Patient Access Asso Level I

AtlantiCare; Atlantic City (NJ); On-site; USD 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Paid Time Off

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

Retirement Plans

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

AtlantiCare is looking for a Patient Access Associate I to provide exceptional customer service in our healthcare system. After an eight-week training program, you will be responsible for patient registration, verifying insurance information, and managing patient accounts to ensure smooth billing processes.

We require a high school diploma and a commitment to teamwork. Benefits include generous PTO, comprehensive insurance, and a supportive work environment. Join us and make a difference in patients' lives!

Qualifications

• Responsible for timely registration and processing of patient accounts.
• Knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, and various insurance processes is required.
• Ability to communicate professionally with patients at all times.

Responsibilities

• Perform patient pre-registration and registration.
• Verify insurance information and complete necessary documentation.
• Collect payments and set up payment arrangements with patients.

Skills

Effective communication

Customer service

Organizational skills

Analytical skills

Bilingual

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

General computer functions

Data entry

Job description

Overview

The Patient Access Associate I will perform duties after an eight week training program under the supervision of the Patient Access Leadership Team and Revenue Cycle Quality & Assurance Training Team. This position is a customer service champion responsible for delivering great customer service at each entry point throughout the health system.

Position Summary

The Patient Access Associate I will perform duties after an eight week training program under the supervision of the Patient Access Leadership Team and Revenue Cycle Quality & Assurance Training Team. This position is a customer service champion responsible for delivering great customer service at each entry point throughout the health system. This position supports organizational goals by providing high level, quality customer service, participating in performance improvement efforts, demonstrating a commitment to teamwork and cooperation while verifying and preparing all patient accounts for inpatient and outpatient billing in order to maximize payment for Hospital and Clinic services from all sources.

Principal Duties and Job Responsibilities

• Responsible for the patient pre-registration, registration, general admissions, and financial assistance processing.
• Be knowledgeable of state and federal government funding programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE/CHAMPUS, Workers' Compensation; No Fault Auto, and commercial insurance payers.
• Be knowledgeable of billing and reimbursement guidelines and methodologies for state and federal government and non-government payers; insurance terminology; basic medical terminology, EMTALA, HIPAA privacy, and compliance practices.
• Ensure all demographic and insurance information is obtained and correct, and scan IDs and insurance cards as needed. Send query for insurance eligibility information provided by the patient and/or representative to validate eligibility and benefit information and accurately document in the registration system. Inform patient of insurance in/out of network status, as appropriate. Accurately complete the Medicare Secondary Payer Questionnaire on all Medicare eligible patients.
• Verify insurance information through payor contact via telephone, online resources, or electronic verification system.
• Verify diagnosis codes and complete medical necessity checks for Medicare. Have basic knowledge of ICD-10 to ensure accurate diagnosis entry for reimbursement.
• Identify and obtain payor authorizations, pre-certifications, and/or referrals. Provide appropriate documentation and follow up to physician offices, case management department, and payors regarding authorization/referral deficiencies. Communicate to service line partners of situations where rescheduling is necessary due to lack of authorization and/or limited benefits and is approved by clinical personnel.
• In working inpatient accounts, be responsible for timely notification to payers of the patient's admission to the facility.
• Identify all patient financial responsibilities, calculate estimates, collect all payments due (including current estimated liabilities, outstanding balances and self-pay deposits), post payment transactions in the system and perform daily reconciliation. Identify self-pay and complex liability calculations and escalate to Financial Counselors as appropriate. Responsible for all estimates requested for consumer shopper comparison.
• Appropriately collect and/or set payment arrangements with patients or their representatives, scheduling payments on deposits due, which may include screening of patients for enrollment in available credit option programs. Document all attempts for collections using approved verbiage, timely and consistently. Proactively seek assistance to improve collections.
• Ensure all patients with questions or concerns regarding their bills are referred to the appropriate resource, including initiation of financial counseling when appropriate.
• Document pertinent activity on the patient account via notes.
• Maintain a current and thorough knowledge of utilizing online and system tools available, working from manual reports during system downtime.
• Communicate and collaborate with Patient Access team members and other ancillary departments as needed.
• Attend all required training and in-services and pass all competency tests associated with the in-services.
• May be responsible for additional duties as assigned with respect to the Patient Access job scope.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 0-1 year experience in Healthcare registration or relevant customer service environment required.
• Previous experience in a physicians' office or hospital setting is preferred.
• The Patient Access Associate I can perform job duties based on department procedure and protocol; may require direct oversight.

License/Certification

• Healthcare Financial Management Association - HFMA (CRCR) Certified Revenue Cycle Representative certification required within 120 days of hire or transfer. Current incumbents required to obtain certification by 10/1/2025.

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; read, understand, and apply policies and guidelines; obtain information from a variety of sources.
• Knowledge of general computer and data entry functions required.
• Excellent communication, customer service, organizational and analytical skills required.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and to effectively anticipate and respond to issues as needed in a dynamic work environment. Ability to keep up in a very fast-paced environment is required.
• Candidates must continuously display professionalism, courtesy and respect to all customers that mirrors AtlantiCare's Values/Behaviors.
• Candidates must have reliable means of transportation.
• Bilingual preferred.

Performance Expectations

• Demonstrates the competencies as established on the Assessment and Evaluation Tool for this position.
• Must pass annual recertification with a score of 95% or better; this requirement is expected to be maintained every year. Staff members will be required to re-take training and exam until they obtain the appropriate grade or disciplinary action will be taken in regards to performance.
• Maintains a high accuracy rate of 98% or higher and established productivity rates for KPIs such as cash collections, wait and TAT times, pre-registration and registration productivity.
• The Patient Access Associate has the opportunity for advancement to Patient Access Associate II if all of the above requirements are satisfied and the Patient Access Associate has been in the role for 15 months.

Work Environment

• Potential for exposure to hazards and risk of the hospital environment, including exposure to infectious disease, hazardous substances, and potential injury.
• This position requires reaching, stooping, kneeling, and crouching approximately 25% of the workday. It may require pushing and pulling computers on wheels up to 100% of the day depending on assignment (e.g., Emergency Department or Labor and Delivery).
• High volume fast-paced environment.
• The essential functions for this position are listed on the Assessment and Evaluation Tool.

The above statement reflects the general details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered a detailed description of all work requirements that may be inherent in the position.

About Us

Total Rewards at AtlantiCare

Benefits

At AtlantiCare, we believe in supporting the whole person. Our market-competitive Total Rewards package is designed to promote the physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being of our team members. We offer a comprehensive suite of benefits and resources, including:

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Retirement Plans with employer contributions
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Life & Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement to support your educational goals
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for healthcare and dependent care
• Wellness Programs to help you thrive
• Voluntary Benefits, including Pet Insurance and more

Benefits offerings may vary based on position and are subject to eligibility requirements.

Join a team that values your well-being and invests in your future.

Pay Transparency

In order to support the Fair Compensation Strategy by the US Government, HR Dept., clients are required to adhere to Pay Transparency Law in impacted states, which mandate employers to list salary ranges in job advertisements and promotions.

AtlantiCare is an Equal Opportunity Employer