Patient Financial Services Representative (NY HELPS) - FT - Day Shift

Erie County Medical Center Corporation; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 34,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Erie County Medical Center Corporation in Buffalo, NY, seeks a Ny Helps Billing Specialist to support hospital billing operations under the NY HELPS program. You will submit claims, follow up on denials, and prepare itemized bills to maximize reimbursements.

The role requires knowledge of Medicare/Medicaid rules, HIPAA, and the ability to work with payer systems. Training is provided, and there are opportunities for conversion to competitive status within a year.

Qualifications

• One year hospital billing experience or two years medical office experience
• Billing/Coding Certificate or Medical Assistant certificate
• Equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (B)
• Experience must include health insurance verification, eligibility and processing

Responsibilities

• Bill and follow up with payers to maximize reimbursements.
• Operate electronic billing system.
• Review patient bills for accuracy and completeness prior to submission.
• Contacts patients to obtain information for processing claims.
• Track denials and issue appeals with insurers.
• Prepare refunds for credit balances and itemized statements.
• Receive payments and set up patient payment plans.

Skills

Billing knowledge

HIPAA compliance

Excel

Analytical ability

Communication skills

Education

Billing/Coding Certificate

Medical Assistant certificate

Medical Administrative Assistant certificate

Tools

Word

Excel

Billing systems

Job description

Ny Helps

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).

HOURLY RANGE: $24.97 - $31.85

For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means NO EXAMINATION IS REQUIRED, but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply.

At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE A CIVIL SERVICE TEST.

Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State.

While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: The work involves performing hospital or professional billing functions, collecting and accounting for monies received, and denials prevention analysis in the Hospital Billing Department for the Erie County Medical Center Corporation. The incumbent submits and follows-up all billing and claims for the facility and performs analysis to identify denials, appeals and corrective actions to maximize reimbursements. Work is performed under the direct supervision of higher level administrative staff. Supervision is not a function of this position. Does related work as required.

Typical Work Activities

• Performs all duties in accordance with Medicare, Medicaid, governmental and third party payer and patient self-pay billing guidelines, rules and regulations and ensures compliance with Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) regulations;
• Operates electronic billing system;
• Reviews patient medical bills for accuracy and completeness upon submission to payer;
• Contacts patients, if necessary, to obtain information and assistance in processing claims;
• Documents and updates patient accounts with correct and accurate information;
• Follows up on unpaid or incorrectly paid claims to ensure correct and timely reimbursement;
• Performs daily voucher breakdown to ensure timely follow-up is completed;
• Prepares refunds for credit balances;
• Prepares itemized bills and statements to be rendered;
• Receives payments and set-up patient payment plans as required;
• Analyzes and acts on system generated reports;
• Bills and follows-up on payer and governmental audits;
• Performs and monitors internal and external audits;
• Reviews, completes and correctly files correspondence requests;
• Monitors insurance denials; contacts insurance companies to resolve and recover denied claims;
• Evaluates unresolved third party claims and processes appeals with insurance companies to obtain proper reimbursement;
• Collaborates with internal and external departments to ensure correct billing practices and accurate reimbursement and to resolve billing issues;
• Serves as a resource for problem solving for registration, demographic and insurance errors;
• Tracks trends for denials and underpayments to facilitate process improvements; recommends quality and/or improvement initiatives;
• Receives and downloads electronic funds transfer (EFT) payments;
• Maintains and updates various cash logs, ensures cash received and posted is balanced, prepares daily deposit;
• Receives mail for posting;
• Posts various payments and adjustments from insurance companies and patients;
• Trains new staff members and current employees on new procedures;
• Attends and participates in office meetings to review problems and issues and to review, identify and develop process improvements.

Full Performance Knowledges, Skills, Abilities And Personal Characteristics

Thorough knowledge of hospital and professional services billing, terminology and procedures; good knowledge of hospital and professional services, charges, revenue and diagnosis codes; working knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, governmental and third party payer and patient self-pay billing guidelines, rules and regulations; working knowledge of HIPAA; ability to perform basic arithmetic computations; ability to use computer applications including Word, Excel and billing systems; ability to analyze reports; ability to prepare statements and bills; ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; ability to carry out oral and written instructions; ability to train staff; ability to work both independently and in a team setting; ability to multi-task; accuracy; neatness; tact; courtesy; capable of performing the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Minimum Qualifications

• one (1) year of hospital/health care billing experience, or:
• two (2) years of medical office* or patient access experience*; or
• possession of a Billing/Coding Certificate or Medical Assistant or Medical Administrative Assistant certificate; or
• An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (B).
• NOTE 1: Experience must include health insurance verification, eligibility and processing.

NOTE 2: Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting full-time experience requirement.