Patient Access Specialist-Summer Employment

Assists in providing access to services provided at the hospital and/or other service area. Processes registration information for the patient visit, obtaining patient demographic and third party information with a high degree of accuracy, and performs financial collections.  Performs the timely completion, preparation, and deployment of legal, ethical and compliance related documents that must be presented and thoroughly explained to the patient at the time of registration. Maintains knowledge of JCAHO, Patient Rights and Responsibilities, HIPAA, HMOs, Commercial Payers, and departmental / system policies and procedures. Provides Mammography Screening scheduling services to patients. Work may be performed in a patient care area. Serves as a liaison between ancillary departments and other Patient Access Services areas.     

• Analyzes reports containing rejected accounts from a variety of hospital sources, including Non-Patient Access registration departments, and resolves toward verification of patient benefit eligibility, and subsequent reimbursement from all possible payer sources, or determines suitability for financial assistance.
• Adheres to all CMS Conditions of Participation regulations and Section 1154(e) of the Social Security Act regarding delivery, explanation, and acquisition of patient/designated representative signatures .
• Verifies medical necessity, and obtains appropriate signature on Advance Beneficiary Notice of non-coverage (ABN) per CMS regulations at points of patient access.
• May rotate work settings, i.e., patient registration, bedside registration, or other MH campus environments. May be required to provide coverage for the MH Financial Lobby Office.
• Orients and cross-trains others within assigned area of responsibility as directed and defined by management. May assist other areas within the unit or department, as necessary, during times of special needs or staff absences. May be required to work night or weekend shifts.
• Identifies/reviews services requiring pre-authorization/pre-certification by Medicare, Medicaid, Commercial, and Managed Care payers, to ensure provider eligibility requirements are met prior to receiving service. Utilizes appropriate technology and/or communicates with physician offices.
• Completes Illinois DHS legal forms for psychiatric admits, in compliance with State of Illinois and MH statues and guidelines. Provides relevant patient/family education.
• Educates patients/others regarding the resolution of billing, private pay options, collection efforts, coordination of benefits, third party and governmental payment criteria, insurance coverage, payments, and denials. May serve as a liaison between external resources and patients on issues requiring MH involvement.
• Performs other related work as required or requested .
• Meets expectations for productivity, accuracy, and point of service collections.
• Maintains current knowledge of, and complies with, the Illinois Fair Patient Billing Act and Illinois Uninsured Patient Discount Act at all times.
• Completes all steps of pre-registration/registration; verifies patient identity and demographic information through appropriate tools. Identifies/captures appropriate health insurance benefit eligibility based on contract/regulatory differentiation. Facilitates appropriate billing of claims and hospital reimbursement. Obtains and validates proper consent for patient treatment.
• Schedules patients for Mammography procedures efficiently, effectively, and according to established protocol for modality, location, facility capabilities, insurance requirements, type of exam, patient preferences, and urgency.
• Negotiates with patients and families to collect patient co-pays and/or deposits at point of service. Supports Patient Access Services POS (Point of Service) collection goals as defined by Revenue Cycle leadership and best practice benchmarks.
• Attendance at quarterly department meetings is mandatory unless absence is approved by PAS management prior to the meeting date.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable HIPAA, Joint Commission, CDC, MH, and state and federal statues, providing required associated literature to patients at all PAS access points. Educates patients regarding Advance Directives, Medicare D prescription coverage, MH, Joint Commission, and Illinois Department of Public Health grievance process as appropriate.
• Coordinates with MH Patient Financial Services, Utilization Management, physicians, and medical offices to ensure consistent financial documentation across the enterprise, and an interdisciplinary approach to patient and organizational needs.
• Develops and maintains a comprehensive knowledge of the health system organization and its functions. Completes all assigned annual organizational education
• Triages, documents, and initiates referrals of patients to Medicaid vendor and/or for financial assistance, per the Illinois Fair Patient Billing Act, Illinois Uninsured Patient Discount Act, and established MH procedures.
• Performs pre-registration functions as requested.

Education:

High School diploma required. 

Licensure/Certification/Registry:

Must successfully complete assigned annual education through Healthcare Business Insights.

Experience:

One (1) years of business office experience, preferably in the areas of Patient Access, billing, collections, insurance principles/practices, or accounts receivable. Completion of 12 (twelve) hours of coursework in a business or healthcare related field of study may be considered in lieu of business office experience. Previous experience in Patient Access is highly desirable.  

Other Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Must demonstrate ability to educate, persuade, and negotiate effectively with patients and families.
• Demonstrated ability to remain flexible, and consistently exercise sound judgment and initiative in very stressful situations.
• Ability to effectively manage competing priorities and work independently in a rapidly changing environment.
• Knowledge of all tasks performed in the various Patient Access Service areas is necessary to provide optimum internal and external customer satisfaction and provide the opportunity for accurate reimbursement. 
• Demonstrates superior patient relations and interpersonal skills; demonstrates an appropriate level of mental and emotional tolerance and even temperament when dealing with staff, patients and general public, using tact, sensitivity and sound judgment; promotes a positive work environment and contributes to the overall team efforts of the department and organization.
• Must demonstrate detail orientation, critical thinking, and problem solving ability.
• Knowledge of medical terminology, medical procedural (CPT) and diagnosis (ICD 10 CM) coding, and hospital billing claims preferred, but not required.
• Must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication and customer service skills, with ability to maintain a calm and professional demeanor in high stress situations.
• Working knowledge of computers is required, with the ability to enter and retrieve data, and electronically notate registration software, and other required applications/systems.