Patient Access Associate I (Radiology)

Howard University Hospital; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 26,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work-life balance

Competitive benefits

403(b) retirement plan

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Vacation and sick leave

Job summary

Howard University Hospital in Washington, DC is seeking a Patient Access Associate I to deliver exceptional service and ensure a positive patient experience. You will register patients, verify demographic, financial, and insurance information, and coordinate with insurance carriers to determine coverage and eligibility.

You will use Soarian Scheduling, Siemens EDM, and other systems to schedule appointments and document patient status.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent required; Associate's degree preferred.
• Three (3) years of experience in patient access/registration, billing, cash collections, insurance, pre-certifications, or related experience.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced healthcare environment with frequent interruptions.

Responsibilities

• Provide exceptional customer service to patients, family members, clinicians, third-party payers, hospital employees, and coworkers.
• Register patients and verify demographic, financial, and insurance information for services.
• Contact insurance carriers to determine coverage and eligibility; verify information through eligibility systems.
• Follow regulations related to MSP, MSPQ, and ABN; obtain and verify required information.
• Schedule appointments using Soarian Scheduling and other systems; support bed placement and ADT transactions.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Typing

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate's degree preferred

Tools

Siemens EDM

HDX Eligibility

Soarian Scheduling

TeleTracking

Job description

Patient Access Associate I

With over 150 years of caring for our community and each other in the Washington, DC area, Howard University Hospital has a world-renowned reputation for high-quality, patient-centered care. As the nation’s only teaching hospital located on the campus of a Historically Black University, Howard University Hospital provides a superior learning environment supported by groundbreaking research, education, and positive patient outcomes.

Howard University Hospital seeks to hire a Patient Access Associate I who will embrace our reach and historic tradition of excellence. If you want to make a difference in someone’s life every day, consider joining a team of professionals who are committed to providing exceptional service and ensuring every patient has a positive experience.

The Patient Access Associate I

• Provides exceptional customer service to patients, family members, clinicians, third-party payers, hospital employees, and coworkers.
• Performs patient registration and verifies demographic, financial, and insurance information for patients receiving hospital and ancillary services.
• Contacts insurance carriers and/or utilizes automated insurance verification systems to determine insurance coverage and eligibility.
• Reviews and verifies insurance information through applicable eligibility systems, including HDX Eligibility.
• Follows applicable government regulations and requirements related to Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP), Medicare Secondary Payer Questionnaire (MSPQ), and Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN).
• Obtains and verifies required patient, insurance, financial, accident, and referral information.
• Contacts patients, guarantors, family members, attorneys, or other appropriate parties to obtain missing or inaccurate information when necessary.
• Utilizes Siemens EDM (Electronic Document Management) and other applicable systems to electronically capture, scan, and maintain documents supporting the patient's electronic medical record.
• Verifies patient information in all applicable registration pathways and systems.
• Electronically scans or copies identification cards, driver's licenses, insurance cards, referrals, and other required financial or registration documents.
• Obtains signatures on required hospital and regulatory forms.
• Utilizes Soarian Scheduling and other scheduling systems to schedule appointments for hospital clinics and ancillary departments.
• Supports the Nursing Staffing Office, physicians, and hospital administrators with patient bed placement activities.
• Utilizes TeleTracking and applicable registration systems to complete ADT transactions and accurately document changes in patient status or type.
• Communicates financial and insurance information to Financial Counselors, Case Management, and other appropriate departments when necessary.
• Enters laboratory and radiology orders into applicable hospital systems.
• Identifies self-pay patients and patients who may qualify for Medicaid and refers them to the appropriate teams for further assistance and completion of required applications.
• Collects copayments, deductibles, and other patient payments in designated service areas.
• Accepts and secures patient valuables when the Cashier's Office is closed, in accordance with hospital procedures.
• Cross-trains and provides support within various patient registration and access areas as needed.
• Maintains accuracy and confidentiality of patient information in accordance with HIPAA and hospital policies.
• Participates in department and hospital team-building activities, training, quality improvement initiatives, and workshops.
• Promotes adherence to the Health Sciences Compliance Program, Howard University Code of Ethics, and Health Sciences Standards of Conduct.
• Attends required compliance, HIPAA Privacy, and other mandatory training.
• Participates in activities that promote compliance with federal healthcare program requirements.
• Performs other related duties and responsibilities as assigned. The above responsibilities are a general description of the level and nature of work assigned to this classification and are not intended to be all-inclusive.

A Qualified Candidate Will Possess

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent required;
• Associate's degree preferred.
• Three (3) years of experience in patient access/registration, billing, cash collections, insurance, pre-certifications, or related experience in a medical center, hospital, or physician office environment.
• Knowledge of medical terminology preferred.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced healthcare environment with frequent interruptions.
• Proficiency with computers and applicable registration, scheduling, and electronic documentation systems.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive patient and financial information appropriately.
• Must be able to work rotating weekends and remain flexible to departmental needs, including days, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Must pass a typing test administered by the Human Resources Department.
• Consideration may be given to an appropriate combination of education, training, and experience.

At Howard University Hospital, our job is to care for you. We do this by offering:

• Work-life balance
• Recognition and rewards for professional expertise
• Competitive, comprehensive benefit plans
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Disability benefits
• Vacation and sick leave
• 403(b) retirement plan

Pay + Schedule

Pay Range: $19.47 – $31.16 per hour

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Schedule: Day Shift, 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday–Friday; must be available to work rotating weekends, and holidays based on departmental and operational needs.

Compliance Statements

Howard University Hospital promotes a Just Culture environment focused on accountability, learning, and patient safety. This culture supports the identification of human error, at-risk behavior, and reckless behavior, with the goal of maintaining safe systems and well-managed behavioral choices.

All employees are expected to model and uphold Just Culture principles while adhering to professional standards, regulatory requirements, hospital policies, and departmental procedures.

Howard University Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of applicable pre-employment screening, background investigation, and verification of credentials.