Patient Access Representative I

About the role

Under general supervision, performs scheduling, registration, pre-admission processing, wayfinding, and other administrative duties while adhering to department-specific standards for data entry and patient selection. Additional duties include verification of insurance benefit eligibility, insurance pre-certification and authorization, and estimates creation and/or finalization. Works with care teams and revenue cycle to identify and eliminate barriers to access, reimbursement, and affordable care. Provides education to patients and families regarding the financial clearance process, estimated cost of services, and financial assistance opportunities. Performs specific administrative and Admission, Discharge, and Transfer (ADT) functions across multiple clinics and registration areas within the institution. Location: University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, 7601 Osler Drive, Towson, MD 21204.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the first point of contact for patients and visitors; responsible for all aspects of customer service for Patient Access/Patient Administrative Services areas, ensuring a customer-focused, quality-conscious work climate.
• Collects and verifies patient and insurance demographics; verifies insurance benefits and coverage by reviewing benefits collection in Epic; provides cost estimates; secures pre-certifications and/or pre-notifications for patient services; collects co-pays and deposits prior to services; provides financial assistance to patients.
• Provides wayfinding to all clinics where Patient Administrative Services provides registration assistance; maintains awareness of clinic locations to safely and efficiently navigate patients to appointments.
• Maintains regulatory and functional knowledge of all registration information required to ensure timely and accurate reporting/billing; obtains all required signatures; performs clerical duties as necessary.
• Educates patients regarding adequate insurance coverage; understands applicable hospital and physician billing requirements and communicates proper procedures and requirements to patients.
• Communicates coverage issues to service areas; works with patients and staff to resolve them.
• Ensures accuracy and completion of paperwork prior to filing admissions; contacts physician/clinical staff to assist with incomplete patient registration paperwork; distributes admission documents if required.
• Maintains department scheduling templates for applicable providers in outpatient department locations, ensuring appropriate scheduling utilization.
• Maintains consistent contact with the Care Management team and Social Work departments to ensure required information has been obtained for reimbursement and that pre-admission and pre-certification requirements are followed.
• Assists supervisor with training of new Admitting staff by demonstrating department operating processes and procedures.

Requirements

• High school diploma or State High School Equivalency Certificate (GED) required.
• Certification and memberships to local organizations such as AAHAM, NAHAM, etc. preferred.
• 1 year of work experience in a clerical, customer service, or receptionist position, preferably in a healthcare setting, required.
• 2 years’ work experience preferred.

Schedule

Part-time, evenings: Saturday and Sunday 3:00 PM – 11:30 PM, every other weekend. Must be available the first full week of training during daytime hours.

Pay

Pay range: $17.00 – $21.39 per hour.