Insurance Specialist

Job Title Your passion belongs at UNC Health. Join more than 56,000 teammates working together to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve across North Carolina. UNC Health Nash, an affiliated member of the UNC Health system, invites passionate healthcare professionals to join our esteemed team. Governed locally, we proudly serve a diverse patient base, spanning Nash, Edgecombe, Halifax, Wilson Counties, and beyond. With a steadfast commitment to elevating community health through exceptional care, we prioritize excellence, compassion, and innovation, ensuring every individual receives the highest standard of support. Joining our team means becoming an integral part of our dedication to wellness, where we constantly strive to redefine excellence in healthcare through state-of-the-art facilities and pioneering programs. Join us in this transformative journey, where your contributions will make a lasting impact on our community's health and wellbeing. Summary: Responsible for the timely verification of medical insurance benefits: calling private insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid to obtain benefit information, determining insurance compatibility with health-care provider programs, coordinating with patients regarding their insurance benefits and medical providers programs, re-verifying existing patient insurance coverage, and determining if an insurance benefit plan considers selected products appropriate based on patient need. Representative will obtain pre-certification or authorization for procedures, verify insurance for both admissions and pre-admissions, specified procedures and day surgeries, and alert the financial department about uninsured or underinsured patients. Responsibilities: 1. Insurance Verification Utilize designated software to validate the insurance eligibility on all designated accounts. Accurately enters information into the billing database. 2. Authorizations Provides initial contact to insurance authorization companies to obtain approval information and accurately enters the information into the billing system. 3. Customer Service Employee understands and demonstrates the importance of satisfying the needs of patients/customers by interacting with him/her in a friendly and caring manner being attentive to the customer's needs both psychologically and physically and by taking the initiative to maintain communication with the customer in order to provide a secure and pleasant experience throughout the encounter. 4. Participates in quality improvement activities. Performs data collection and idea generation pertinent to quality improvement programs, as assigned. Demonstrates a basic knowledge of the fundamentals of performance improvement. 5. Performs miscellaneous duties, as needed, to support operations and the provision of services. Answers telephone calls to the area promptly, and courteously addresses caller's needs. Stays knowledgeable of the Admission Officer's role in the event of local disaster, and demonstrates when requested, the ability to admit patients in accordance with the disaster plan. Effectively explains procedures and protocols, demonstrates procedures and techniques, and answers questions when assisting with the orientation of new employees. Accomplishes routine and non-routine miscellaneous assignments in accordance with procedure, or instructions, and time frames. 6. Acquires age-specific knowledge necessary to provide appropriate service and communications. Appropriately uses age-specific concepts when communicating with employees, patients, visitors and others. 7. Takes an active role in self development. Participates in self evaluation by making notes/comments in the Accountability section of the annual review, updating skills checklist, and mutually setting professional goals for achievement with the manager. Always reads and signs new policies, procedures, CQI materials and memos. Attends scheduled meetings, when possible, and reads/signs minutes all of the time. Attends all mandatory education unless absence has prior approval by manager. Participates in continuing education/in-service/skills labs to maintain competencies. Accepts opportunities to cross-train in other areas of the department, and adequately performs the basic functions of other departmental staff in accordance with the standards for the position, when necessary. Participates in, and assures that, documentation of own continuing education and self development activities is current and valid by signing rosters and submitting copies of CE certificates for transcript. Other information: Education Requirements High School Diploma or GED Formal business education course work with emphasis on insurance, CPT coding and ICD-9 applications. Licensure/Certification Requirements : · None Professional Experience Requirements : 1-3 years experience in Healthcare/Medical - Admissions or related experience 1 year experience in Healthcare/Medical - Acute Care setting 1-3 years experience performing insurance verification or 1 year experience working with medical billing procedures or medical insurance programs preferred. Additional Specialized Knowledge and Skills: · Proficient in the use of keyboard and basic computer application skills. · Must demonstrate proficiency in the use of Eclipsys Financial System, EPIC Clinical System, Emdeon address and insurance verification system, and Proficient Health Order Control System. · Medical Terminology - Familiar with ICD9 and CPT codes. · Experience with Allscript's AM/PFM, EPIC, Proficient, Siemen's imaging a plus. · Comprehension of revenue cycle activities