Patient Access Coordinator

Overview

Under the general supervision of department leadership, the Patient Access Coordinator is responsible for referral processing and scheduling patients while ensuring insurance eligibility, benefit verification, pre‑registration, and authorization are all completed on time to prevent denials or delays in patient care. They must determine, communicate, and collect patient liability before service and attempt to collect prior balances. The Coordinator will also screen patients who are self‑pay or underinsured for financial assistance or other applicable programs as needed.

• Coordinates and processes referral requests, guiding the patient and the referring provider’s office through the intake and scheduling process to meet their needs in a timely manner while providing exceptional customer service.
• Receives referrals via multiple delivery methods, including email, fax, telephone, and EMR interface.
• Schedules patient appointments, including diagnostic tests, procedures, surgeries, physician consultations, post‑op/follow‑ups, and other ancillary tests.
• Pre‑registers patient appointments by calling insurance companies or using payer portals to obtain and document eligibility, benefits, coverage assignments, and patient financial responsibility.
• Calls patients before appointments and educates them on out‑of‑pocket expectations, provides procedure estimates, and attempts to collect prepayments and outstanding past‑due balances.
• Screens patients for the ARH Financial Assistance Program or determines eligibility for referral to other funding resources.
• Performs all tasks to support and obtain pre‑authorization from insurance companies, which includes submitting pre‑certification requests and clinical documentation via online portal, phone, and fax with correct CPT and ICD coding, researching payer medical policy requirements and treatment authorization guidelines, following up on outstanding authorization requests and medical documentation requests promptly, and communicating with medical/clinical staff and patients on authorization status/outcome or ordering provider on denied or disputed determinations.
• Contacts patient and physician offices for additional information and follow‑up.
• Clears assigned task lists and workloads within EMR systems daily while maintaining quality and productivity standards to ensure the highest service and optimal patient care.
• Adheres to all department and organization policies and procedures and state and federal laws and requirements.
• Other duties as assigned.

High school diploma/GED required.

• Several years of experience in patient access, revenue cycle management, or related healthcare administration roles with preferred experience in scheduling, authorizations, and financial counseling.
• Strong understanding of healthcare regulations and compliance requirements.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills.
• Experience working as a Medical Assistant in a physician practice performing both clinical and administrative duties also preferred.

Certified Medical Assistant (preferred, but not required).

• Understanding of best practices for patient access, insurance eligibility, customer service, authorizations, scheduling, and financial counseling.

Mid‑Senior level

Full‑time

Health Care Provider

Hospitals and Health Care