Patient Access Specialist, PRN East Campus

About the Role

The Patient Access Specialist I is an entry-level position responsible for accurate and efficient admitting, registering, bed placement, and financial analysis activities for all patients upon arrival to the healthcare system. This includes initiating activities to comply with managed care contracts and CMS regulations, responding professionally to patient inquiries, and managing the registration process.

This role involves reviewing past account balances, notifying patients of their financial responsibility, and collecting balances to support pre-collections goals defined by revenue cycle management. The specialist coordinates with financial counseling services for accounts with inadequate coverage and facilitates applications for State Agency or Charity programs.

The position requires a comprehensive understanding of healthcare system patient access policies and procedures, empathy, professionalism, and excellent communication skills. The specialist must interact appropriately with patients of all ages, third-party payers, and other departments while maintaining confidentiality.

Strong organizational skills, multitasking ability, and a commitment to teamwork are essential. The role involves working in a fast-paced clinical setting with moderate physical demands, including sitting, standing, stooping, and bending.

Responsibilities

• Register and activate scheduled, walk-in, add-on, and emergency room patients by gathering all demographic, financial, and pertinent information to meet regulatory and billing requirements.
• Verify insurance eligibility and benefits for scheduled outpatient and inpatient patients, including pre-certification validation.
• Compute patient liability at the point of registration and communicate/collect financial liabilities.
• Review prior bad debts and request payment of outstanding balances.
• Alert Financial Advocates of accounts with financial clearance issues.
• Document patient liability and financial clearance status to ensure timely processing.
• Demonstrate excellent verbal and customer service skills to patients, physicians, and visitors.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent (required).
• Graduate of a Medical Secretary Program (preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to read, write, and perform arithmetic, including fractions and decimals.
• Strong computer skills and proficiency with fax machines, copiers, and multiline telephones.
• Excellent customer service, interpersonal communication, and telephone etiquette.
• Ability to multitask and manage high volumes in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of basic registration and third-party payer processes (preferred).
• Work experience in a physician front office, insurance/healthcare call center, or related field (preferred).
• Familiarity with medical terminology, CPT, ICD-9 codes, and insurance coding/billing (preferred).
• Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) from NAHAM (preferred).

Location: Erlanger East, Chattanooga, TN
Schedule: PRN (as needed), Temporary