PATIENT RESOURCES WORKER / EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT HOMELESSNESS

Posting number: b9192K-EA

Department: MENTAL HEALTH

Job classification: PATIENT RESOURCES WORKER

Posting type: Open

Categories: Mental Health

Summary

DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:

OPEN COMPETITIVE - EMERGENCY

EXAM NUMBER:

b9192K-EA

 FILING START DATE:

Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific Time)

This opportunity will remain open until the needs of the service are met

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness (Download PDF reader), and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

Department of Mental Health is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Patient Resources Worker vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.   

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Patient Resources Worker.

Examples of duties

Interviews patients or their relatives and/or representatives to obtain identifying information, financial and other eligibility data; determines the patient's potential eligibility to enroll in specific health care programs based upon diagnosis, available medical information, type of medical/clinical services, and residency status; enters and accesses data by utilizing various local and web-based information systems and databases to determine a patient's financial eligibility.
  
Evaluates financial data and resources to determine the patient's ability to reimburse the County for health care services consistent with department policy; completes or assists the patient in the completion of benefits forms for third party resources; contacts private insurance companies to verify coverage and to obtain authorization for services; verifies existing governmental coverage for health care services, and screens for the patient's potential eligibility to receive Medi-Cal or other no-cost/low-cost programs. 
  
Communicates with patients, responsible relatives and/or representatives, attorneys, employers, agencies and insurance companies to explain County policies and to obtain, verify, or clarify information required to complete standardized billing forms.  Computes plans of payment for patients whose medical share of cost has already been established.
  
Completes required federal, State, and County forms for patients during emergency room visits, upon admission, and during outpatient clinic visits.
  
Refers patients without existing financial resources or with complex financial eligibility issues to a Patient Financial Services Worker or facility staff member.
  
Initiates and/or processes applications for a variety of reduced no-cost / low cost programs, such as ATP and UMDAP.

Patient Access:
Greets and registers patients in person or over the phone.  Obtains demographics, preferred pharmacy, emergency contact and insurance information.  Enrolls patient using electronic system.  Provides forms to patients and completes paperwork for requested services.  Determines when language interpretation is needed.  Orients patients to health services by providing direction to appropriate locations for services.

Initiates and/or processes applications for a variety of reduced no-cost/low-cost programs, such as ATP and UMDAP.

Verifies coverage and empanelment prior to scheduling.  Identifies when authorization and/or letter of agreement may be needed.  Identifies discrepancies in assignment and empanelment and appropriately refers complex cases to Patient Relations Representatives.

Schedules patient visits by determining the appropriate providers and programs for patients.  Ensures timely access to services by actively monitoring and coordinating multiple provider sc