Patient Access Specialist

Position Overview

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

• Maintain 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

• Maintain 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

• High School Diploma or GED, required
• 2 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.

Baylor Scott & White Emergency Hospital (Emerus)