Payment Poster

Rewarding career. Competitive salary. Outstanding benefits.The Payment Poster is responsible for accurate and timely posting, reconciliation, and research of payments and adjustments within Patient Financial Services. This position processes electronic and manual remittances, identifies and resolves payment discrepancies, and ensures payments are applied to the correct patient accounts in accordance with payer documentation and established workflows.This role supports hospital and clinic services in a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) environment and requires an understanding of payer benefits, revenue cycle workflows, and customer service excellence. Patient Financial Services representative serves as a key point of contact for both patients and providers, ensuring accounts are handled accurately, efficiently, and compassionately.STANDARD EXPECTATIONSPromotes a Positive Working EnvironmentConducts oneself in line with organization’s mission, values and standards of behavior.Accepts change and challenges with a positive attitude.Consistently adheres to organizational policy.Communicates EffectivelyBuilds relationships and works collaboratively with other staff.Provides timely operational updates to supervisor.Responds to communications in a timely manner.Performs Duties Efficiently and EffectivelyFollows procedures.Acts in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.Performs other duties as assigned.DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIESPayment Posting & Cash ApplicationPost insurance and patient payments accurately and timely from electronic remittance advice (ERA), explanation of benefits (EOB), checks, cash, credit card transactions, and other approved payment sources.Post and apply cash and credit card payments to the appropriate patient or guarantor account in accordance with established procedures.Apply contractual adjustments, patient responsibility, and other remittance adjustments according to payer documentation and established procedures.Ensure payments and adjustments are posted to the correct patient account, encounter, payer, and service line.Review posting batches for completeness and accuracy prior to finalization.Reconciliation & Deposit SupportReconcile daily posted payments to remittance totals, payment batches, cash receipts, credit card activity, checks, and electronic funds transfers (EFT).Balance posted payment activity to bank deposits and EFT transactions, ensuring amounts received agree to amounts posted in Epic.Identify and research variances between bank/EFT activity, payment documentation, and amounts posted in Epic.Maintain accurate daily reconciliation records and supporting documentation.Escalate unresolved reconciliation discrepancies to the Sr. Manager of Billing & Reimbursement as appropriate.Payment Research & Exception HandlingResearch unidentified, unapplied, misapplied, or missing payments and take appropriate action to ensure accurate account application.Review payer remittances for payment reversals, recoupments, takebacks, offsets, and other payment activity requiring follow-up.Identify payment posting issues that may affect patient balances or accounts receivable and communicate findings to appropriate team members.Route denials, underpayments, coding issues, and other non-posting account concerns to the appropriate Patient Financial Services team member.Correspondence & Remittance ProcessingReceive, review, and process payer and patient financial correspondence related to payments, remittances, refunds, recoupments, and account activity.Ensure correspondence is accurately scanned, indexed, documented, or routed to the appropriate patient account or Patient Financial Services team member.Review paper and electronic remittance correspondence for information affecting payment posting or account balances.Route denials, requests for information, appeals, and other non-payment correspondence to the appropriate team member for timely follow-up.Maintain organized and accurate correspondence records in accordance with department procedures.Epic HB System ResponsibilitiesUtilize Epic HB payment posting workflows, work queues, reports, and account activity to complete assigned duties.Maintain clear and compliant account documentation within Epic.Validate payer, guarantor, and account information when researching payment activity.Report Epic workflow issues or system errors impacting payment posting or reconciliation.Compliance, Accuracy & Internal ControlsFollow established cash handling, payment posting, reconciliation, and documentation procedures.Maintain patient confidentiality and safeguard financial information in accordance with HIPAA and hospital policy.Follow applicable payer requirements and organizational compliance standards.Support audits and payment research by providing accurate posting records and supporting documentation.Patient Interaction and Customer serviceServe as a point of contact for patient billing inquiries, providing clear and compassionate communicationInform and assist patients with good faith estimates and prepayments prior to servicesEducate patients on their financial responsibility, insurance coverage, and payment optionsAssist patients with payment arrangements, financial assistance, and charity care processesResolve patient concerns promptly while maintaining a high level of professionalism and empathyTeam Support & Cross-CoverageCommunicate payment trends, recurring discrepancies, or payer posting concerns to the billing team and leadership.Collaborate with billers, Patient Financial Services representatives, and other departments to resolve account discrepancies.Participate in department meetings, training, and performance improvement initiatives.Provide cross-coverage within Patient Financial Services as assigned.Revenue Cycle SupportAssist with identification of credit balances, duplicate payments, and other account variances for appropriate review.Identify recurring remittance or payment issues and help communicate trends that may affect reimbursement or accounts receivable.Prioritize daily posting to support timely and accurate accounts receivable reporting.QUALIFICATIONSRequiredHigh school diploma or GED.Minimum 5 years of healthcare revenue cycle, payment posting, banking, or accounts receivable experience.Strong computer, data-entry, communication, and organizational skills.Ability to reconcile payments and identify discrepancies.Proficiency with electronic billing systems and Microsoft OfficeExperience with payment posting, cash reconciliation, EFTs, credit cards, checks, and deposit balancing.PreferredHealthcare payment posting, billing, banking, or accounts receivable experience.Experience with ERA/EOBs, payer adjustments, and insurance guidelines.Epic HB or other electronic health record/billing system experience.Experience with EFTs, bank reconciliation, cash, credit cards, checks, and deposits.WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDSThis position is primarily worked in an office environment. Primarily stationary with occasional standing, walking, lifting, reaching carrying, kneeling, bending, stooping, pushing and pulling of objects weighing up to 20lbs. The position requires continuous finger dexterity and fine manipulation.The employee must demonstrate the ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.If you are looking for a rewarding career with a great team, you'll enjoy your career with us !POSITION DETAILSHours per week:40Employee Status:Regular Full TimeShift:Day Shift (United States of America)Pay Range:$21.00 - $36.75Actual pay offered will vary based on years of experience.EMPLOYEE BENEFITSOur benefit package includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and retirement options (403(b) & 457). Medical insurance coverage begins on day one and is available to both full time and part time employees. Additionally, employees receive discounts on medical services provided by Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics. Differentials apply for evening, night, and weekend shifts. Our unique PTO plan enables employees to increase their accrual with each year of service! #J-18808-Ljbffr