Patient Access Specialist Admitting

Patient Access Specialist, 9a-5p - Admitting

Location:

Erlanger Baroness Hospital, Chattanooga, TN

The Patient Access Specialist I is an entry level position responsible for accurate and efficient admitting, registering, bed placement, and financial analysis activities for all patients upon arrival to the healthcare system, including initiation of activities necessary to comply with managed care contracts and CMS regulations. The role involves responding in a professional and courteous manner to all patient information inquiries, greeting patients, initiating the registration process, reviewing past account balances, notifying patients of their financial responsibility, and collecting these balances.

The specialist supports the department in meeting pre‑collection goals, reviews accounts with inadequate financial coverage to coordinate with financial counseling services and facilitate State Agency or Charity applications, and enforces patient access policy and procedures.

• Register and activate scheduled patients by gathering all demographic, financial, and pertinent information necessary to meet regulatory and billing requirements.
• Register and activate walk‑in, add‑on, and emergency room patients by gathering all relevant patient information to meet regulatory and billing requirements.
• Verify insurance eligibility and benefits for scheduled outpatient and inpatient patients.
• Validate pre‑certification.
• Compute patient liability at point of registration.
• Communicate and collect patient financial liabilities.
• Review prior bad debts and request payment of outstanding prior bad debt.
• Alert Financial Advocates of accounts with financial clearance issues.
• Document patient liability and financial clearance status to ensure timely processing at the point of service.
• Demonstrate excellent verbal and customer‑service skills to patients, physicians, and visitors.

• High School Diploma or equivalent (required)
• Graduate of Medical Secretary Program (preferred)

• Strong computer skills and proficiency with computers, fax machine, copier, and multiline telephone.
• Excellent customer service skills, interpersonal communication and telephone etiquette.
• Ability to multitask and manage high volumes.
• Knowledge of basic registration and third‑party payer preferred.
• Preference for experience in a physician front office or insurance/healthcare call center.
• Medical terminology, basic CPT/ICD‑9 coding, and billing knowledge.

• Certified Healthcare Access Associate from NAHAM

Must demonstrate excellent computer skills, strong organizational skills, ability to work in a fast‑paced clinical setting, moderate sitting, standing, stooping, bending, and use of portable computers.

Full‑time

Entry level

Health Care Provider

Hospitals and Health Care

Regular