Senior Patient Access Specialist - St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital

Mercy Health BSMH • Youngstown, OH

4d

About The Position

The Senior Patient Access Specialist performs admitting duties for patients receiving services at Mercy Health, following organizational policies, regulatory requirements, and the mission and goals of the ministry. The role may also include training and scheduling responsibilities and serving as the department’s SMART. It provides patient access support across emergency, outpatient, and inpatient settings, with a focus on accurate registration, compliance, revenue-cycle processes, and compassionate customer service.

The position handles patient registration and insurance information, medical-necessity checks, physician orders, patient instructions and consent documentation, eligibility verification, pre-registration, and point-of-service payments. It also conducts account audits, supports clean-claim processes, develops training materials, helps educate revenue-cycle associates, and prepares staff schedules for leadership approval. The role includes telephone switchboard duties and on-call coverage, including coming in at unscheduled times to address staffing needs.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Typing speed of 45 words per minute.
• Understanding of revenue-cycle processes, including admissions, billing, payments, and denials.
• Comprehensive knowledge of patient insurance processes for obtaining authorizations and verifying benefits.
• Knowledge of health insurance requirements.
• Knowledge of medical terminology, CPT codes, or procedure codes.
• Ability to analyze data or information and perform scheduling.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, critical thinking, communication, teamwork, conflict resolution, active listening, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays, and on-call shifts.
• Ability to provide care appropriate to the age and needs of patients served, in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
• Ability to follow infection-control policies, use universal precautions, and use personal protective equipment and devices.

Nice To Haves

• CRCR, Certified Revenue Cycle Representative certification from Healthcare Financial Management.
• Associate degree in healthcare administration, business administration, or a related field.
• 2–3 years of experience in patient access or a leadership role.

Responsibilities

• Perform admitting and patient access duties for patients receiving services at Mercy Health.
• Assign accurate medical record numbers, complete medical-necessity and compliance checks, collect insurance information, process physician orders, and provide patient instructions and customer service.
• Serve as the department’s SMART and operate the telephone switchboard to relay incoming, outgoing, and inter-office calls as applicable.
• Use quality auditing and reporting systems to identify and correct accounts, including accounts from other employees, departments, and facilities.
• Develop training materials and programs for new department hires and provide continuing education to associates in revenue-cycle areas.
• Develop patient access staff schedules and submit them to leadership for final approval.
• Provide on-call and after-hours department support, including coming to work at unscheduled times to cover staffing issues.
• Collect point-of-service payments in emergency, outpatient, and inpatient settings, including past-due balances; offer payment-plan options and meet assigned collection goals.
• Audit accounts, ensure forms are completed accurately and on time, and provide statistical data to Patient Access leadership.
• Explain general consent forms, obtain required signatures and witness names, and explain and distribute patient education documents and designated forms.
• Review insurance eligibility responses, select applicable insurance plan codes, and enter benefit data to support collections and billing.
• Pre-register patient accounts and make inbound or outbound calls to obtain demographic, insurance, and other patient information.
• Screen medical necessity using Advanced Beneficiary Notice software, inform Medicare patients of possible non-payment, and distribute ABNs and other designated forms and pamphlets as appropriate.

Benefits

• Competitive pay, incentives, referral bonuses, and a 403(b) with employer contributions when eligible.
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage; HSA/FSA options; life insurance; mental health resources; and discounts.
• Paid time off, parental and FMLA leave, short- and long-term disability, and backup care for children and elders.
• Tuition assistance, professional development, and continuing education support.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED