Referral Coordinator

Atrium Health Navicent; Macon (GA); On-site; USD 62,719,000 - 93,985,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Health/dental/vision benefits

Flexible Spending Accounts

Adoption assistance

Retirement plan with employer match

Educational assistance

Job summary

Atrium Health Navicent is seeking a Referral Coordinator to manage the referral process in a Pulmonology clinic setting in Macon, GA. The role requires coordinating referrals, obtaining approvals, and communicating with physicians, staff, and patients to ensure timely access to specialty care.

Typical schedule is Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM with a 40-hour work week. Benefits eligible with comprehensive total rewards and a collaborative team environment.

Qualifications

• Requires HS diploma or GED.
• 3-4 years experience in a managed care organization, hospital or physician’s office with 1 year referral experience.
• Excellent medical terminology comprehension and its effective usage.
• Completion of 1 Medical Terminology class with certificate of completion.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate referrals daily and obtain physician approvals.
• Process referrals based on PCP orders and follow up with specialists.
• Generate correspondence or calls to patients, physicians, and staff for referral authorization.
• Communicate referral status with physicians, nurses and patients.
• Input referral data in the automated system and track approvals.
• Attend PHO and vendor meetings to discuss processing changes.
• Identify issues with payor guidance to avoid denials.

Skills

Communication

Typing 35 wpm

IDX/Windows systems

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Customer handling

Team player

Flexibility

Education

H.S. diploma or GED

Medical Terminology certificate

Tools

IDX

Windows OS

Job description

Department

36412 Navicent Health Medical Center - Pulmonology Clinic

Department

36412 Navicent Health Medical Center - Pulmonology Clinic

Status

Full time

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Hours Per Week

40

Schedule Details/Additional Information

Monday - Friday 8 AM - 5 PM

Pay Range

$21.85 - $32.80

Major Responsibilities

• Coordination of the Referral Process
  • 1)Collects all referrals from medical staff daily and obtains any necessary approvals from attendings.
  • 2)Works in all aspects of the referral process, including processing referrals for patients based on primary care physician orders and follow up specialists service recommended.
  • 3)Generates necessary correspondence or calls to patients, physicians and office staff, managed care organizations or vendors requesting additional information and requirements for referral authorization.
  • 4)Communicates with appropriate Physician, nursing staff and patients regarding follow-up status of referrals.
  • 5)Prepare correspondence, input referral information in the automated system, collects additional medical necessity supporting documentation and provide to appropriate parties for approval.
  • 6)Attend PHO and other vendor meetings as required to discuss changes in processing requirements.
  • 7)Identifies potential problems (i.e., labs, x-rays, procedures, and other physicians) with payment of charges from referral by communication with PHO and other managed care specialists.
• Reviews all payor requirements by type of service and organizes materials to ensure appropriate referral and that steps are followed to avoid claims denials.
  • 1)Investigates diagnosis codes and medical necessity guidelines to determine if appropriate based on payor guidelines.
  • 2)Discusses any discrepancies with physician for correct coding of referral.
  • 3)Provide correct codes both ICD9 and CPT and explains coverage to ordering physician.
  • 4)Input codes into automated system and discuss any certification requirements with vendor’s nurse certification specialist.
  • 5)Monitors approval status and resubmit request as necessary.
  • 6)Identifies need for appeal process with insurance companies and Medicare and initiates process.
• Participate in education and eligibility problem resolution.
  • 1)Works with attendings and nurses in the education of physician office staff on referral procedures.
  • 2)Acts as a resource to customers and help resolve referrals, claims and eligibility issues.
  • 3)Communication with manager, program director, other health care professionals, and various staff in a positive fashion in order to promote patient satisfaction, quality services delivered and resolution of issues.
  • 4)Verify eligibility of patients including problem resolution with Advocate MSO and various managed care organizations.
  • 5)Identifies and maintains appropriate communication with supervisor involving problems and observations in course of daily operations.
  • 6)Other duties as needed.
• Establish controls and a tickler system set-up to see if services are obtained. Maintain tracker to ensure:
  • 1)Patient received the services ordered before termination of the referral.
  • 2)Patient have proper paperwork before going to the referral site.
  • 3)Results are received from the specialist prior to the patient’s next appointment.
  • 4)Respond as needed to same day request from patient, if patient urgently needed to see a specialist or forgot paperwork.
• Assures that referral documentation is filed in the medical record and physician sees clinical results of the referrals based on a tracking system put in place.
  • 1)Collect all faxed or mailed in consultant reports for referred patients.
  • 2)Sort and place in physician mail boxes for review with patient chart.
  • 3)Assure that physician has signed off acknowledging review.
  • 4)File data in patient chart and re-file the record in the medical records file room.

Education/Experience Required

• H.S. diploma or G.E.D.
• 3-4 years experience in a managed care organization, hospital or physician’s office with 1 year referral experience
• Excellent medical terminology comprehension and its effective usage
• Completion of 1 Medical Terminology class with certificate of completion.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Excellent communications skills.
• Computer literate
• 35 wpm keyboarding preferred
• Experience with IDX, Windows and other I.S. systems
• Good organizing skills.
• Good problem-solving skills
• Ability to handle difficult calls and maintain professional conduct
• Excels as a team player
• Flexible with job responsibilities

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to handle stress and high workload volumes.
• Ability to communicate denial of services to members and providers.
• If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.

Our CommitmenttoYou

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, andShort- 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.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview.

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.

The Referral Coordinator position is responsible for coordinating all referral requests and following up on all necessary documentation, certification and authorization requirements. A key responsibility is use of the automated managed care information system to process referrals.