Patient Access Associate Specialist

ENTRY LEVEL CAREER OPPORTUNITY OFFERING:

• Bonus Incentives
• Paid Certifications
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Comprehensive Benefits
• Career Advancement

• This position pays between $17.00 -18.15/hr based on experience

**This position is on-site, and candidates must be able to work on-site at Ballad - Smyth County Community Hospital, Marion, VA

The Opportunity:

The Patient Access Associate Specialist plays a critical role in ensuring a seamless and positive patient experience by accurately managing patient registration and access processes within the healthcare revenue cycle. This role ensures data integrity, regulatory compliance, and a positive patient experience while directly influencing revenue cycle KPIs such as registration accuracy, point-of-service collections, and first-pass claim rates. Serves as the first point of contact for patients onsite in healthcare facilities and are essential in supporting clinical and financial operations for financial health through accurate data entry, auditing, and communication.

Job Responsibilities:

• Patient Access Associate Specialist are responsible for assigning accurate MRNs, completing medical necessity / compliance checks, providing proper patient instructions, collecting insurance information, receiving, and processing physician orders, and utilizing an overlay tool while providing excellent customer service as measured by Press Ganey.

• Operates the telephone switchboard to relay incoming, outgoing, and inter-office calls as applicable.

• They are to adhere to policies and provide excellent customer service in these interactions with the appropriate level of compassion.

• Patient Access Associate Specialist will be held accountable for point of service goals as assigned.

• Patient Access Associate Specialist are responsible for the utilization of quality auditing and reporting systems to ensure accounts are corrected. These activities may include accounts for other employees, departments, and facilities. Conducts audits of accounts and assures that all forms are completed accurate, timely to meet audit standards and provides statistical data to Patient Access leadership.

• Patient Access Associate Specialist are responsible for the pre-registration of patient accounts prior to patient visits. This may include inbound and outbound calling to obtain demographic, insurance, and other patient information including the patient financial liabilities including collecting point of service collections as well as past due balances including payment plan options.

• The Patient Access Associate Specialist explains general consent for treatment forms to the patient/guarantor/legal guardian, obtains necessary signatures and witness’s name. Explains and distributes patient education documents, such as Important Message from Medicare, Important Message from Tricare, Observation Forms, MOON form, Consent forms, and all forms implemented for future services.

• Reviews eligibility responses in insurance verification system and appropriately selects the applicable insurance plan code, enters benefit data into system to support POS (Point of Service Collections) and billing processes to assist with a clean claim rate.

• Responsible for accurately screening medical necessity using the Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) software to inform Medicare patients of possible non-payment of test by Medicare and distribution of the ABN as appropriate. Responsible for distribution and documentation of other designated forms and pamphlets.

Required Experience:

• 1+ years of customer service experience
• Must be inquisitive and demonstrate openness to innovation including AI to explore better processes and ways to alleviate friction and improve patient and client experiences.

Minimum Education:

• High School Diploma/GED Required

Certifications:

• CRCR Required within 6 months of hire (Company Paid)