Non-Government Collector - Patient Accounting - Full Time 8 Hour Days (Non-Exempt) (Non-Union)

Keck Medicine of USC is a community creating a lasting impact in healthcare. Every team member contributes to a culture built on growth, collaboration, and well-being.

About the role

Manage patient accounts from the point of discharge through billing edits to contract management, ensuring final collection of the expected contract amount. Possess and maintain knowledge of governmental payer billing standards and collection requirements. Act as a collector, performing necessary follow-up to obtain appropriately owed reimbursement for hospital services. Responsible for all accounts with a contracted insurance as the primary or current payer, using work lists to follow up with governmental payers and liquidate submitted inventory.

Responsibilities

• Technical knowledge of billing and collections for Medicare, Medi-Cal, and local Medi-Cal entities; stay abreast of changes impacting billing and collections.
• Working knowledge of TARS and SARs processes and follow-up.
• Perform all necessary functions for appropriate billing, account follow-ups, and appeals to liquidate accounts payable.
• Identify opportunities for improvement and develop effective solutions.
• Actively contact payers by phone or mail when payment is delayed or underpaid.
• Handle customer calls and payer inquiries regarding charge inquiries, account status, etc.
• Process correspondence within 5 days of receipt.
• Resolve credit balance accounts and underpayments/denials to ensure payment per contracted rate.
• Knowledge of contract payers, rates, and agreements; ensure accurate insurance coding.
• Evaluate reimbursement amounts to ensure maximum payment; appeal underpayments.
• Obtain patient eligibility information by calling health plans or checking insurance contract websites; update insurance or forward claims as needed.
• Understand the payer matrix of financial responsibility and use this knowledge for appropriate follow-up.
• Document activity on patient accounts, including expected reimbursement amounts when calculated manually.
• Resolve problems with appropriate action and follow-through, including documentation for patient/department issues.
• Identify workflow problems and use available resources to maintain productivity.
• Assist others to accommodate changes in workload.
• Keep supervisor informed of issues that may interfere with timely work completion.
• Adapt to unusual circumstances, promote cooperation, and minimize disruptions.
• Participate in reviewing, revising, and developing departmental policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Previous collection experience.
• Working knowledge of laws governing collections, insurance and medical terminology, and reimbursement procedures.
• Experience with medical services collections and computerized billing systems such as IDX.
• Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) – if no card upon hire, must be obtained within 30 days and maintained by renewal.

About the workplace

Keck Hospital of USC is a 343-bed acute care hospital providing exceptional and innovative care for complex medical and surgical conditions. The hospital’s world-renowned physicians deliver compassionate, patient-centered care using highly innovative techniques. As a leading academic medical center, Keck Hospital offers access to hundreds of clinical trials and novel therapies not widely available elsewhere.

Pay

The hourly rate range for this position is $26.00 - $41.28. When extending an offer, factors such as scope and responsibilities, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal/state/local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, and external market considerations are taken into account.

Schedule

Full-time, 8-hour days (non-exempt, non-union).