Patient Access Associate (PRN)

About the role

The Patient Access Associate obtains and enters accurate demographic and insurance information in the electronic health record (EHR) for patients presenting at all entry points of Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital. The role includes cashiering functions, collection of co‑pay, deductibles and co‑insurance, performing medical necessity checks for Medicare compliance, and adhering to EMTALA and HIPAA requirements while delivering excellent customer service.

Responsibilities

• People: Promote a positive work environment, collaborate with team members, and communicate openly and professionally with customers and co‑workers.
• Service: Interview patients, families, and physicians to obtain accurate demographic and insurance data; ensure correct insurance plan codes; explain consent forms and obtain signatures; address patient questions; proactively seek solutions to patient issues; alert management to unusual situations.
• Quality & Safety: Protect patient health information in accordance with HIPAA; use patient identifiers correctly; avoid issuing duplicate medical record numbers; meet departmental goals such as registration error rate and productivity metrics.
• Finance: Verify medical necessity of ordered services; collect payments, verify insurance, and determine patient out‑of‑pocket expenses; offer payment options after minimum payment is received; meet cash‑collection goals; accurately post receipts; balance cash drawer daily; manage time efficiently to minimize overtime.
• Growth & Innovation: Show initiative to improve job functions; adapt to changing demands; suggest process improvements for patient flow; pursue learning opportunities beyond baseline competencies.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent (GED, homeschool equivalency, partial or full post‑secondary education, etc.).
• Experience: Minimum two years in a strong customer‑service environment; one year of registration experience in a hospital setting preferred.

Skills

• Demonstrated competency to safely perform assigned duties, verified through ongoing assessments.
• Proficient oral, reading, and writing skills in English, especially for safety‑critical tasks.
• Effective communication with patients, physicians, families, and co‑workers using positive language principles.
• Ability to multitask, remain calm under stress, and exhibit patience and understanding.
• Knowledge of basic registration/access functions and insurance procedures.
• Problem‑solving ability and attention to detail.
• Excellent customer service and professional communication skills.
• Proficient computer skills; ability to learn and navigate multiple software programs.

Additional Information

• Uniform: Business professional attire required; uniform and scrubs not required.
• On‑Call: Employees may be required to be on‑call during emergencies (e.g., disaster, severe weather events).
• Travel: May require travel within the Houston metropolitan area; no travel outside the metropolitan area is required.