Patient Account Specialist-Dental

Position Impact and Purpose… The Dental Insurance/Financial Coordinator is responsible for verifying patient insurance benefits, communicating with patients and insurance companies, and discussing treatment plans and associated payments.
Coordinates, educates, and follows up with patients to ensure the delivery of quality dental care.
Essential Functions… Functional Area: Patient Relations Estimated Effort: 60% Responsibilities, Deliverables, Outcomes and Expectations · Act as a liaison between clinician and patient.
· Responsible for contacting patient for updated insurance information, when applicable, verify patient insurance information and maintain an accurate insurance breakdown in the electronic health record (EHR).
· Present treatment plan, financial estimate, and estimated number of appointments to patients for planned treatment.
Explain the treatment plan, address patient concerns, and answer any questions.
· Provide a Good Faith Estimate cost estimate of planned treatment to uninsured patients.
· Assist the patient in understanding why the planned treatment is important to their health and well-being.
· Answer and return incoming calls from patients.
· On an as needed basis, update patient information and schedule follow-up appointments for treatment.
· Manage patient recall/treatment reports to ensure patients are scheduling and/or rescheduling treatment appointments.
· Maintain a composed demeanor when interacting with coworkers and patients, including those who are ill, angry, or confused.
· Responsible for assigned tasks; processing referrals, scheduling specialty care or to other CAC/Valley View services, and for follow-up of referrals.
Functional Area: Administrative Estimated Effort:30% Responsibilities, Deliverables, Outcomes and Expectations · Prepare, submit, and follow-through of prior authorizations to private insurance and all other payer sources requiring authorization for procedures via telephone, facsimile, or online system while maintaining compliance to medical records confidentiality regulations.
· Send appropriate radiographs, narratives, and/or authorizations to the billing department for claims needing documentation.
· Scan all related paperwork and outside documents into the EHR to ensure that it is organized and easily accessible.
· Responsible for understanding patient workflow from the time of scheduling an appointment, front desk process, coding, billing, and application of payment and collection.
· Adhere to confidentiality, state, federal, and HIPAA laws and guidelines with regards to patient’s records.
· Assist with other duties as defined by assigned supervisor when other work is necessary to fulfill the obligations of Valley View Health Centers and/or CAC.
Functional Area: Service and Other Responsibility Estimated Effort: 10% Responsibilities, Deliverables, Outcomes and Expectations · Accountability to the assigned supervisor for high standards of accuracy, attention to detail, and timely completion of work.
· Attend meetings, conferences, and training sessions related to the duties of this position and disseminate acquired information to appropriate individuals inside and outside the agency.
· Other duties as assigned to carry out the mission, vision, and business of Community Action Committee of Pike County and Valley View Health Centers.
Minimum Requirements… Education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Job-Related Experience: · Prior dental experience, preference given those with dental billing/insurance experience.
· Fluent understanding of office equipment- copier, scanner, etc.
· Proficient in Microsoft Suite, including Word and Excel.
Preferred Qualifications… · Minimum 2+ years of dental insurance experience, including Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance plans.
· Knowledgeable of CDT and/or ICD-10 coding, with knowledge of dental terminology.
· Prior experience with dental electronic health records.
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Working Conditions… Position is in a well-lighted clinic working environment.
Position may require occasional travel between VVHC dental clinics (up to 25%).
Requires good verbal and written communications.
Must be able to speak and read the English language.
The position requires the employee to regularly sit, ability to use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls, reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear.
Work is fast-paced and deadline driven.