Lead Insurance Specialist

Wheeling Hospital; Wheeling (WV); On-site; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Wheeling Hospital is seeking a designated insurance supervisor to oversee daily operations of insurance and registration staff involved in authorization for appointments and procedures.

Responsibilities include training staff on changes to coverage, ensuring accurate pre-certification, and coordinating with payors to resolve eligibility and billing issues using the EPIC system.

Qualifications

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Ability to learn and apply insurance processes.

Responsibilities

• Oversee training new and existing insurance specialists.
• Update staff on changes to insurance coverages.
• Identify patients requiring pre-certification or pre-authorization.
• Follow up on accounts as indicated by system flags.
• Determine eligibility and benefits with insurance companies.
• Explain self-pay portions and balances to patients.

Skills

Excellent oral and written comms

Medical terminology

ICD-10 and CPT coding

Third party payors

Business math

Time of service collection

Customer service

Typing speed 25 wpm

Reading and comprehension

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

EPIC system

Job description

Oversees daily operations of all insurance specialists and registration specialists who work on all appointments and procedures being authorized. Responsible for training and keeping insurance staff up to date on all changes to insurance coverage. Updates and informs their manager/supervisor on any insurance updates and changes. The incumbent is responsible for assuring all appointments and procedures are authorized. Insurance carriers are contacted to verify coverage and benefit limitations. Tests and procedures are pre-authorized and scheduled. Deductibles, co-payments, account balances, and fees are calculated and notations are added to the system for front end collection. Responsible for minimizing reimbursement errors resulting from inaccuracy of referral and enrollment information.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

• High school graduate or equivalent.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The statements described here are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities and duties. Other duties may be assigned.

• Training new and existing insurance specialists on the insurance needs and processes in clinical offices.
• Ongoing training and sharing of updates and changes to insurance coverages.
• Identifies all patients requiring pre-certification or pre-authorization at the time services are requested or when notified by another hospital or clinic department.
• Follows up on accounts as indicated by system flags.
• Contacts insurance company or employer to determine eligibility and benefits for requested services.
• Follows up with the patient, insurance company or provider if there are insurance coverage issues in order to obtain financial resolution.
• Use work queues within the EPIC system for scheduling, transition of care, and billing edits.
• Performs medical necessity screening as required by third party payors.
• Documents referrals/authorization/certification numbers in the EPIC system.
• Initiates charge anticipation calculations. Accurately identifies anticipated charges to assure identification of anticipated self-pay portions.
• Communicates with the patient the anticipated self-pay portion co-payments/deductibles/co-insurance, and account balance refers self-pay, patients with limited or exhausted benefits to the in-house Financial Counselors to determine eligibility.
• Maintains current knowledge of major payor payment provisions and regulations.
• Assists Patient Financial Services with denial management issues and will appeal denials based on medical necessity as needed.
• Ability to accurately utilize applicable computer software and equipment for access processing.
• Demonstrates ability to follow established computer down time procedures.
• Participates in educational programs to meet mandatory requirements and identified needs with regard to job and personal growth.
• Follows established work systems, identifies deviations or deficiencies in standards/systems/processes and communicates problems to supervisor or manager)
• Maintains confidentiality according to policy when interacting with patients, physicians, families, co-workers and the public regarding demographic/clinical/financial information.
• Is polite and respectful when communicating with staff, physicians, patients and families. Approaches interpersonal relations in a positive manner.
• Uses hospital communications systems (fax, pagers, telephones, copiers, scanners, and computers) in accordance with hospital standards.
• Communicates problems hindering workflow to management in a timely manner.
• Assesses all self-pay patients for potential public assistance through registration/billing systems Provides self-pay/under-insured patients with financial counseling information. Maintains current knowledge of major payor payment provisions.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Prolonged periods of sitting.
• Extended periods on the telephone requiring clarity of hearing and speaking.
• Manual dexterity required to operate standard office equipment.
• Must have manual dexterity to operate keyboards, fax machines, telephones and other business equipment.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Outpatient clinical environment.

Skills And Abilities

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology.
• Basic knowledge of ICD-10 and CPT coding.
• Basic knowledge of third party payors.
• Basic knowledge of business math.
• General knowledge of time of service collection procedures.
• Excellent customer service and telephone etiquette.
• Minimum typing speed of 25 works per minute.
• Must have reading and comprehension ability.

Additional Job Description

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Shift:

United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Company

WH Wheeling Hospital Inc.

Cost Center

8082 WH Gastroenterology

Address

30 Medical Park
Wheeling
West Virginia

Equal Opportunity Employer

West Virginia University Health System and its subsidiaries (collectively "WVUHS") is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. WVUHS strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. All WVUHS employees, other workers, and representatives are prohibited from engaging in unlawful discrimination. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.