Billing and Denial Claims Specialist

Simple Laboratories; Harwood Heights (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) Matching

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Health Insurance

Vision Insurance

STD/LTD

Hospital Indemnity Insurance

Critical Illness insurance

Job summary

Simple Laboratories, a Chicago-based clinical laboratory, seeks an experienced Claims Denial Specialist for our Harwood Heights HQ. You will identify, analyze, and appeal denials to maximize reimbursement and reduce avoidable denials.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years in medical billing with Medicare/Medicaid and CPT/HCPCS/ICD-10-CM knowledge, strong communication, and detail orientation. On-site hours are 9:00 AM–5:30 PM.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 3+ years of experience in medical billing, claims follow-up, denial management, or revenue cycle management.
• Working knowledge of healthcare claims and payer reimbursement processes.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to analyze complex claim information.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple accounts, deadlines, and payer requirements independently.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and healthcare billing or practice-management systems.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and manage denied, rejected, and underpaid laboratory claims from initial identification through resolution.
• Research denial reasons and determine root causes, including eligibility, authorization, medical necessity, coding, modifier, bundling, documentation, timely filing, and payer-specific issues.
• Review laboratory claims for appropriate CPT/HCPCS codes, ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes, modifiers, units, ordering-provider information, and other billing requirements.
• Investigate payer policies and determine appropriate corrective action, rebilling, reconsideration, or formal appeal.
• Prepare and submit accurate first-level and subsequent-level appeals, including supporting documentation and medical records when appropriate.
• Track appeal deadlines, payer responses, outstanding balances, and expected reimbursement.
• Communicate with payers regarding claim status, denials, payment discrepancies, and appeal determinations.
• Identify recurring denial trends and recommend corrective actions to prevent future denials.
• Review payer-specific requirements related to laboratory testing, medical necessity, prior authorization, coverage policies, and documentation.
• Maintain accurate denial and appeal records and document all follow-up activities in the billing or practice-management system.
• Escalate complex or high-dollar claims, payer disputes, compliance concerns, and potential contractual issues to management.
• Assist with payer audits, reimbursement reviews, and revenue-cycle performance initiatives.
• Meet established productivity, quality, appeal turnaround, and recovery targets.
• Maintain confidentiality of patient and laboratory information in accordance with HIPAA and applicable organizational policies.

Skills

Attention to detail

Written communication

Verbal communication

Multitasking

Microsoft Office

Billing systems

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Practice-management systems

Job description

Simple Laboratories is seeking an experienced full-timeClaims Denial Specialist to join our fast-paced and growing laboratory in the Revenue Cycle Management department, located in our Harwood Heights headquarters. This role is responsible for identifying, analyzing, preventing, and resolving insurance claim denials for a CLIA-certified laboratory, and works closely with billing, coding, laboratory operations, payer representatives, and clinical staff to maximize appropriate reimbursement, reduce avoidable denials, and ensure claims are submitted and appealed accurately and within payer requirements.

The ideal candidate has strong knowledge of laboratory billing, medical necessity, payer policies, coding, claim submission requirements, and denial and appeal processes. Experience with Medicare, Medicaid, commercial payers, and laboratory-specific reimbursement requirements is highly preferred. Experience with chemistry, microbiology, toxicology and molecular claims. If you are detailed-oriented, organized, and experienced with laboratory billing, insurance claims, coding accuracy, and revenue cycle workflows.

Core Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM | On-site

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitor and manage denied, rejected, and underpaid laboratory claims from initial identification through resolution.
• Research denial reasons and determine root causes, including eligibility, authorization, medical necessity, coding, modifier, bundling, documentation, timely filing, and payer-specific issues.
• Review laboratory claims for appropriate CPT/HCPCS codes, ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes, modifiers, units, ordering-provider information, and other billing requirements.
• Investigate payer policies and determine appropriate corrective action, rebilling, reconsideration, or formal appeal.
• Prepare and submit accurate first-level and subsequent-level appeals, including supporting documentation and medical records when appropriate.
• Track appeal deadlines, payer responses, outstanding balances, and expected reimbursement.
• Communicate with payers regarding claim status, denials, payment discrepancies, and appeal determinations.
• Identify recurring denial trends and recommend corrective actions to prevent future denials.
• Review payer-specific requirements related to laboratory testing, medical necessity, prior authorization, coverage policies, and documentation.
• Maintain accurate denial and appeal records and document all follow-up activities in the billing or practice-management system.
• Escalate complex or high-dollar claims, payer disputes, compliance concerns, and potential contractual issues to management.
• Assist with payer audits, reimbursement reviews, and revenue-cycle performance initiatives.
• Meet established productivity, quality, appeal turnaround, and recovery targets.
• Maintain confidentiality of patient and laboratory information in accordance with HIPAA and applicable organizational policies.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 3+ years of experience in medical billing, claims follow-up, denial management, or revenue cycle management.
• Working knowledge of healthcare claims and payer reimbursement processes.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to analyze complex claim information.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple accounts, deadlines, and payer requirements independently.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and healthcare billing or practice-management systems.

Preferred:

• Experience in a CLIA-certified laboratory, diagnostic laboratory, or other laboratory-focused healthcare organization.
• Experience with Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial laboratory claims.
• Knowledge of CPT, HCPCS, ICD-10-CM, and applicable modifiers.
• Familiarity with laboratory medical-necessity policies and payer coverage requirements.
• Experience with electronic claims, clearinghouses, payer portals, and appeals.
• Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), or equivalent certification.

Additionally, the position requires the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and understand laboratory guidelines, regulations, procedures and policies.
• Ability to maintain records and complete detailed reports as required.
• Ability to professionally and positively interact with peers, clients, and the public.
• Must be able to critically think, troubleshoot issues, and implement necessary changes.
• Ability to work autonomously and efficiently in a fast-paced, multi-tasked environment.

BENEFITS

• 401(k)
• 401(k) Matching
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Health Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• STD/LTD
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Critical Illness insurance

About Simple Laboratories

Simple Laboratories is a Chicago-based growing clinical laboratory, and we're driven to set a new standard in healthcare for patient care and customer support. This means developing the most efficient processes, monitoring operations and test results tirelessly and making our services accessible to patients. We have a dedicated and passionate team of lab technicians, phlebotomists, sales, IT and administrative staff and are looking for a candidate who can make an impact on the organization. Our employees are engaged, collaborative and team focused, while working together to provide the best service to our clients and patients.