Patient Access Specialist

Overview

The Patient Access Specialist supports inpatient and outpatient patient access functions across the Hackensack Meridian Health network. The role conducts quality patient interviews, validates patient identity, screens Medicare, Medicaid and managed care patients, and performs registration, insurance verification, pre‑certification, point‑of‑service cash collection and financial clearance. The position requires onsite training in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, followed by a hybrid schedule that includes the first Monday of each month.

• Greeting patients and visitors with courtesy and professionalism.
• Executing scheduling, pre‑registration, pre‑certification, referral procurement and insurance verification for assigned outpatient point of service.
• Performing accurate patient identification and prevention of duplicate medical record numbers.
• Managing bed planning, reservations, and bed assignment for inpatient services.
• Conducting real‑time eligibility queries and verifying benefits to ensure coverage of services.
• Obtaining pre‑authorization for procedures and following up with physicians and payers.
• Collecting upfront cash and communicating financial responsibilities to patients.
• Maintaining compliance with federal, state, and organizational policies and ensuring regulatory forms are signed.
• Resolving scheduling, registration and pre‑certification issues and escalating when necessary.
• Completing assigned work queue accounts in a timely manner.
• Adhering to team standards, patient experience goals, and patient financial responsibility policies.

• High School diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• Minimum 1+ year of experience in a hospital setting (registration/insurance verification preferred).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and customer‑service orientation.
• Basic medical terminology knowledge and proficiency with Microsoft Office or Google Suite.
• Experience with patient financial services and EPIC platform (Cadence, Prelude) preferred.
• Ability to work rotating schedules, including weekends and holidays as required.

• Bachelor’s degree or related experience.
• Minimum 2+ years of hospital experience in registration or insurance verification.
• Proficient knowledge of insurance specifications, ICD‑10 and CPT codes.
• EPIC HB, Cadence, and Prelude experience.
• Bi‑lingual (Spanish or Korean) – a plus.

• EPIC Cadence and Prelude training and assessment completion within 30 days of network access.