Patient Access Associate I – Front Desk & Billing

Cedars-Sinai; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles is seeking a Patient Access Representative I to create a welcoming experience and help patients access care across inpatient, outpatient, and emergency services.

In this role you will handle scheduling, pre-registration, financial clearance, referrals, and authorizations. You will verify insurance, explain patient estimates, collect payments, and protect confidentiality while supporting Cedars-Sinai’s patient access goals.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required; Associate degree preferred.
• One year of customer service experience, preferably in healthcare.
• Experience in Patient Access or Revenue Cycle is a plus.
• Flexibility to work weekends/holidays.

Responsibilities

• Perform Patient Access activities including Scheduling, Pre-Registration, and Financial Clearance.
• Verify and update patient demographics and insurance eligibility.
• Search systems to assign or verify MRN, following policy.
• Select physician referrals and adheres to privileging procedures.
• Explain estimates and collect cash obligations to meet goals.
• Explain forms to patients and obtain signatures; maintain confidentiality.
• Monitor and resolve data quality and scorecard issues daily.
• Comply with state, federal, and Cedars-Sinai policies.

Skills

Customer service

Insurance eligibility

Financial counseling

Medical terminology

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Assoc. Degree preferred

Job description

Job Description

Are you ready to bring your skills to a world-class healthcare organization recognized as one of the top ten in the United States? Come join our team!

Patient Access Representatives are responsible for providing patients with a welcoming experience, while facilitating patient's access to care. The Patient Access Representative I (PAR I) performs a variety of Patient Access activities for patients throughout the Medical Center for Inpatient, Outpatient and/or Emergency Services. The Patient Access Representatives are cross trained to support roles and responsibilities throughout Patient Access, Scheduling, Pre-Registration, Financial Clearance, Referrals, Authorizations, Financial Counseling, and Patient Arrival & Registration. The PAR I must have thorough knowledge and understanding of insurance policies and procedures to determine insurance eligibility, benefits, and authorization requirements, Third Party Liability (TPL), Medi-Cal / Medicare eligibility verification, Workers Compensation eligibility, provide patient estimates, determine patient liability and secure cash deposits (co-pays, deductibles, cash packages). Provides superior customer service through all personal and professional interactions with all customers within the Cedars-Sinai Health System.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs all Patient Access activities Scheduling, Pre-Registration, Financial Clearance, Referrals, Authorizations, Financial Counseling, and Patient Arrival/Registration, as assigned.
• Obtains, verifies and updates patient demographic, financial information, insurance eligibility and benefits, to ensure patients are financial cleared for services and data accuracy in the system.
• Performs proper system search to secure a medical record number or assign a new one without duplication. Consistently follows CSMC Patient Identification Policy when assigning and verifying MRN.
• Performs proper selection of physician(s) Referring, Attending, Admitting and PCP. Recognizes privileging issues (physician suspensions) and follows appropriate procedures.
• Determines and explains patient estimates and financial obligations and collect funds to meet individual and department cash collection goals.
• Ability to clearly explain registration and consent forms to the patient and obtain necessary signatures.
• Maintains patient confidentiality.
• Monitors and resolves WQs and Scorecard errors daily and without exception.
• Knows and adheres to state, federal and regulatory requirements, and CSMC policy specific to the admissions department.

Qualifications

Education & Experience Requirements:

• High School Diploma/GED required. Assoc. Degree/College Diploma in Hospital Administration or equivalent preferred.
• One (1) year of customer service experience, preferably in a healthcare or service-oriented setting required.
• One (1) year of healthcare experience working in Patient Access or Revenue Cycle department, physician office, healthcare insurance company, and/or other revenue cycle related roles preferred.
• Financial counseling experience preferred.
• Schedule flexibility including weekend & holiday availability.

Tentative Work Schedule : Day shift with one weekend shift every week. No rotating weekends.