Central Scheduling - Patient Access Associate III - 40hrs

Applicants must reside in Connecticut, Massachussetts, or New York, or willing to relocate.

Under limited supervision, independently coordinates and performs multiple complex functions within the Patient Access department. Utilizes considerable judgment in interpreting departmental policies to resolve routine to complex inquiries or patient account problems. Identifies opportunities for process improvements, offers potential solutions and implements solution. Participates in meetings as a representative of the department. Serves as the primary resource to team members for training, problem resolution, etc. Performs all duties in a manner that promotes a team concept and reflects the mission, behaviors, core values, and philosophy of CT Children’s Medical Center.  
 

Administrative:

• Following department protocol provides general receptionist, secretarial support or Health Unit Coordinator functions.
• Performs a variety of administrative support activities in support of the unit operations.
• Responds with tact and discretion to the needs of patients and families.  
• Maintains privacy and confidentiality by abiding by HIPAA policies.
• Independently creates staffing assignments, scheduling, and delegation of tasks or work assignments.
• Independently provides training and quality assurance to new and current staff members.
• Independently identifies trends in process opportunities and provides educational training to team members for improvement.
• As a first line representative of CT Children’s, this person must have the ability to deal compassionately and professionally with patients and families.
• Performs Quality Assurance (QA) & Training: Audits Complete Registration data including documentation records regarding incomplete information at time of scheduling/registration/account follow-up, patient or guarantor interaction, efforts to collect co-payments, estimated self-pay balances, and referrals to Medicaid.   
• Ensures all outstanding issues are resolved in a timely manner.  
• Identifies trends and conducts follow-up training to reduce number and frequency of outstanding issues. 
• Provides weekly review for new employees; at minimum monthly review for current employees. 
• Ensures employees drawers are closed in a timely fashion, per standard process.
• Creates/maintains spreadsheets and databases.  
• Acts a liaison with patient accounting department for denials and account problem resolution.

Registration:

• Collects and enters accurate demographic, guarantor and financial data for Emergency Department, Inpatient and
• Outpatient cases and Physician Practice Office appointments. 
• Verifies all required insurance and billing information and uses the proper payer plan codes. 
• Generates all necessary forms for patient visit and obtains patient/parent/legal guardian signature for Assignment/ Authorization and consent. 
• Performs pre-registration for scheduled patients and registers patients adhering to standard department procedure.  
• Makes corrections and updates patient information in ADT systems as necessary. 
• Asks patients/families whether their visit was satisfactory and attempts to address any questions/issues prior to patient departure.
• Attempts to collect the patient liability, co-payment on all accounts at the designated collection point.
  Documents thorough, clear, explanatory notes regarding reasons for incomplete information at time of registration and documents insurance verification method along with response. Documents concise and understandable comments regarding patient or guarantor interaction, efforts to collect co-payments and referrals to Financial Counseling.
• Follows-up on open items to resolve outstanding issues and complete the file.
• Reviews and works assigned work queues for registration information to ensure that accounts are accurate at time of visit and or billing.
• Creates feedback loop to front-end user in regard to correct and complete registration.

Scheduling:

• Schedules routine and complex appointments either in person or via telephone.
• Creates/inputs routine and complex department provider appointments.
• May schedule/coordinate appointments with other areas of the hospital.
• Builds and maintains scheduling templates.
• Ensure all consent and privacy forms are signed.
• Work directly with DCF to obtain appropriate signatures/legal guardian information.

Front Office (Check-In):

• Arrives patients for their appointment in the ADT system.
• Verifies demographic and insurance information at time of arrival (including securing patient financial liability at time of service).
• Enters ro