Senior Patient Access Specialist - St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital

Bon Secours Mercy Health • Youngstown, OH

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Patient Access Specialist performs admitting and patient access duties for patients receiving services at Mercy Health, following organizational policies, regulatory requirements, and the ministry’s mission and goals. The role may also include training and scheduling responsibilities and serves as the department’s SMART. The specialist provides compassionate customer service and supports accurate, compliant patient registration and revenue-cycle processes.

Responsibilities include registering patients; assigning medical record numbers; conducting medical necessity and compliance checks; collecting and verifying insurance, demographic, and other patient information; processing physician orders; and supporting pre-registration and clean claims. The specialist explains and distributes consent, Medicare, observation, ABN, and other patient forms, obtains required signatures, and documents distribution. The position also collects point-of-service payments, explains payment plan options, conducts account audits, and supplies statistical information to Patient Access leadership.

Additional duties include operating the telephone switchboard, developing training materials and providing education to staff, creating department schedules for leadership approval, and providing on-call and after-hours support. The position may require coming to work at unscheduled times to cover staffing needs. Work may involve high stress and fluctuating workloads, noise, bright lights, interruptions, working alone, exposure to verbal or physical altercations, limited hazardous substances or body fluids, and adverse weather conditions. Universal precautions and personal protective equipment are required.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Two to three years of experience in patient access or a leadership role preferred.
• English language skills.
• Typing speed of 45 words per minute required.
• 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.
• Skills in analyzing data or information and scheduling.
• Interpersonal skills including attention to detail, acceptance of authority, critical thinking, communication with family members, teamwork, conflict resolution, active listening, and relationship building.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays, and on-call shifts.
• Ability to provide care appropriate to the age and needs of patients served, as applicable to departmental responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

• CRCR (Certified Revenue Cycle Representative) certification from the Healthcare Financial Management Association preferred.
• Associate degree in healthcare administration, business administration, or a related field preferred.
• Two to three years of experience in patient access or a leadership role preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform admitting and patient access functions for patients receiving services at Mercy Health.
• Assign accurate medical record numbers and complete medical necessity and compliance checks.
• Provide patient instructions and customer service, collect insurance information, and receive and process physician orders using an overlay tool.
• Serve as the department’s SMART and follow Mercy Health policies and regulatory requirements.
• Operate the telephone switchboard to relay incoming, outgoing, and inter-office calls as applicable.
• Use quality auditing and reporting systems to identify and ensure correction of accounts, including accounts from other employees, departments, and facilities.
• Develop training materials and programs for new 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 in at unscheduled times to cover staffing issues.
• Collect point-of-service payments in emergency, outpatient, and inpatient settings, including past-due balances, and offer payment plan options.
• Conduct account audits, ensure forms are completed accurately and on time, and provide statistical data to Patient Access leadership.
• Meet assigned point-of-service collection goals.
• Explain general consent forms, obtain necessary signatures, and witness signatures as required.
• Explain and distribute patient education documents, including Medicare, observation, and consent forms, and document distribution of designated forms and pamphlets.
• 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 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 nonpayment, and distribute ABNs as appropriate.
• Exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and follow infection-control policies.

Benefits

• Competitive pay, incentives, referral bonuses, and 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