Patient Access Representative Sr

Penn State Health; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in the Puget Sound region is seeking a Senior Patient Access Representative to perform patient registration across assigned access points, including the Emergency Department and main registration.

You will verify insurance, review benefits, communicate financial responsibilities, and collect payments as appropriate, while supporting colleagues and maintaining relation-based care.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required at hire.
• 1–3 years in patient access or healthcare registration.
• Experience with insurance verification and benefits review.

Responsibilities

• Perform patient registration and admitting functions across Emergency Department, main registration, admitting, and payer notification workflows.
• Handle moderately complex registration and encounter scenarios with insurance verification and patient financial communication.
• Apply judgment to resolve discrepancies and escalate complex issues.
• Communicate detailed patient financial responsibility and collect payments when appropriate.
• Flex across access points to support operational continuity during high-volume periods.
• Serve as informal resource to PAR I staff with guidance on workflows and systems.

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Senior Patient Access Representative, you will perform patient registration and admitting functions across assigned hospital access areas, including the Emergency Department, main registration, admitting, and payer notification workflows, handling moderately complex registration and encounter scenarios involving insurance verification, benefits review, and patient financial responsibility communication across varied payers.

Every day you will flex across access points to support operational continuity during high-volume or high-acuity periods, serve as an informal resource to less experienced staff, collaborate with internal departments to resolve access-related issues, and engage with the healthcare team and patients and families to identify and address access needs.

To be successful in your role, you will need strong problem-solving skills to navigate complex, non‑standard scenarios, the confidence to guide and support colleagues, and a commitment to relationship-based care.

• Perform patient registration and admitting functions across assigned hospital access areas, including Emergency Department, main registration, admitting, and payer notification workflows.
• Handle moderately complex registration and encounter scenarios, including insurance verification, benefits review, and patient financial responsibility communication involving varied payers or non‑standard workflows.
• Apply judgment within established frameworks to resolve moderately complex discrepancies and determine appropriate escalation of complex or exception‑based issues.
• Communicate detailed patient financial responsibility, including estimates and coverage limitations, and collect payments at the time of service as appropriate.
• Support operational continuity by flexing across access points, assisting during high‑volume or high‑acuity periods, and ensuring timely completion of patient access workflows.
• Serve as an informal resource to PAR I staff by providing guidance on workflows, systems use, and routine problem‑solving, without formal supervisory responsibility.

Job Requirements

Required

• High School Graduate General Studies, upon hire or
• High School GED General Studies, upon hire and
• 1-3 years 1-3 years of experience in patient access, healthcare registration, or a related healthcare administrative role., upon hire and
• Experience with insurance verification, benefits review, and/or registration workflows required., upon hire

Where You'll Work

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health has a rich history of providing exceptional healthcare, dating back to 1891. Building upon a legacy of compassionate care and innovation, our organization has evolved over the years through strategic partnerships and integrations to expand our reach and services across the Puget Sound area.

Today, as Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, we remain deeply committed to healing the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – in the communities we serve. This commitment is strengthened by the diverse expertise and shared values brought together through our growth.

Our dedicated providers offer a full spectrum of health care services, from routine wellness to complex disease management, all grounded in rigorous research and education. Our comprehensive network of 10 hospitals and nearly 300 care sites strategically located across the greater Puget Sound region reflects our ongoing commitment to accessibility and comprehensive care.

We are proud of our pioneering medical advances and numerous awards and accreditations that reflect our dedication to excellence. When you join Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, you become part of a team that delivers top-quality, professional healthcare in modern, well‑equipped facilities, and contributes to a legacy of service built on collaboration and shared purpose.