Senior Patient Access Specialist

Ensemble Health Partners • Richmond, VA

1d

About The Position

The Senior Patient Access Specialist performs admitting and patient access duties for patients receiving services at Ensemble Health Partners, following organizational policies, regulatory requirements, and the company’s customer-service standards. The role may also include senior-level duties such as training, scheduling, auditing, and providing after-hours departmental support. The position is accountable for assigned point-of-service collection goals and may cover unscheduled shifts to address staffing needs.

The specialist supports accurate and timely patient registration and revenue-cycle processes. This includes assigning medical record numbers, collecting and verifying patient and insurance information, reviewing eligibility and benefits, screening medical necessity, processing physician orders, explaining and obtaining required forms and signatures, and collecting payments. The role also involves auditing accounts and forms, providing statistical information to Patient Access leadership, and delivering compassionate service to patients, colleagues, and clients.

The position pays $18.65–$19.90 per hour based on experience. The posting lists bonus incentives, paid certifications, tuition reimbursement, and comprehensive benefits. Associates may also receive healthcare, time off, retirement, and well-being programs, professional-development support, and quarterly and annual incentive programs.

Requirements

• 1 to 3 years of job experience.
• Associate degree or equivalent experience.
• 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.
• Inquisitiveness and openness to innovation, including AI, to explore better processes and reduce friction in patient and client experiences.

Responsibilities

• Perform admitting and patient access duties for patients receiving services, including accurately assigning medical record numbers and collecting patient and insurance information.
• Complete medical necessity and compliance checks, process physician orders using an overlay tool, and provide appropriate patient instructions and customer service.
• Operate the telephone switchboard to relay incoming, outgoing, and inter-office calls, as applicable.
• Use quality auditing and reporting systems to identify and correct account issues, including accounts associated with 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 staff schedules within the patient access department.
• Provide on-call departmental support and guidance after hours, and work unscheduled times when needed to cover staffing issues.
• Collect point-of-service payments in emergency, outpatient, and inpatient settings, including past-due balances, and offer payment-plan options.
• Audit accounts, ensure forms are completed accurately and on time to meet audit standards, and provide statistical data to Patient Access leadership.
• Meet assigned point-of-service goals.
• Explain general consent-for-treatment forms to patients, guarantors, or legal guardians; obtain required signatures and witness names.
• Explain and distribute patient education documents, including Medicare Important Message notices, observation forms, consent forms, and other required materials.
• Review insurance eligibility responses, select applicable insurance plan codes, and enter benefit data to support point-of-service collections and billing.
• Pre-register patient accounts when applicable and make inbound and outbound calls to obtain demographic, insurance, and other patient information.
• Screen Medicare medical necessity using Advanced Beneficiary Notice software, inform patients of possible nonpayment for tests, and distribute the ABN as appropriate.
• Distribute and document other designated forms and pamphlets.
• Follow Ensemble Health Partners policies and provide excellent, compassionate customer service in patient and colleague interactions.

Benefits

• Bonus incentives.
• Paid certifications.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Comprehensive benefits package supporting physical, emotional, and financial health, including healthcare, time off, retirement, and well-being programs.
• Quarterly and annual incentive programs for employees who exceed expectations.
• Professional development support and opportunities to earn a certification relevant to the associate’s field.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree