Patient Health Benefits Specialist

Pay Range: $25.00 - $33.71. This position is expected to perform a higher level of generally more complex job-specific responsibilities from Health Benefits Specialist I. The Health Benefits Specialist is responsible for providing frontline health benefits enrollment to patients. Serves as a resource and referral resource for patients for initiating health care coverage. The Health Benefits Specialist role is to determine whether patients currently have a third-party payer.

If not insured, the Health Benefits Specialist screens and evaluates whether patient may qualify for any known payer sources, i.e., Medicaid, Medicare, VA, Federal Insurance Marketplace, Sliding Discount, and provides assistance to the patient for the enrollment process. The Health Benefits Specialist assists SEARHC to achieve the goal of increasing the number of patients enrolled with a third-party payer.

SEARHC is a non-profit health consortium which serves the health interests of the residents of Southeast Alaska. We see our employees as our strongest assets. It is our priority to further their development and our organization by aiding in their professional advancement.

Working at SEARHC is more than a job, it’s a fulfilling career. We offer generous benefits, including retirement, paid time off, paid parental leave, health insurance, dental, and vision benefits, life insurance and long and short-term disability, and more.

• Monday — Friday 8‑5

• Knows, understands, incorporates, and demonstrates the Mission, Core Values, and Vision in behaviors, practices, policies, and decisions.
• Maintains collaborative, team relationships with peers and colleagues to contribute to the working group’s achievement of goals effectively, and to help foster a positive work environment.
• Protects confidentiality/privacy in verbal, written, and electronic forms of communication or information sharing.
• Raises concerns in an appropriate manner and according to policy.
• Consistently exhibits behavior and communication skills that demonstrate SEARHC’s commitment to superior customer service, including quality, care, and concern with each and every internal and external customer.
• Provides exceptional customer service in assisting patients enrolling in third party payers including Medicaid, Medicare, Denali Kid Care, VA, Federal Insurance Marketplace, and Sliding Discount. Obtains and documents necessary information accurately and timely.
• Enter data into MapsIQ health benefit tracking software and other systems. Monitors and maintains statuses from initiation to resolution. Tracks additional data elements as necessary.
• Distributes health benefits material to patients, community members, partner organizations and businesses to build coverage option awareness.
• Coordinate with local and regional organizations and Tribal Nations to build awareness of coverage options.
• Completes and attends all required training programs and participates in conference calls, webinars or other professional or team development activities.
• Reviews, verifies, and confirms current third-party payer information in EHR.
• Provides administration assistant type work to Health Benefits department including mail outs, data clean up, and other assigned duties.

• Coordinates and leads small scale projects.
• Facilitate educational events and presentations.
• Proficient in public speaking.
• Makes meaningful improvement to services, program, processes, and organizational effectiveness that creates new value for patients and employees.
• Acts as a resource, mentor, and trainer for entry-level Health Benefits Specialist I personnel and Patient Access Representatives, as appropriate.
• Orients new Health Benefits Specialist I staff to the department and SEARHC systems and processes.
• Responds to questions on standard procedure and best practices from team members.
• Communicates effectively with patients, physicians, and/or other departments regarding delays or issues relating to health insurance programs.
• Work closely with the Financial Counselors and Patient Access team to…