Lead Healthcare Access Specialist

Cooper University Health Care; Camden (NJ); On-site; USD 32,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

Cooper Norcross Health in Camden, NJ, seeks a Lead HCA Patient Access Specialist to oversee admissions and insurance verification, ensuring accurate, timely patient processing.

The role focuses on supervising staff, improving workflows, and maintaining high confidentiality while coordinating with physicians, payors and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in patient access, registration or billing.
• Proficient in patient registration, scheduling, pre-certifications, authorizations and referrals.
• Epic experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Admissions and Insurance Verification operations.
• Ensure timely and respectful service from registration to verification.
• Lead, train and monitor the HCA Patient Access Specialist team.

Skills

Registration/billing experience

Epic experience

NaviNet/Availity portals

Excellent communications

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate's degree preferred

Tools

Epic

NaviNet

Availity

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Outlook

Access

Job description

About Us

Cooper Norcross Health, formerly Cooper University Health Care, is a leading academic health system affiliated with Cooper Norcross Medical School of Rowan University. Headquartered in Camden, New Jersey, Cooper Norcross Health has revenues of more than $3 billion and an A+ credit rating from both S&P and Fitch Ratings.

Cooper Norcross Health has nearly 14,000 team members, including more than 2,200 nurses, more than 1,200 employed physicians representing 95 specialties and subspecialties, and more than 700 advanced practice providers.

The health system operates MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper as well as four hospitals - its 663-bed flagship Cooper Norcross University Hospital in Camden, its 229-bed Cooper Norcross University Hospital Cape Regional in Cape May Court House, Children's Hospital at Cooper Norcross Health in Camden, and The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper, a substance abuse rehabilitation and inpatient treatment facility, in partnership with American Recovery Services.

Cooper Norcross University Hospital in Camden is the only Level 1 Trauma Center in South Jersey and the busiest in the region. The hospital has been recognized as a top-performing regional hospital by U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals annual survey for eight years.

More than 2.54 million patients visit Cooper Norcross Health facilities annually. Its ambulatory network encompasses three outpatient surgery centers, seven urgent care centers, a wound care center, and more than 130 physician, physical therapy, and radiology offices extending from the Delaware River to the New Jersey shore.

Cooper Norcross Health, a not-for-profit health system, was named one of America's Best Large Employers for 2026 by Forbes, ranking among the top 200 in the nation. Visit CooperHealth.org to learn more.

Short Description

The Lead HCA Patient Access Specialist will be responsible for the duties and skills of an HCA Patient Access Specialist.

The Lead HCA Patient Access Specialist plays an essential role in ensuring a smooth and efficient experience for patients navigating the healthcare system. Under supervisory direction, the Lead will help to oversee the operations of the team responsible for Admissions and Insurance Verification. This individual ensures that patients receive timely and respectful service, from registration to insurance verification. Their leadership ensures that the team operates cohesively, maintaining a high standard of accuracy and confidentiality in handling patient information. Through their guidance, the HCA Patient Access Specialist Lead supports not only the operational efficiency of healthcare facilities but also enhances patient satisfaction, making the initial steps of healthcare access as seamless as possible.

The Lead will help with the training and development of the HCA Patient Access Specialist team ensuring new and existing staff are up to date with the latest policies and procedures. They will assist with problem solving and monitoring performance metrics. The Lead will assist in completing audits and quality monitoring of completed accounts.

Knowledgeable of state and federal government funding programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and requirements to satisfy timely notification of rights as it pertains to these programs. Additionally, securing and delivering proper correspondence needed to satisfy those requirements such as CMS IMM, CMS MOON, NJ Observation, and CMS NSA forms.

Uses all modes of electronic insurance verification, RTE, portals such as NaviNet, Availity, PEAR, Notivasphere, insurance verification websites as well as telephonic verification as needed. When appropriate, ensures the payer receives a Notice of Admission on all admissions, scheduled and non-scheduled, within 24-hours or the next business day. Submits notice of admissions to all payors via electronic portal or fax transmittal as appropriate and timely.

The Lead HCA Patient Access Specialist communicates as appropriate with the physicians, NJ Medical Examiners, the Sharing Network, and Funeral Directors to ensure timely handling of deceased patients. Initiates electronic death record via NJ EDRS.

Experience Required

3-5 years of experience required.

Preferred Experience includes:

• Minimum three years of registration or billing experience working in a medical facility with special considerations.
• Proficiency in patient registration, scheduling, medical insurance pre-certifications, authorizations, and referrals.
• Epic experience preferred.

Education Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associate's degree preferred.

License/Certification Requirements

NAHAM Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) certification preferred.

HFMA Certified Revenue Cycle certifications preferred.

Special Requirements

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills required.
• Experienced in use of computers and software applications, i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, registration, and billing systems required.
• Exceptional customer service and interpersonal skills required
• Proficiency in working with payor on-line portals, i.e., NaviNet, Passport, Availity, and other third-party eligibility systems preferred.

Salary Min ($)

USD $23.00

Salary Max ($)

USD $37.00