Preauthorization Specialist - Pain Clinic (Full Time)

Socket.dev; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

UnityPoint Health in Cedar Rapids is seeking a frontline insurance verification specialist to support inpatient and outpatient services. You will verify eligibility, obtain benefits, and coordinate pre-certifications to secure timely reimbursement.

You’ll interact with patients and staff to resolve questions with empathy and accuracy. You will work with insurance carriers, providers, and billing colleagues to validate codes, appeal denials when needed, and ensure compliant, efficient processes.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Experience in customer service.
• Experience interacting with patients and third-party payers.
• Valid driver’s license when driving any vehicle for work-related reasons.
• Ability to perform a variety of tasks, often changing assignments on short notice.
• Must possess excellent communication skills, verbal and listening.

Responsibilities

• Verify insurance eligibility and benefits for patient visits.
• Coordinate pre-certifications and authorizations with providers.
• Enter data and update patient information in EHR.
• Communicate with insurance carriers to appeal denials.
• Respond to inquiries and resolve customer problems.
• Maintain compliance with EMTALA, HIPAA, and payer regulations.
• Meet daily productivity and quality standards.

Skills

Customer service

Communication skills

Multi-tasking

Data entry

Medical insurance knowledge

Office machinery

Professional demeanor

Adaptability

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Overview

Obtains insurance eligibility, benefits, authorizations, pre-certifications and referrals for inpatient and outpatient, scheduled and non-scheduled visits. Updates demographic and insurance information in system as needed. Primary documentation source for access and billing staff. Resolve accounts on work queues. Work with insurance companies to appeal denials. Interacts in a customer-focused and compassionate manner to ensure patients and their representatives needs are met.

Why UnityPoint Health?

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.

Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in. Here are just a few:

• Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.

• Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.

• Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.

And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience.

Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

Responsibilities

Insurance Verification/Certification

• Obtains daily work from multiple work queues to identify what is required by CBO.
• Work with providers to assure that CPT and ICD-10 code is correct for procedure ordered and is authorized when necessary.
• Completes eligibility check and obtain benefits though electronic means or via phone contact with insurance carriers or other agencies and when necessary/requested provide initial clinical documentation.
• Initiates pre-certification process with physicians, PHO sites or insurance companies and obtains pre-cert/authorization numbers and adds them to the electronic health record and other pertinent information that secures reimbursement of account.
• Perform follow-up calls as needed until verification/pre-certification process is complete
• Thoroughly documents information and actions in all appropriate computer systems
• Notify and inform Utilization Review staff of authorization information to insure timely concurrent review
• Validates or update insurance codes and priority for billing accuracy.
• Works with insurance companies to obtain retroactive authorization when not obtained at time of service.
• Works with insurance companies, providers, coders and case management to appeal denied claims.
• Responsible for following EMTALA, HIPAA, payer and other regulations and standards.
• Responsible for meeting daily productivity and quality standards associated with job requirements.

Customer Services

• Adheres to department customer service standards.
• Perform research to resolve customer problems
• Collaborate with other departments to assist in obtaining pre-authorizations in a cross functional manner
• Develop and implement prior authorization workflow to meet the needs of the customers.
• Readily identifies work that needs to be performed and completes it without needing to be told.
• Coordinates work to achieve maximum productivity and efficiencies
• Monitors and responds timely to all inquiries and communications.

Qualifications

High school diploma or GED

Previous customer service experience

Experience interacting with patients and a working knowledge of third party payers

Valid driver’s license when driving any vehicle for work-related reasons

Ability to perform a variety of tasks, often changing assignments on short notice.

Must be adept at multi-tasking

Will be required to learn and work with multiple software/hardware products (sometimes concurrently) during the course of an average work day

Must possess excellent communication skills, verbal and listening.

Must be able to maintain a professional demeanor in stressful situations.

Adept with machinery typically found in a business office environment.

Mathematical aptitude to make contractual calculations and estimate patient financial obligations.

Able to build productive relationships with all contacts.

Must be able to perform data entry with speed and accuracy

Use of usual and customary equipment used to perform essential functions of the position.