Patient Access Specialist Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED equivalent required.
• Must complete Revenue Cycle Orientation courses within six months of hire.
• Two years of related work experience preferred, preferably in healthcare or a customer-service environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people from varying socioeconomic backgrounds and obtain pertinent information.
• Familiarity with medical terminology.
• Ability to accurately verify demographic information and insurance benefits.
• Ability to operate office equipment, such as a fax machine.
• Knowledge of computer programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Organizational and time-management skills to complete multiple tasks.
• Customer-service orientation and ability to communicate effectively and build relationships with team members at all organizational levels.
• Professional verbal and written communication skills with colleagues, physicians, and ancillary department personnel.

Nice To Haves

• Associate's or bachelor's degree.
• EPIC EHR experience.

Responsibilities

• Schedule patient visits accurately and promptly, coordinate appointments with other departments, and maintain knowledge of departmental scheduling criteria.
• Obtain required documents and information for scheduling and registration, and communicate with patients, physicians, and other appropriate sources.
• Pre-register scheduled accounts and document information so patient accounts are complete before services.
• Coordinate with third-party payers to obtain authorizations and pre-certifications, and identify payer medical-necessity and benefit requirements.
• Coordinate admission reservations and bed placement with nursing.
• Register arriving patients, interpret physician orders, verify that required orders are complete, and enter patient information into tracking and registration systems.
• Accurately collect, analyze, and record demographic, insurance, financial, and clinical information; update demographic and insurance details as needed.
• Explain registration forms and obtain required signatures, financial information, and documents.
• Verify insurance eligibility and benefits for inpatient and outpatient services, and assist patients with insurance issues and coverage activation.
• Inform patients or representatives about financial obligations, service expenses, payment requirements, deductibles, co-insurance, and co-payments.
• Collect patient balances and self-pay amounts, establish payment arrangements according to policy, post collections, and ensure collected funds are secured and cash drawers are balanced.
• Refer uninsured, underinsured, low-income, or other patients to financial advocates or counseling when appropriate; provide financial assistance applications and assist with program paperwork.
• Serve as a resource to financial counseling staff, social workers, and hospital staff in identifying funding sources for patient health services.
• Provide excellent customer service, maintain a positive and respectful demeanor, and build effective working relationships with patients, families, and colleagues.
• Maintain strict confidentiality when handling patient records, charts, and scheduling information.
• Complete required annual learning and safety requirements, participate in identifying safety risks, and comply with EMTALA, HIPAA, payer regulations, and other applicable standards.
• Demonstrate ethical and professional conduct, follow the organization's compliance policies, and report infractions through the appropriate chain of command.