Patient Access Associate (Days)- Willowbrook

Houston Methodist - Houston, TX

Full-time - Entry Level

Houston, TX

251-500 employees

Nursing and Residential Care Facilities

About the position

The Patient Access Associate at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital is responsible for accurately obtaining and entering patient demographic and insurance information into the electronic health record (EHR). This role involves cashiering functions, ensuring secure hospital accounts through the collection of co-pays and deductibles, and performing medical necessity checks to comply with Medicare guidelines. The position emphasizes effective communication and excellent customer service while adhering to healthcare regulations such as EMTALA and HIPAA.

Responsibilities

• Obtain and record accurate demographic and insurance information from patients, family members, and physicians.
• Ensure correct insurance plan codes are utilized for billing processes.
• Explain consent forms, obtain signatures, and respond to questions professionally.
• Proactively seek solutions to address patient issues and concerns.
• Alert management to unusual or difficult situations impacting service levels.
• Ensure protected health information remains private and confidential according to HIPAA guidelines.
• Perform insurance verification to determine patient out-of-pocket expenses for services.
• Collect payments and fulfill monthly cash collection goals.
• Accurately post and receipt patient payments, balancing the cash drawer daily.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent education (GED or partial/full post-secondary education).
• Two years of experience in a strong customer service environment.
• One year of registration experience in a hospital environment preferred.
• Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English.
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients and co-workers.
• Knowledge of basic registration/access functions and insurance procedures.
• Excellent customer service and professional communication skills.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in a hospital registration environment.
• Proficient computer skills and ability to navigate multiple software programs.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Paid holidays
• Flexible scheduling
• Professional development opportunities