Mental Health Intake Associate - Palatine

NorthShore University HealthSystem; Palatine (IL); On-site; USD 29,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium pay (shift, on call, holiday)

Incentive pay

Annual increases

Career growth opportunities

Medical, Dental, Vision

Tuition reimbursement

Free parking

Wellness program

Health Savings Account options

Retirement with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Community involvement opportunities

Job summary

Endeavor Health in Palatine is seeking a Mental Health Intake Associate to provide initial response to callers, assess needs, and schedule behavioral health appointments. You will verify insurance and assist with registration in Epic while coordinating with the clinical team.

This full-time front desk role requires strong communication, basic analytical skills, and experience with insurance processes. You will handle patient payments, scheduling, and referrals, with shifts Mon-Fri and some

Qualifications

• A significant level of communication skills
• Some analytical ability
• Minimum one year of Business Office/Clinic experience
• Insurance and managed care experience

Responsibilities

• Answer calls, triage issues and route to appropriate staff; document in Epic.
• Coordinate crisis responses with the clinical team for urgent needs.
• Schedule appointments and refer patients to navigation via Epic.
• Enter scheduling data and assist with provider communications.
• Verify insurance eligibility and explain benefits to patients.
• Assist with patient registrations, forms, and payments.
• Manage follow-up appointments and daily office duties.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical ability

Education

One year of Business Office/Clinic experience

Tools

Epic

Job description

Hourly Pay Range:

$20.69 - $30.00 - The hourly pay rate offered is determined by a candidate's expertise and years of experience, among other factors.

Position Highlights:

• Position: Mental Health Intake Associate
• Location: Palatine
• Full Time (40 hours)
• Hours: Mon 9am-5:30pm; Tues - Fri 9:30am-6pm with 2-3 evenings until 8pm

A Brief Overview:

Provides initial response to callers within Linden Oaks Medical Group. Conducts initial assessment of callers and schedules behavioral health medication management, counseling, and group therapy appointments. Responds to and triages crisis calls. Registers, reviews and corrects patient registration information in the computer system. Verifies insurance coverage and eligibility on all accounts as well as Blue Cross HMOI members. Gathers necessary proof of insurance coverage, works closely with other departments regarding the certification process and exchanges and/or relays patient insurance information. Meets with all uninsured patients to discuss options and obtain payment when necessary.

What you will do:

• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of patients served. This includes knowledge of the physical and psychological needs of patients served and the ability to respond appropriately to those needs.

Front Desk:

• Answers telephone calls, determines nature of calls, assists callers in determining which services are appropriate, documents calls in Epic and routes to appropriate personnel.
• Responds to and triages crisis calls. Coordinates with clinical team to respond immediately to urgent situations.
• Schedules patient appointments or refers patients to navigation referral department via Epic.
• Enters data necessary for scheduling patient using departmental software program(s).
• Assists in the preparation of communication to providers and/or clients regarding issues, such as, approvals, denials and confirmations.
• Checks software program for daily visit cancellations.
• Schedules follow-up appointments.

Patient Accounting Duties:

• Contacts the insurance company on each patient to verify insurance eligibility and coverage and obtains detailed benefits for all levels of care for psychiatric and/or substance abuse.
• Conducts financial counseling by meetings with patients regarding their benefits. Counsels patients on their benefits, usage and estimated patient portions.
• Meets with the patient to explain their options and collects payment as necessary when an account is no longer being authorized by the insurance company.
• Responds to telephone inquiries received from patients and insurance companies.
• Handles price quotes for all visits either by meeting with the patient or by phone.
• Answers patient questions relative to claims adjudication.
• Researches and resolves accounts as requested by management.
• Assists with pre-certs for insurance companies.
• Receives and records patient payments made at time of service including collection of co-payments, balances on accounts, and bad debt balances. Updates patient account information in Epic.
• Balances cash drawer, researches and modifies discrepancies and/or errors, and prepares day end close.
• Sends daily deposits to bank.
• Reconciles bank receipts to Epic batches.

Registration Functions:

• Greets patients and patients' families arriving for scheduled appointments.
• Registers patients in system.
• Scans paperwork into Epic.
• Reviews various forms (i.e. Release of Information, Agreement and Authorization, etc) with patients.
• Ensures mandatory forms are signed and reviewed with patients.
• Checks patients in/out utilizing Epic.
• Performs order entry as needed.

Other Duties:

• Prepares all patient charts prior to each visit ensuring eligibility and paperwork are updated.
• Works Epic in-basket messages and registration work queues.
• Prepares and mails "no show" letters to patients.
• Prepares bad debt letters.
• Runs provider waitlists.
• Processes medical record requests.
• Assists providers with all requests (calls patients with instructions, types letters, etc.)
• Cover shifts at other sites as needed.
• Completes daily open/closing office checklist.
• Documents all incoming faxes in Epic.

What you will need:

Required Education, Skills and/or Experience:

• A significant level of communication skills
• Some analytical ability

Preferred Education, Skills and/or Experience:

• A minimum of one year of previous Business Office/Clinic experience
• Previous insurance and managed care experience

Benefits (For full time or part time positions):

• Premium pay such as shift, on call, holiday and more based on an employee's job
• Incentive pay for select positions
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance
• Career Pathways to Promote Professional Growth and Development
• Various Medical, Dental, Pet and Vision options
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Free Parking
• Wellness Program Savings Plan
• Health Savings Account Options
• Retirement Options with Company Match
• Paid Time Off and Holiday Pay
• Community Involvement Opportunities

Endeavor Health is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system committed to providing access to quality, vibrant, community-connected care, serving an area of more than 4.2 million residents across six northeast Illinois counties. Our more than 25,000 team members and more than 6,000 physicians aim to deliver transformative patient experiences and expert care close to home across more than 300 ambulatory locations and eight acute care hospitals - Edward (Naperville), Elmhurst, Evanston, Glenbrook (Glenview), Highland Park, Northwest Community (Arlington Heights) Skokie and Swedish (Chicago) - all recognized as Magnet hospitals for nursing excellence. For more information, visit www.endeavorhealth.org.

When you work for Endeavor Health, you will be part of an organization that encourages its employees to achieve career goals and maximize their professional potential.

Please explore our website (www.endeavorhealth.org) to better understand how Endeavor Health delivers on its mission to "help everyone in our communities be their best".

Endeavor Health is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please refer to the main career page for more information.

At Endeavor Health, we are united by a shared commitment to working together to create a culture of connection and belonging-each of us bringing different skills and experiences as we deliver safe, seamless, and personal care. Every person, every time. We are committed to fostering an environment where all team members can be their best, learn, and pursue excellence together.

EOE: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets, VEVRRA Federal Contractor.