Patient Access Specialist

Emerus Healthcare

The purpose of this position is to serve as a liaison between patient / family, payers, Patient Financial Services, and other health care team members. You'll be asked to facilitate patient tracking and billing by obtaining / verifying accurate and complete demographic information, financially securing, and collecting out-of-pocket responsibility from guarantors to maximize hospital reimbursement.

Essential job functions include maintaining compliance with EMTALA, DNV, HIPAA and all other hospital and government regulations applicable to the admissions settings and in handling of medical records. Provide excellent customer service at all times by effectively meeting customer needs, understanding who the customers are, and building quality relationships. The patient access specialist plays a role in protecting patient safety by ensuring each patient is properly identified and triaged when they arrive to the hospital. Answer telephone in a professional and courteous manner, record messages and communicate to appropriate medical staff. Provide and obtain signatures on required forms and consents. Obtain, verify, and enter complete and accurate demographic information on all accounts to facilitate smooth processing through the revenue cycle. Verify insurance benefits for all plans associated with patient, confirming the correct payor and plan is entered into the patient accounting system. Obtain insurance authorizations as required by individual insurance plans where applicable. Maximize the efficiency and accuracy of the collection process by pursuing collections at the time of service in a customer service-oriented fashion. Scan all registration and clinical documentation into the system and maintain all medical records. Assist with coordinating the transfer of patients to other hospitals when necessary. Respond to medical record requests from patients, physicians and hospitals. Maintain cash drawer according to policies. Maintain log of all patients, payments received, transfers and hospital admissions. Maintain visitor / vendor log.

Other job functions include maintaining a clean working environment for the facility. This includes the front desk, restroom, waiting room, break area and patient rooms when assistance is needed by medical staff. Receive deliveries including mail from various carriers and forward to appropriate departments as needed. Notify appropriate contact of any malfunctioning equipment or maintenance needs. Attend staff meetings or other company sponsored or mandated meetings as required. Assist medical staff as needed. Perform additional duties as assigned.

Basic qualifications include a high school diploma or GED, required. Two years of patient registration and insurance verification experience in a health care setting, preferred. Emergency department registration experience, strongly preferred. Knowledge of various insurance plans (HMO, PPO, POS, Medicare, Medicaid) and payors, required. Basic understanding of medical terminology. Excellent customer service. Working knowledge of MS Office (MS Word, Excel and Outlook), strongly preferred. Position requires fluency in English; written and oral communication. Fluency in both English & Spanish is a requirement in the El Paso Market. Pennsylvania candidates : Act 33 (Child Abuse History Clearance), & Act 73 (FBI Fingerprint Criminal History Clearance) completed within the last 5 years, or must be obtained prior to start date.