Patient Collections Representative - 8550 FT-1

UMC Health System•Richmond, KY

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Collections Representative assists patients with questions about their bills and other UMC services. The role reproduces patient bills for collections and patient-care purposes when requested by hospital personnel, payers, or other interested parties. It manages delinquent self-pay accounts before referral to an outside collection agency and contacts patients by phone or letter to determine why payments have not been made. The representative handles account inquiries, supports billing and eligibility processes, reviews third-party payments, establishes budget plans within administrative guidelines, and corrects patient-accounting errors. The position requires professional communication with patients, families, coworkers, payers, and other hospital departments. Hours may vary to accommodate the needs of other departments.

Requirements

High school graduate or equivalent.
Ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
Mainframe computer skills.
Basic accounting and detailed clerical skills.
Customer service skills.
Technical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to adapt to change.
Ability to communicate professionally with coworkers, patients, and family members and maintain working relationships with third-party payers and hospital departments.

Responsibilities

Collect and manage delinquent self-pay accounts before submission to an outside collection agency, with timely follow-up.
Answer incoming calls and work accounts according to the patient's account issue and circumstances.
Add insurance and verify Medicaid and Medicare eligibility for billing purposes; use the appropriate transaction codes and financial classes.
Address patients' concerns and maintain a professional attitude, prioritizing patient inquiries over clerical duties.
Contact each account by telephone or letter every 30 days or as needed to determine why payment has not been made.
Follow third-party payer billing and collections rules and consult desk manuals as needed.
Analyze third-party payments for accuracy and print itemized bills and UB92s.
Establish budget plans based on the balance owed and follow administrative budget-plan guidelines.
Correct patient-accounting errors and notify the appropriate supervisor or employee about errors and preventive measures.
Inform management of recurring problems and determine when management assistance is needed with patient inquiries.