical stress; patience and ability to remain calm when others are angry or fearful.
Ability to communicate what information is needed and why, and to determine whether information provided is accurate.
Ability to cope with stress, make decisions under pressure, concentrate, work alone, and manage multiple priorities in stressful situations.
Above-satisfactory interview scores demonstrating ability to perform the essential job functions.
Successful background and reference checks, including satisfactory employment references.
Successful completion of fingerprint clearance, physical examinations, and other required screenings.
Submission of all required employment documents and information without false, misleading, or incomplete information.
Ability to meet the stated physical demands, including continual sitting, standing, walking, twisting, reaching, near vision, color vision, detailed vision, hearing, telephone use, and keyboard use; occasional far vision; and ability to push, pull, and lift up to 10 pounds.

Responsibilities

Review, update, and maintain patient data in patient accounting, registration, and scheduling systems, and initiate required billing and admission forms.
Interview patients to obtain registration information; ensure documents are scanned, retrieved, and edited; verify patient identification and insurance coverage; and explain applicable co-pays or deductibles.
Assess potential patient financial liability and refer patients at risk of being unable to meet it to appropriate agencies or departments; explain available options and support eligibility-process completion.
Collect cash payments for pharmacy and medical services, reconcile payments according to fiscal policy, and issue transaction receipts.
Verify insurance and obtain prior authorizations before scheduled appointments or procedures.
Assist patients with completing and updating medical-record, insurer, and facility forms.
When assigned, perform admitting-office activities, including admission, discharge, transfer, pre-admission, and pre-verification tasks; maintain ADT data integrity and notify appropriate departments of transfer arrangements.
Identify and pre-authorize patients whose health benefits require prior approval for inpatient or outpatient care.
Collaborate with departments to expedite patient services and improve patient satisfaction.
Welcome and greet patients and visitors in person or by telephone, answer or refer inquiries, and direct patients and visitors.
Work rotational shifts; callback schedule is limited to Emergency and Inpatient.
Intake and coordinate motor vehicle accident and workers' compensation claim visits with appropriate personnel.
Follow established patient-identification and income-screening guidelines for non-eligible Medicaid patients.
Use software systems for clinical, medical, dental, pharmacy, and other healthcare office functions.
Complete and route departmental requisitions; keep the unit stocked with forms and supplies; retrieve and print laboratory reports, health summaries, medication lists, and other patient records as indicated.
Enter electronic health record data relevant to the patient service role.
Wear required PPE while on duty and safely complete PPE donning, doffing, and disposal procedures.
Complete training in routine cleaning and decontamination of surfaces contaminated by communicable disease.
Perform other duties as assigned.