Job Information
Opening Date/Time
04/16/2024 12:00AM Central Time
Closing Date/Time
04/22/2024 11:59PM Central Time
Salary (Monthly)
$2,517.00 - $3,775.00
Salary (Annually)
$30,204.00 - $45,300.00
City, State Location
Chattanooga, TN
Department
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
State of Tennessee Job Information
LOCATION OF (1) POSITION TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, MOCCASIN BEND MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE, HAMILTON COUNTY
Qualifications
Education and Experience: Education equivalent to graduation from a standard high school and experience equivalent to three years of increasingly responsible full-time clerical, sub professional accounting or collections work.
Substitution of Experience for Education: Qualifying experience may substitute for the required education, on a year-for-year basis.
Substitution of Education for Experience: Additional coursework at an accredited college or university may substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.
Necessary Special Qualifications: None.
Examination Method: Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.
Summary
Summary: Under general supervision, is responsible for specialized clerical and sub professional accounting and collections work of average difficulty involving interviewing patients and other financially responsible individuals to determine methods of securing payment of hospital bills; and performs related work as required.
Distinguishing Features: This is the entry-working class in the Patient Accounts Specialist sub-series. An employee in this class interviews patients and/or financially responsible individuals obtains information on patients' financial status and establishes payment schedules based on patients' ability to pay. This class differs from that of Patient Accounts Specialist 2 in that incumbents of the latter are responsible for working under general supervision and act in a lead capacity.
Responsibilities
Getting Information:
- Interviews patients and/or other individuals responsible for payment of patient accounts to obtain information on financial status.
- Researches various databases (e.g., EMDEON, Citrix, Safety Net) to obtain financial information on patients and/or other individuals responsible for payment of patient accounts.
Assisting and Caring for Others:
- Assists patients by completing applications for benefits, collecting necessary supporting documents, and maintaining contact with agency officials during the eligibility determination process.
- Refers patients qualifying for governmental medical insurance or financial assistance programs (e.g., Medicare, Tenncare, Safety Net, social security and veteran's benefits) to the appropriate agency.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization:
- Communicates with patient guardians, attorneys, bank trust officers and other individuals via written correspondence/email, telephone, and personal visit to obtain additional information on a patient's financial status, clarify information on patient accounts, and/or resolve any problems concerning payment of patient accounts.
Processing Information:
- Posts account information into patient billing system and makes credit and debit adjustments as needed.
- Prepares billing statements for self-pay accounts to notify responsible party of payment due.
- Runs a reconciliation report to make sure remittance advice document and information entered into patient billing system are in balance.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems:
- May evaluate patient's financial status and determine the amount of payment due based on each individual's ability to pay.
Documenting/Recording Information:
- Prepares and maintains a variety of routine records and reports such as statistical documentation, patient account records, ledgers and billing statements.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others:
- Explains and interprets hospital billing and collection policies and procedures to patients, financially responsible individuals, attorneys and others.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:
- Provides information about patient accounts to supervisors or other staff by telephone, email or other written form, or in person.
Interacting With Computers:
- Enters and retrieves information in various databases using a desk-top computer and printer.
Performing Administrative Activities:
- Maintains hard copy patient records of financial related data.
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment:
- Performs minor maintenance on office equipment (e.g., printers and copiers) by changing toner, correcting paper jams, or other minor maintenance tasks.
Competencies
Competencies:
Knowledge:
- Basic knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, spreadsheets, managing files and records, and other office procedures and terminology
- Basic knowledge of accounting principles and practices and reporting of financial data
- Basic knowledge of laws, government regulations, agency rules and procedures relative to patient accounts and financial status
Skills:
- Basic skills in using mathematics to solve problems
- Basic time management skills
- Basic reading comprehension skills
- Basic skills in communicating effectively in writing
- Basic skills in speaking to convey information effectively
- Learning strategies skills
Abilities:
- Basic information ordering abilities
- Basic mathematical reasoning abilities
- Basic number facility abilities
- Basic oral expression abilities
- Ability to see details at close range
- Basic oral comprehension abilities
- Basic written comprehension abilities
- Basic written expression abilities
Tools & Equipment