Patient Access Rep 1

600 Advocate Health, Inc.; Downers Grove (IL); On-site; USD 29,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health in Downers Grove, IL seeks a flexible revenue-cycle professional to support patient registration, insurance verification, and payment collection. You will handle co-pays, provide patient guidance, and ensure HIPAA-compliant data handling in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires the ability to adapt to last-minute scheduling changes, including early morning shifts and weekends, with a focus on accuracy and patient service excellence.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience not required; excellent attention to detail and accuracy a must.
• Strong customer service and communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Register and check in patients; collect demographic and insurance information.
• Discuss and collect co-pays and patient responsibilities.
• Explain test preparations and arrival times; provide directions and assistance as needed.
• Maintain HIPAA-compliant handling of patient information and records.
• Support staffing with flexible scheduling, including early mornings and weekends.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

HIPAA compliance

Multitasking

Education

High School Graduate

Tools

EPIC EMR

Insurance verification tools

Job description

Department: 10258 Enterprise Revenue Cycle - Good Shephard IL

Pay Range: $20.80 - $31.20

Benefits Eligible: No

Hours Per Week: 0

Schedule Details/Additional Information: Must be available to cover last-minute call-offs with as little as 4 hours' notice. Must maintain availability to support departmental staffing needs, including shifts as early as 6:00 AM and overnight coverage beginning at 9:30 PM (21:30) when required. Must be available to work weekends, with scheduling based on departmental and operational needs. Weekend assignments may vary and are not guaranteed on a set rotation. Must demonstrate a high level of flexibility, reliability, and dependability to support patient care and operational coverage needs. Ability to adapt to changing schedules and staffing demands is essential.

Major Responsibilities

• Creates the initial electronic health record that serves as the foundation of the patient medical record that is utilized by all members of the healthcare team.
• Prevents creation of duplicate medical records that can cause treatment safety issues and billing problems.
• Follows and ensures compliance with the mandate of the organization’s accrediting bodies to use identifiers to positively identify a patient prior to the delivery of patient care to ensure patient safety.
• Checks in and registers patients; obtains and verifies complete demographic, guarantor, and insurance information; discusses and collects co-pays and other out-of-pocket patient responsibilities.
• Obtaining accurate information at the point of registration helps ensure timely payment to the organization and prevents billing issues and patient complaints.
• Maintains complete confidentiality regarding patient personal/financial information and medical records in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Knows insurance basics and recognizes commercial and government plans.
• Understands which plans Advocate Health contracts with and when a statement of financial responsibility is needed.
• Understands and discusses financial information and obligations with patients.
• Knows how and when to refer patients to Financial Advocates.
• Has knowledge of which rules, forms and questions must be enforced to make sure Advocate Health remains compliant with government agencies and regulations.
• Examples are HIPAA, Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), Consent for Treatment, Patient Rights and Responsibilities, Important Message from Medicare (IMM), Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON), Notice of Privacy Practices, Medicare Secondary Payer Questionnaire (MSPQ), Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN).
• Obtains patient or guarantor signatures as required.
• May schedule patient appointments: may also coordinate cancellations, reschedules, wait list requests, and recall requests.
• Provides accurate, detailed information regarding test preparations, patient arrival time, medication/food/beverage consumption guidelines, check-in procedures, directions to facility, etc.
• Creates a welcoming and professional environment for our patients and visitors by demonstrating extraordinary customer service.
• Greets patients and visitors and responds to routine requests for information.
• Answers telephone, screens calls, and takes messages.
• Offers various assistance to patients to include arranging transportation needs, providing directions, locating a wheelchair, coordinating interpreter services, etc.
• Monitors and works assigned electronic health record work queues, following the department’s approved process.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required: None

Education Required: High School Graduate.

Experience Required: None

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

Demonstrate the Advocate Health purpose, values and behaviors. Ability to work in a high profile and high stress area, working independently to set and meet deadlines, multitask and prioritize work. Must be able to handle large workloads with many interruptions in a fast-paced environment without direct supervision. Strong attention to detail and accuracy. Excellent customer service skills in a variety of situations. Must have excellent service recovery skills. Demonstrated independent thinking and problem-solving skills, ability to exercise judgment to triage issues and concerns. Excellent communication (written & verbal), customer service and interpersonal skills, ability to effectively communicate with a variety of patients, visitors, staff and physicians in a pleasant professional demeanor. Educate patients on the insurance coverage aspect of their care including managing the discussion for services that will not or may not be paid by their health plan. Interact with physicians and their staff to resolve issues related to patient care. Collect and manage payments including cash payments and follow security related to cash handling. Strong understanding and comfort level with computer systems. Demonstrated technical proficiency including experience with insurance verification/eligibility tools, EPIC electronic medical record, patient liability estimation tools, electronic email, Microsoft Office, internet browser and phone technology. Understanding of basic medical and insurance terms and abbreviations typically used in the patient scheduling and registration process. HIPAA-compliant and knowledgeable of applicable state and federal rules/regulations. Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information according to internal policies. General understanding of health insurance: Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, and commercial payers. Knowledge and ability to articulate explanations of Medicare/HIPAA/EMTALA rules and regulations and comply with updates on insurance pre-certification requirements. Excellent organizational skills. Demonstrated ability to effectively act as a resource to other staff.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• This position may require travel, therefore, will be exposed to weather and road conditions.
• Responds quickly to patient medical status and emergency situations occurring in clerical areas.
• CPR certification may be required based on service location.
• Notary training/licensure may be required as appropriate for service line and/or facility.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.
• Exposed to a normal office environment with significant patient and public contact.
• May be exposed to ill or contagious patients.
• Must be able to transition from sitting to standing frequently.
• Must be able to stand and sit for extended periods of time and be physically mobile throughout the workday.
• Frequently lifts to 10 lbs. and occasionally lifts 20 lbs. or more.
• Must be able to push/pull up to 50 lbs. with assistance.
• Occurs when moving equipment, supplies and/or when transporting patients through doorways, ramps and elevators.
• Escorts patients to nursing units or outpatient departments as necessary.
• Sensory requirements include vision, hearing and touch.
• Must also be able to speak clearly.
• Must be able to use hands with fine motor skills for keyboard data entry.
• May be asked to work a flexible schedule at times to meet the needs of the department.

Preferred Job Requirements

• Experience Required: Preferred: experience with insurance verification/eligibility tools, EPIC electronic medical record, patient liability estimation tools, electronic email, Microsoft Office, Internet and phone technology.

Our Commitment to You

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:

• Compensation Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
• Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job
• Incentive pay for select positions
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance
• Benefits and more
• Paid Time Off programs
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program

Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.).

About Advocate Health

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits. This is Transformation One shared purpose brought us together.

Now, as one of the 10 largest not-for-profit, integrated health systems in the United States, our combined strength and stability drives us forward. Starting with You Caring for nearly 3 million people has inspired a transformation. One in which the patient’s experience guides our vision and empowers us to offer new possibilities in our communities.

Reshaping Access

What is access? It’s offering more sites of care than any other health system in the Midwest. But there’s a new frontier. Access is exploring the latest technologies to deliver care to patients exactly where they are and exactly when they need it.

Inspiring Professionals

With our dynamically inclusive workforce and strong connections to the places where we live and work, we’ll touch more lives and contribute to stronger and more vibrant communities.

Transforming Care

We’re redefining the standard for care with world-class doctors and caregivers, innovative solutions, outstanding outcomes, and leading-edge research and clinical trials. Combined, Advocate and Aurora are recognized for clinical excellence in: Cardiovascular Care Neurosciences Gynecology Oncology Pediatrics Primary Care Neurology Geriatrics Trauma Care