Access Specialist I

Albany-Medical-Center; Springs (NY); On-site; USD 46,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Albany Medical Center in Springs, NY is seeking a Pre-Service Specialist I to be the initial touchpoint for patients, scheduling services and ensuring an exceptional experience. This role operates in a high-volume contact center and requires empathetic handling of complex scheduling and insurance information.

Responsibilities include verifying insurance eligibility, applying contractual benefits, collecting pre-services payments, and accurate registration across multiple systems while ensuring

Qualifications

• 1–2 years of winning customer service experience.
• Medical terminology and insurance knowledge preferred.
• Ability to multitask in a high-volume contact center.

Responsibilities

• Schedule appointments and services for assigned service line following scripting and protocols.
• Identify trigger words, symptoms and concerns to triage calls to the appropriate Clinic Nursing team.
• Verify patient insurance information and determine eligibility and financial responsibility.
• Discuss and collect patient financial obligations pre-services.
• Accurately interpret referrals/physician orders for scheduling needs.
• Maintain and update electronic health records and forms during registration.

Skills

Customer service

Multi-tasking

Phone etiquette

Communication

Education

High School Diploma/G.E.D.

Job description

Department/Unit:Patient AccessWork Shift:Day (United States of America)Salary Range:$46,215.00 - $60,080.00The Pre-Service Specialist I is responsible for the initial touchpoint of our patient population to provide an exceptional patient experience assisting in scheduling services for our Hospital and Practice. This requires ability to work in a high-volume contact center and fast paced environment. Understanding complex scheduling needs of our patients in an empathetic, compassionate manner is critical. Position is required to use eligibility application to invoke request to verify insurance eligibility, interpret response and capture appropriate health insurance information as it pertains to the service being rendered. The position requires ability to understand and apply contractual benefits to the service being rendered, with ability to collect patient financial obligation pre-services.The Pre-Service Specialist I, after one year in the position and based on performance and success in position, has ability to be promoted to Pre-Service Specialist II as Career Ladder requirements indicate.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesResponsible for scheduling appointments and services for assigned service line (POD) via the scheduling system following established scripting and protocols promoting physician satisfaction and scheduling efficiencies on behalf of our patients.Ability to identify trigger words, symptoms and patient concerns, assuring calls are triaged to the respective Clinic Nursing team per protocol.Responsible for discerning demographic and insurance information to ensure accurate registrationResponsible to interpret information received from Insurance Payer regarding patient’s eligibility and financial responsibilityResponsible for discussing financial obligation of patient and collect via cash, credit card or checkAbility to accurately interpret referral/physician order to meet the patient and/or provider need for scheduling of services correctly.Responsible for scanning or managing online form template to maintain the Electronic Health RecordComprehend Federal, State, Third Party Payer regulations as it pertains to a hospital and practice pre-registration.Ability to work in multiple systems during a telephone call or patient facing interaction to complete an accurate registration and support clinical workflow.Responsible for review of services being rendered to ensure the appropriate setting of care has been assigned by the physician’s officeObtains all insurance information from patient and verifies insurance to ensure active coverage for services being scheduling.Provides thorough comments, where applicable for all conversations with patients or providers.QualificationsHigh School Diploma/G.E.D. - required1 – 2 years Winning customer service personality with ability to engage patients and customers via telephone with superior patient experience.Medical Terminology and Insurance Knowledge - preferredProven customer service skill with ability to exceed expectationsAbility to multi-task in stressful and high patient volume unitMust be able to manage pressure of very tight timeframes to execute taskAbility to learn in classroom, utilizing resourcesAbility to maintain composure under pressureAbility to review information and draw appropriate conclusionGood judgement and ability to be resourceful to problem solve; escalate issues as neededTeam minded worth ethicDemonstrated ability interpret patient’s insurance benefits and apply the applicable contractual obligationsEquivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.Physical DemandsStanding - OccasionallyWalking - OccasionallySitting - ConstantlyTalking - ConstantlyHearing - ConstantlyRepetitive Motions - ConstantlyEye/Hand/Foot Coordination - FrequentlyWorking ConditionsExtreme cold - RarelyExtreme heat - RarelyHumidity - RarelyWet - RarelyNoise - OccasionallyHazards - RarelyTemperature Change - RarelyAtmospheric Conditions - RarelyVibration - RarelyThank you for your interest in Albany Medical Center!Albany Medical Center is an equal opportunity employer.This role may require access to information considered sensitive to Albany Medical Center, its patients, affiliates, and partners, including but not limited to HIPAA Protected Health Information and other information regulated by Federal and New York State statutes. Workforce members are expected to ensure that: Access to information is based on a “need to know” and is the minimum necessary to properly perform assigned duties. Use or disclosure shall not exceed the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish an intended purpose. Reasonable efforts, consistent with Albany Medical Center policies and standards, shall be made to ensure that information is adequately protected from unauthorized access and modification.Thank you for your interest in Albany Med Health System!Albany Med Health System is an equal opportunity employer.This role may require access to information considered sensitive to Albany Med Health System, its patients, affiliates, and partners, including but not limited to HIPAA Protected Health Information and other information regulated by Federal and New York State statutes. Workforce members are expected to ensure that:Access to information is based on a “need to know” and is the minimum necessary to properly perform assigned duties. Use or disclosure shall not exceed the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish an intended purpose. Reasonable efforts, consistent with Albany Med Health System policies and standards, shall be made to ensure that information is adequately protected from unauthorized access and modification.