Patient Accounts Receivable Specialist

Maine Optometry•Gorham, ME

About The Position

The Patient Accounts Receivables Specialist is responsible for supporting the organization’s revenue cycle by managing outstanding patient balances and assisting with the timely resolution of patient account issues. This role serves as a key point of contact for patients, internal office teams, and third-party billing partners regarding account balances, payment activity, billing inquiries, and insurance-related follow-up. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, professional, and able to communicate effectively while maintaining a high standard of customer service and regulatory compliance.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required; additional coursework in accounting, business, healthcare administration, or a related field is preferred.
Prior experience in patient accounts, medical billing, collections, accounts receivable, or healthcare customer service preferred.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to handle sensitive financial discussions professionally and respectfully.
Demonstrated attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Experience with payment posting, account reconciliation, and practice management or billing software preferred.
Working knowledge of healthcare billing practices and patient account workflows preferred.
Ability to work collaboratively with patients, office teams, and external billing partners.
Knowledge of HIPAA and commitment to maintaining patient confidentiality.

Nice To Haves

Professional and courteous telephone presence
Sound judgment and problem-solving ability
Strong follow-through and accountability
Empathy and tact when discussing financial matters with patients
Ability to maintain accuracy while handling a high volume of account activity

Responsibilities

Manage and follow up on outstanding patient balances in a timely and professional manner.
Conduct inbound and outbound communication with patients regarding billing questions, payment options, balance resolution, and account status.
Post daily patient payments, including credit card and check receipts, and reconcile payments within the practice management system.
Review patient accounts for discrepancies and assist in resolving outstanding balance issues.
Prepare and send patient statements and other account-related correspondence as needed.
Initiate collection efforts for delinquent patient accounts in accordance with company policy and established procedures.
Coordinate the transfer of eligible accounts to outside collections when appropriate.
Monitor insurance balances and collaborate with the organization’s third-party billing partner to address claim issues, payment delays, and account discrepancies.
Respond to questions from office staff and work collaboratively across locations to support accurate and timely account resolution.
Identify credit balances and coordinate appropriate next steps, including account corrections or refunds in partnership with accounting.
Maintain complete and accurate documentation of patient communications, collection activity, account actions, and follow-up efforts.
Assist with reporting related to patient receivables, collection activity, and account trends.
Ensure all work is performed in compliance with HIPAA, company policies, and applicable billing and collection requirements.