PATIENT SERVICES ASSOCIATE- NEW BETHLEHEM

Independence Health System•Redbank Township, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Services Associate is responsible for ensuring a positive customer service atmosphere and interaction in the reception area. This role involves processing telephone calls, managing patient information, pre-registering patients, entering information into the billing system, coding visits based on diagnosis, and identifying coding discrepancies to maximize reimbursement. The associate will also support financial objectives by collecting payments at the time of visit, completing cash sheets, and delivering them daily. Additionally, this position assists in maintaining and decreasing organizational costs, facilitates patient access to care by scheduling appointments and assisting with specialty care referrals, and processes necessary information for timely authorizations. The role also emphasizes professional development, acting as a patient advocate, preceptor/mentor to new hires and students, and problem-solving. The associate will assist in department compliance with regulatory agencies, participate in continuous survey readiness, and support performance improvement initiatives. Maintaining the environment of care, ensuring supplies are replenished, and maintaining a clean, safe environment are also key responsibilities. The role requires cognitive ability to function and concentrate at a high level, demonstrating thoroughness and accuracy, and the ability to think and concentrate for an entire shift. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

High School Diploma, GED or next level of higher education.
Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, and sound judgment.
Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
PA Act 34 Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History Clearance.

Nice To Haves

Previous outpatient office experience.
Two years’ experience in a medical/billing/fiscal or customer service function strongly preferred.
Medical terminology and third-party healthcare coverage experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Ensure positive customer service atmosphere and interaction in reception area.
Interact with co-workers and internal customers in a respectful and professional manner.
Process telephone calls and messages promptly, accurately, courteously, and efficiently.
Follow recommended department guidelines for triage and scheduling of patients.
Process patient information.
Interview and pre-register patients at the time of or prior to the visit date.
Enter all information into the billing system per established policies and procedures.
Accurately code visit based on diagnosis given.
Identify coding discrepancies and seek clarification to maximize reimbursement/minimize rejections.
Enter all charges/codes into billing system accurately.
Support financial objectives.
Make every effort to collect payment at the time of visit.
Accurately complete cash sheets.
Deliver cash and cash sheets daily to appropriate place.
Assist in maintaining/decreasing organization/departmental costs.
Facilitate patient access to care.
Schedule patients for appropriate intervals and provider based on protocols.
Assist patient to access specialty care and testing per physician order where applicable by office location.
Provide instructions and directions based on protocols and physician order.
Assist the patient to meet insurance requirements for continued care.
Process referrals in a timely manner.
Coordinate and submit necessary information to obtain timely authorizations.
Demonstrate accountability for professional development.
Act as a patient advocate.
Perform effectively in the role of preceptor/mentor to new hires and/or students.
Demonstrate the ability to solve problems and seek assistance from immediate supervisor when appropriate.
Assist in department’s compliance with preparing for annual surveys and/or other regulatory agencies.
Participate in continuous survey readiness for inspections and surveys.
Support performance improvement initiatives within the physician practice.
Assist in data collection as directed by the manager/physician.
Incorporate into practice performance improvement initiatives that have been implemented.
Maintain the environment of care.
Ensure that supplies are replenished daily.
Consistently maintain a clean safe environment.
Cognitive ability to function and concentrate on the essential and specialty functions of the job at a high level.
Achieves thoroughness and accuracy when accomplishing an essential or specialty function of the job.
Ability to think and concentrate for an entire shift.
Other duties as assigned.