PATIENT ACCESS NAVIGATOR

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics is seeking a Patient Access Navigator to support patient-centered care by collecting data and ensuring patients have access to medical services. The role involves verifying insurance and providing customer service, as well as processing payments and handling billing inquiries.

Ideal candidates will have a high school diploma and experience in a medical setting. Fluency in Spanish and strong customer service skills are essential. Join us in making a positive impact on our community's health.

Qualifications

• Prior experience in a medical or dental care setting required.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions and communicate effectively.
• Knowledge of medical terminology is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support patient-centered care by collecting important data.
• Review patient insurance status and provide customer service.
• Collect and accurately input data into the Electronic Practice Management system.

Skills

Fluent Spanish

Customer service

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Windows

Word

Excel

Job description

Patient Access Navigator

Under the supervision of the Clinic Manager, the Patient Access Navigator supports patient-centered care by collecting important data, reviewing patient’s insurance status and providing front‑line customer service to ensure patients have appropriate access to medical, dental and behavioral health care. The Navigator is also responsible for collecting and posting payments, scrubbing and completing billing batches on a daily basis, responding to billing inquiries from patients, and maintaining effective communication about billing‑related matters with clinic staff, billing staff, and clinic management.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintains exemplary customer service skills with all patients, vendors, co‑workers and all other clinic visitors.
• Provides support and is a vital member of SBNC’s Patient Centered Medical Home care teams.
• Checks in patients, registers new patients in Electronic Practice Management system (EPM) and verifies that patient’s program‑specific eligibility is correct, up‑to‑date, and entered into the system accurately.
• Collects and accurately inputs data into the EPM system related to patient demographics, insurance status, social determinants of health and other data as the need arises in support of patient care and population health management.
• Collects proof of income and verifies patient family size and income and ensures that sliding fee scale information is complete, correct, and entered accurately into EPM.
• Ensures all appropriate consent forms are completed, signed, and scanned into the Electronic Health Record system (EHR).
• Asks patients if they are seeing other medical providers and helps to complete a medical records release form with patient in order to better coordinate care.
• Places patient in appropriate queue so the medical assistants begin their tasks.
• Answers all incoming calls by the third ring.
• Reviews next day’s schedule, consults with management regarding vacant spots, and prepares new patient registration packets as needed.
• Schedules patients for follow‑up appointments based on patient need, care team standards of practice and availability to ensure that patients have timely access to care.
• Reviews and completes NextGen alerts on a daily basis for each patient encounter.
• Checks route slips or electronic health record system for completion and accuracy of charges.
• Maintains balanced day sheets and receipts (cash, electronic check processing, and credit cards); reviews and submits clinic batches in a timely manner so that billing can be sent out on a regular basis.
• Interacts daily with medical and support staff to ensure proper education and updates are given to assist the billing department in clean claim submission.
• Reviews CHDP PM160 forms for completion and submission.
• Proactively proofs and corrects charges prior to submission for billing.
• Collects payments from patients and answers billing related questions.
• Processes insurance authorizations as needed.
• May assist in training other employees on billing‑related duties.
• Keeps work area clean and orderly.
• Checks email upon arrival every morning and throughout the day to keep himself/herself informed of day‑to‑day functions and important communications with administration and clinic staff.
• May need to cover at other sites if needed.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Demonstrates understanding of and observes all SBNC policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Demonstrates successful work‑related behaviors.
• Attends all required SBNC meetings and trainings.
• Interacts with patients, physicians, staff, vendors, and visitors in a positive manner that reflects the SBNC mission and philosophy.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

Education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Experience: Prior experience in a medical or dental care setting or related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge: Use of standard software such as Windows, Word and Excel.

Ability: Speak fluent Spanish as well as English; provide outstanding customer service; follow verbal and written instructions; communicate effectively; use basic office equipment including computer, copy machine, fax machine, and postage meter; learn quickly in a fast‑paced environment; interact diplomatically with staff and patients.

Preferred qualifications: Knowledge of medical terminology. Minimum keyboard speed of 45 WPM.

Physical Demands: May be required to lift objects weighing up to 20 pounds. Sitting in a normal seated position for extended periods of time. Reaching by extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction. Finger dexterity required to manipulate objects with fingers rather than with whole hand(s) or arm(s), for example, using a keyboard. Communication skills using the spoken word. Ability to see within normal parameters. Ability to hear within normal range. Ability to move about.

Certification/License: Valid Medical Assistant or Medical Billing and Coding Certificate from an accredited program preferred.

The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job unless providing such accommodations would result in undue hardship for the SBNC.