Pre-Services Coordinator (Prior Auth)
Eskenazi Health serves as the public hospital division of the Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County. Physicians provide a comprehensive range of primary and specialty care services at the 333-bed hospital and outpatient facilities both on and off of the Eskenazi Health downtown campus including at a network of Eskenazi Health Center sites located throughout Indianapolis.
The Pre-Services Coordinator works directly with patients, referring physician offices, and payers, to ensure full payer clearance prior to receiving care, through pre-registration, financial clearance, authorization, referral validation, and pre-serviceability estimations and collections. The Pre-Services Coordinator establishes the first impression of Eskenazi Health for patients, families, and other external/internal customers, serving as a subject matter expert as it relates to payer requirements, authorizations, appeals and patient navigation.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
- Conducts pre-registration functions, validates patient demographic data, identifies and verifies medical benefits, accurate plan codes and Coordination of Benefits orders
- Corrects and updates all necessary data to assure timely, accurate bill submission
- Maintains accountability for accuracy of data collected and entered into systems and demonstrates the ability to maintain the passing grade on monthly audits
- Verifies insurance information through payer contacts via telephone, online resources, or electronic verification systems and identifies payer authorization/referral requirements
- Provides appropriate documentation and follow up to patients, physician offices, case management departments, and payers regarding authorization/referral deficiencies
- Contacts insurance carriers or other sources to obtain prior authorizations; obtains pre-certification and/or authorization prior to services
- Identifies all patient financial responsibilities, calculates estimates, collects liabilities, posts payment transactions, and completes waivers as appropriate in the Epic system
- Identifies self-pay and complex liability calculations and escalates account to Financial Counselors as appropriate
- Delivers positive patient experience using AIDET
- Counsels patients regarding insurance benefits by explaining financial responsibilities for services received, payment options, and collections procedures to patients and parties responsible for payment
- Performs any written and verbal communication necessary to exchange information with designated contacts and promote working relationships with patients, Eskenazi Health leadership and staff, physician offices, and external/internal customers
- Initiates process for collecting prepays due and performs follow-up to insure maximum collection is achieved
- Updates and correctly documents in Epic
- Attains productivity standards, recommending new approaches for enhancing performance and productivity when appropriate
- Attains quality standards, recommending new approaches for enhancing quality when appropriate
Job Requirements:
Accredited Bachelor's degree preferred; OR four (4) years experience in a pre-services setting. High School Diploma or GED required.
- Certification in Healthcare Business Insights within 60 days of hire
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Understanding of Medicare regulations, Medicaid MRO, Medicaid Clinic Services, and Commercial insurance related to any necessary prior authorization process/requirements
- Advanced computer skills to facilitate the utilization of web based applications