Patient Access Specialist - Full Time

Location: Sparta,North Carolina,United States

Job Summary:

Contacts insurance companies, physicians, and patients to ensure that accurate patient demographic and insurance information is collected, and that a financial clearance determination can be made. Informs patients of their rights and collects patient liabilities.  Meets department staffing needs which may include weekends and holidays.  Customer service-oriented associate that will coordinate with patients, ancillary departments, and physicians to schedule patients for outpatient exams. The candidate will also pre-register patients for services rendered.  Prior clinical and medical terminology knowledge would be beneficial in this position.  

Job Relationships:

Responsible to:                                 Patient Registration/Admissions Manager

Positions Directly Supervised:       None

Age of Population Served:              Infant to geriatric (non-specific)

Essential Job Functions:

People

• Follows Alleghany Health standards of performance
• Always adheres to regulatory requirements

·         Displays positive intra/ inter-departmental communication skills.

• Answering telephones, handling calls or directing calls to appropriate area. Performing other related clerical duties
• Performing other duties assigned by Supervisor 

Quality

• Entering the information gathered into the computer system
• Performing any other function deemed necessary to perform financial clearance 
• Applying critical thinking skills to identify and resolve problems proactively to maximize reimbursement
• Provides services needed as described in the department’s policies and procedures, as well as in the competency checklist for the position and patient age groups served when appropriate.
• Schedules and pre-registers patient appointments.  Makes modifications to established patient schedules and registrations. 

Service

Provides excellent customer service to all parties by responding to customer requests/ issues in a proactive and timely manner.

• Fulfilling notification requirements for inpatient admits
• Contacting patients to request and obtain monies due, including monies due from previous visits, and issuing receipts
• Exchanging necessary information with the physician offices, hospital, nursing homes, and other departments to insure a complete and accurate registration record
• Documenting notes in computer system regarding all conversations with patients, insurance company representatives, pre-certification notification representatives, and results of collection efforts

Finance

• Verifying eligibility and benefits using electronic and telephonic resources
• Obtaining pre-certifications, authorizations, and referrals to ensure managed care compliance for necessary appointments
• Establishing payment plans for patients unable to pay monies due in full

 Growth

• Demonstrates the ability to respond to change positively and productively.
• Working closely with various departments throughout the health system, including Scheduling / Pre-Registration, Financial Counseling, Registration, Billing, Clinical Staff

Qualifications:

The following qualifications, or equivalents, are the minimum requirements of this job:

• Hold high school diploma or equivalent required, some college courses preferred. 
• 3 years of experience working within financial counseling in a Hospital, Physician office or home environment, including demonstrating success obtaining patient demographic and financial information, handling insurance verification and obtaining authorizations. 

Work Experience:

• Experience showing initiati