Patient Access Spec

Albany Medical Center; City of Albany (NY); On-site; USD 47,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Albany Medical Center seeks an Access Service Specialist to register patients, verify eligibility, and secure authorizations for services. You will communicate financial responsibilities to patients and coordinate with inpatient/outpatient services to ensure smooth admissions.

The role includes onboarding new team members after the Academy Training and providing on-the-job coaching. Strong customer service, attention to detail, and the ability to multi-task under pressure are essential in this

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 3–5 years in hospital, clinic, or insurance registration/authorization.
• Ability to onboard new team members after Academy Training; provide coaching.
• Knowledge of inpatient/observation guidelines and authorization processes.
• Understanding of regulatory forms and HIPAA considerations.

Responsibilities

• Register patients accurately across units and confirm eligibility.
• Coordinate benefits and obtain authorizations for services as needed.
• Explain financial responsibility to patients and collect payments.
• Precept and onboard new staff, following the Training Manual.
• Maintain and verify Electronic Health Records with proper forms.

Skills

Customer service

Multi-tasking

Team oriented

Good judgement

Education

High School Diploma/G.E.D.

Associate’s Degree

Job description

Department/Unit:

Patient Access

Work Shift:

Day (United States of America)

Salary Range:

$46,947.00 - $65,726.00

The Access Service Specialist is responsible for the ability to register patients and securing authorization for recurring services. Ability to assess patients benefits securing inpatient services for payment.

Additionally, the Access Service Specialist will have the responsibility to the onboarding/precepting new team members post the Academy Training. This includes providing on the job training of responsibilities specific to position hired into, following the Training Manual outline and providing constructive feedback to ensure the new hire success.

The Access Service Specialist is responsible for the capture of demographic and insurance information either by telephone or patient facing. Position is required to use eligibility application to invoke request to verify insurance eligibility, interpret response and capture appropriate health insurance information as it pertains to the service being rendered. Must be comfortable in the explanation of out of pocket financial responsibility including informing the patient collection of financial responsibility and estimate for services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for accurate patient look up to ensure correct patient is being registered, in multiple units across Access and willingly provides coverage as needed, including flexing schedule.
• Ensure ability to discern coordination of benefits for inpatient services.
• Ability to obtain authorization for Apheresis and Infusion services; assuring all service level authorizations are obtained for pharmaceuticals required for service.
• Provides precepting for new team members at the conclusion of successful completion of The Academy. This includes assuring the Training Manual is imparted as outlined and constructive feedback provided to ensure successful onboarding.
• Ensures all inpatients or outpatient occupying a bed are financially cleared and all regulatory forms provided and/or signed prior to discharge.
• Responsible for discerning demographic and insurance information to ensure accurate registration
• Responsible to interpret information received from Insurance Payer regarding patient’s eligibility and financial responsibility
• Responsible for discussing financial obligation of patient and collect via cash, credit card or check
• Responsible for explaining regulatory forms and answer questions from patient; obtain signatures accordingly
• Responsible for scanning or managing online form template to maintain the Electronic Health Record
• Comprehend Federal, State, Third Party Payer regulations as it pertains to a hospital registration.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma/G.E.D. - required
• Associate’s Degree - preferred
• 3-5 years Hospital, Clinic or Insurance Company – registration and authorization - required
• Ability to onboard new team member, post Academy Training - preferred
• Knowledge of Inpatient and Observation Guidelines specific to Notification of Admission and ability to obtain authorization for Recurring Services. (High proficiency)
• Understanding of regulatory forms requiring signature (High proficiency)
• Proven customer service skill with ability to exceed expectations
• Ability to multi-task in stressful and high patient volume unit
• Ability to train an adult learner and provide effective, constructive feedback
• Ability to learn in classroom setting; utilizing resources
• Ability to remain composed under pressure
• Ability to review information and draw appropriate conclusion
• Good judgement and ability to be resourceful to problem solve; elevate issues as needed
• Team minded worth ethic
• CHAA - Certified Healthcare Access Associate - preferred
  Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Physical Demands

• Standing - Occasionally
• Walking - Occasionally
• Sitting - Constantly
• Lifting - Rarely
• Carrying - Rarely
• Pushing - Rarely
• Pulling - Rarely
• Climbing - Rarely
• Balancing - Rarely
• Stooping - Rarely
• Kneeling - Rarely
• Crouching - Rarely
• Crawling - Rarely
• Reaching - Rarely
• Handling - Occasionally
• Grasping - Occasionally
• Feeling - Rarely
• Talking - Constantly
• Hearing - Constantly
• Repetitive Motions - Frequently
• Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination - Frequently

Working Conditions

• Extreme cold - Rarely
• Extreme heat - Rarely
• Humidity - Rarely
• Wet - Rarely
• Noise - Occasionally
• Hazards - Rarely
• Temperature Change - Rarely
• Atmospheric Conditions - Rarely
• Vibration - Rarely

Thank you for your interest in Albany Medical Center!

Albany Medical Center is an equal opportunity employer.

This role may require access to information considered sensitive to Albany Medical Center, its patients, affiliates, and partners, including but not limited to HIPAA Protected Health Information and other information regulated by Federal and New York State statutes. Workforce members are expected to ensure that: Access to information is based on a “need to know” and is the minimum necessary to properly perform assigned duties. Use or disclosure shall not exceed the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish an intended purpose. Reasonable efforts, consistent with Albany Medical Center policies and standards, shall be made to ensure that information is adequately protected from unauthorized access and modification.

Thank you for your interest in Albany Med Health System!

Albany Med Health System is an equal opportunity employer.

This role may require access to information considered sensitive to Albany Med Health System, its patients, affiliates, and partners, including but not limited to HIPAA Protected Health Information and other information regulated by Federal and New York State statutes. Workforce members are expected to ensure that:

Access to information is based on a “need to know” and is the minimum necessary to properly perform assigned duties. Use or disclosure shall not exceed the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish an intended purpose. Reasonable efforts, consistent with Albany Med Health System policies and standards, shall be made to ensure that information is adequately protected from unauthorized access and modification.