SPECIALIST- PATIENT ACCESS

LE101 North Mississippi Medical Center, Inc; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 26,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

North Mississippi Health Services is seeking a Patient Access Specialist to support scheduling, pre-certification, and patient registration for outpatient services.

The role requires handling demographics, insurance eligibility, and estimates, while explaining patient responsibilities and ensuring HIPAA compliance. You will collaborate with care teams and revenue cycle staff to promote accurate data, timely payments, and smooth patient flow.

Qualifications

• Experience with registration systems and payer information collection.
• Ability to verify demographics, insurance eligibility, and benefits.
• Familiarity with HIPAA guidelines and patient confidentiality.
• Strong Excel/Word/Outlook skills and data accuracy.
• Good negotiation and analytical abilities for estimates and payments.

Responsibilities

• Schedule, pre-certify, and pre-register patients for appointments and tests.
• Verify patient demographics and insurance information; collect payments as needed.
• Explain tests, preparation, and location details to patients and staff.
• Communicate policies on estimates, charity plans, and payment options.
• Support denials management and ensure compliant, timely data entry.

Skills

Registration systems

Microsoft Office

Analytical skills

Communication skills

HIPAA compliance

Job description

We believe a career is more than just a career - it's a calling. Our teammates' "True North" is what calls them to health care; it’s their passion. At North Mississippi Health Services, we believe in helping you leverage and connect that passion with a much greater purpose that impacts people you know and love.

Department

10907290 Outpatient Infusion

Work Shift: Job Description

The Patient Access Specialist at North Mississippi Health Services is responsible for supporting the overall financial health of the organization by completing the daily activities of the collecting and input of Insurance Information, Point of Service Collections and Financial Arrangements, & Customer Service via Direct Contact with Patients and their family members. This role operates under the guidance of the Patient Access Manager and requires an experienced individual with excellent analytical, organizational, and communications skills to manage Demographic and Insurance Information. resolve real time edits & denials, and interface effectively wit h internal and externa l stakeholders to promote timely and accurate patient flow and collections.

JOB FUNCTIONS

Scheduling

• Responsible for scheduling/rescheduling, pre-certifying, checking medical necessity, and pre-registering patients for appointments, diagnostic tests, and outpatient procedures as ordered by referring providers
• Obtains necessary information required for scheduling, pre-certifying, and pre-registration
• Obtains and/or verifies patient demographics, insurance information/eligibility, and benefits
• Responsible for informing patients and/or clinical staff of the proper preparation and instructions for the tests ordered
• Notifies patient of the location of the appointment date & time, test, and/or procedure

Patient Experience

• Obtains crucial confidential patient identification information including patient records, signatures, and payment information repeatedly and ensures HIPAA guidelines are enforced
• Effectively communicates NMHS’ organizational revenue cycle and financial policies including estimates, charity plans and payment options to patients and patient representatives
• Provides bedside registration to obtain consent form signatures, collect insurance, and other confidential information pertinent information to ensure accurate medical record data entry that aligns with CMS and other regulatory agencies

Collections & Financial Arrangements

• Ensures team members are providing estimates to guarantors for elective procedures and collection attempted at the point of pre-registration or point of service
• Ensures team members are administering ABNs when necessary
• Ensures accounts are financially secure prior to service
• Ensures timely and accurate processing of accounts in accordance with best practices, defined workflow, procedures, and applicable legislation/regulations

Denials Management

• Corrects front end errors real time to minimize denial throughput
• Develops strategy for consistently obtaining accurate, timely, and beneficial patient demographic information
• Review post service denials to assist in developing front end strategies to reduce denial inflow
• Identifies trends and reports potential significant and recurring issues along with possible solutions to leadership
• Takes proactive, corrective action through systematic and procedural development to reduce incoming denials

Contract Management

• Maintains familiarity with payer methodologies to ensure accurate estimates are communicated with patients & system variances are communicated with leadership
• Manages expected reimbursement to ensure appropriate patient portion is collected prior to service
• Develops strategy for partnering with business office to ensure estimates & transparency are accurate
• Analyzes estimate variances to understand where/why deviations occurred
• Identifies trends and reports potential significant and recurring issues along with possible solutions to leadership

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Working knowledge of Registration systems, Medicare/Medicaid/Third Party Liability/Workers Compensation
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook)
• Knowledge of applicable state and federal regulations relating to registering accounts and collecting at point of service
• Excellent negotiating and analytical skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Effectively and efficiently prioritizes and organizes tasks
• Develops, implements/evaluates projects (timely & efficient manner)
• Ensures accurate and timely collection of all appropriate patient estimates
• Ensures effective monetary management of Deposits
• Ensures timely and accurate processing of accounts in accordance with best practices, defined workflow, procedures, and applicable legislature/ regulations
• Gathers and relays information with knowledge, tact, and diplomacy
• Experiences daily contact with co-workers, patients, payers, and other NMHS/NMMC staff members
• Exhibits strong written and verbal communication skills
• Reflects a positive, caring attitude toward clients, patients, staff, and the public we serve
• Evaluates and coaches reporting employees to accomplish major goals and objectives
• Develops, implements/evaluates projects in a timely & efficient manner
• Effectively communicates information to staff, internal and external customers

Physical Demands

• Standing. Constantly
• Walking. Frequently
• Sitting. Rarely
• Lifting/Carrying. Frequently 50 lbs
• Pushing/Pulling. Frequently
• Climbing. Occasionally
• Balancing. Occasionally
• Stooping/Kneeling/Bending. Frequently
• Reaching/Over Head Work. Frequently
• Grasping. Frequently
• Speaking. Occasionally
• Hearing. Constantly
• Repetitive Motions. Constantly
• Eye/Hand/Foot Coordinations. Frequently

Salary, Education, and Certifications

Salary Range: $19.24 - $28.85 Education: Associate’s Degree | Business Administration/Management | Required Bachelor’s Degree | Business Administration/Management | Required High School Diploma, GED, or Project Search Graduate | Business Administration/Management | Required Certifications: North Mississippi Health Services is a large rural health care system with state-of-the-art facilities in Mississippi and Alabama. We have career opportunities ranging from inpatient hospital care to 70+ rural health and specialty clinics, a variety of outpatient, women’s and behavioral health services and many additional support services. Our team of over 7,000 works together every day toward our shared mission - to continuously improve the health of the people of our region.