Billing & Front Desk Associate II

Texas Hearing Institute is seeking an experienced Billing & Front Desk Associate II to support revenue cycle and patient access operations. This position is primarily geared toward billing support while also serving patients and families at the front desk as assigned. Responsibilities include insurance eligibility and benefit verification, patient registration, collection of copayments and other patient balances, account documentation, billing follow-up, grant-related support, Sliding Fee Scale support, self-pay assistance, and other patient collection activities. The ideal candidate has prior healthcare front desk experience and a working understanding of medical insurance and billing processes. 

·         Serve as the primary front desk associate, ensuring consistent coverage while managing patient access, insurance verification, registration, and payment collection activities

• Assist with routine medical billing workflows, account review, claim status follow-up, payment posting, and billing-related correspondence as assigned. 
• Maintain accurate and timely patient account notes and documentation in the electronic medical record and practice management system. 
• Identify billing discrepancies, missing information, and unresolved account issues and escalate them appropriately. 
• Support denial research, outstanding balance follow-up, and patient account resolution activities as assigned. 
• Verify insurance eligibility and benefits, including copayments, deductibles, coinsurance, coverage limitations, referrals, and authorization requirements. 
• Review and update patient demographic and insurance information and obtain required registration documentation. 
• Communicate estimated patient financial responsibility clearly and professionally before or at the time of service when information is available. 
• Collect copayments, deductibles, self-pay amounts, outstanding balances, and other patient-responsibility amounts; issue receipts and document collections accurately. 
• Assist with approved payment arrangements and route financial exceptions or concerns to the appropriate leader. 
• Support Sliding Fee Scale processes, including application distribution, documentation review, tracking, and patient account updates as assigned. 
• Explain self-pay expectations and approved financial assistance processes to patients and families. 
• Assist with grant-related eligibility, documentation, billing, tracking, reimbursement support, and patient account activity as assigned. 
• Maintain grant-related supporting records and communicate missing information or approaching deadlines to leadership. 
• Greet patients, families, visitors, and vendors in a professional and courteous manner. 
• Check patients in and out, answer and direct telephone calls, schedule or confirm appointments as assigned, and respond to routine patient inquiries.
• Maintain a professional reception area and receive and distribute mail, deliveries, and incoming correspondence.
• Maintain patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA regulations and organizational policies. 

Required Skills/Abilities: 

• Excellent customer service and patient-facing communication skills with professional telephone etiquette. 
• Working knowledge of healthcare front desk operations, insurance verification, patient collections, and medical billing processes. 
• Ability to understand and explain insurance benefits and patient financial responsibility accurately and professionally. 
• Experience collecting copayments, deductibles, self-pay balances, and outstanding patient balances. 
• Strong attention to detail, organization, time management, and follow-through. 
• Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment and work independently or as part of a team. 
• Professional personal presentation and a “can-do” attitude with willingness to learn new processes and technologies. 
• Experience using payer websites and internet-based tools for insurance verification, claim status, and account research. 
• IMS experience preferred; onsite training will be provided. 
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. 
• Ability to use standard office equipment, including computers, scanners, fax machines, copy machines, iPads, and postage equipment. 
• Bilingual English and Spanish preferred, with strong oral and written communication skills. 

Education and Experience Requirements: 

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate degree or relevant healthcare training preferred. 
• Minimum two (2) years of experience in a healthcare front desk, patient access, physician office, pediatric office, medical office, or medical billing role required. 
• Prior patient-facing experience verifying insurance eligibility and benefits, updating insurance information, and collecting patient payments required. 
• Working knowledge of medical billing and patient account follow-up required. 
• Experience with commercial insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, managed care plans, self-pay, Sliding Fee Scale, financial assistance, or grant-supported services preferred. 
• Experience using electronic medical records and practice management systems preferred.