POSITION PURPOSE

The Patient Account Representative (PAR) functions as the financial liaison for each patient. Their role is to aid patients in obtaining and maintaining any available funding assistance for their treatment as well as ensure collection of the patient's financial responsibility. The PAR is responsible for monitoring the patient's account throughout their therapy to maintain low outstanding balances and ensure enrollment in assistance programs.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIRED EDUCATION/TRAINING

Experience:

• Prior experience working in a healthcare environment and/or collections.

Education:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.

Other Qualifications:

• Must be highly organized.
• Must have strong communication skills, both oral and written, and be customer service driven.
• A record of satisfactory performance in all prior and current employment as evidenced by positive employment references from previous and current employers.
• Must be able to assume a flexible work schedule.

Interpersonal Skills:

• Must have excellent interpersonal skills in handling interactions with Palmetto Infusion staff, other agencies, groups, patients and families.

Technology Skills:

• Competent in use of company email as means of communication, accessing the company website to view company policies and electronic medical records.
• Competent in the use of company self-service payroll software (time and attendance, benefits, pay statements).
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office products and the ability to navigate Internet Explorer. Proficient in typing, word processing (Microsoft Outlook/Express, Word, Excel), and familiar with office equipment.

Language Skills:

• This position requires a knowledge of, and sensitivity to, cultural and language differences.

Mathematical Skills:

• Must have the ability to perform basic mathematical computations. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability:

• There are a number of deadlines associated with this position. The employee must also multi-task and interact with a wider variety of people on various and, at times, complicated issues.

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the primary functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to frequently stand, walk, sit, bend, twist, talk and hear. There may be prolonged periods of sitting, keyboarding, reading, as well as driving or riding in transport vehicles. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include reading, distance, computer, and color vision. Talking and hearing are essential to communicate with patients, vendors and staff.

Other Skills:

• Must be able to work as a team member and develop productive and cooperative working relationships with all members of the Palmetto Infusion team.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES, FUNCTIONS and RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contacts new patients to review financial responsibility and program eligibility.
• Aids patients in the enrollment and re-enrollment process for funding assistance programs.
• Monitors funding resources and on-going patient eligibility.
• Negotiates payment arrangements with patients prior to start of therapy and through as necessary.
• Monitors and coordinates collection of payments for various locations.
• Process patient and program payments, documents, and transmits to Reimbursement Department.
• Ensures appropriate documents are up to date and present in patient's medical record.
• Utilizes CPR+ exclusively for the purposes of communicating and documenting patient information.
• Monitors outstanding patient balances and compliance with payment arrangements.
• Completes In urance Benefit Summaries and forwards to appropriate clinic locations/staff.
• Ensures clinic schedules have been verified and clinic staff aware of collections from patients needed.
• Demonstrates ability to maintain calm under pressure and cope with stressful or changing environment.
• Participates in the orientation of other staff as requested.
• Performs other duties and projects as assigned.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

In performance of their respective tasks and duties all employees and contract employees of Palmetto Infusion are expected to conform to the following:

• Adhere to all professional and ethical behavior standards of the healthcare industry.
• Display a neat, clean and professional appearance at all times.
• Interact in an honest, trustworthy and dependable manner with patients, employees and vendors.
• Possess cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Maintain a current insurable driver's license.
• Maintain professional licensure, certification and health requirements as required for this position.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the primary functions of this job. Normal office conditions exist, and the noise level in the work environment can vary from low to moderate.