Position Title: Practice Support Assistant
Employee Status: Non-Exempt
Reports To: Director of Operations
Job Summary:
This is a customer service-oriented position. The Practice Support Assistant communicates with patients regarding their insurance and treatment plans, obtains and charts needed documentation and paperwork, and communicates with insurance companies regarding claims and pre-authorizations.
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty as listed below.
Essential Duties:
- Demonstrates commitment to the team, the patients we serve and to the success of the practice.
- Seeks out opportunities for growth and learning both personally and professionally.
- Is not satisfied with the status quo- is always striving for excellence in every aspect of their position.
- Can think outside of the box to solve hard problems. Does not rely on others to solve problems for them.
- Demonstrates appropriate level of empathy to team members and patients, with the ability to have needed, difficult conversations.
- Check patients in when they arrive for their appointments and/or check them out at the end of their visit.
- Register new patients and collect their demographic and insurance information for their charts.
- Maintains appropriate documentation, including signed Financial and HIPAA policies, for each patient.
- Determines insurance eligibility, limitations and payment estimates necessary to facilitate accurate treatment plans.
- Sends information as requested by the insurance companies such as x-rays, charting, narratives and other documentation for processing claims or for obtaining pre-authorizations, when applicable.
- Prepare schedules for the next day, including filling openings.
- Receive returned lab cases, enter them into the computer system, and contact the patient.
- Phone in prescriptions for patients when needed.
- Distribute letters from specialists to the dentists for follow up and follow up with patients when needed.
- Schedule appointments as needed.
- Answer phone calls, triage patient needs, return voice mails as needed.
- Process patient payments.
- Send appropriate documentation to specialists for needed referrals.
- Perform appointment reminder calls and communicate via text as needed.
- All other duties as assigned.
Knowledge and Skills:
- Knowledge of English composition, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- Skilled in the use of standard office equipment including: telephones, calculators, copiers, fax, computers, and computer software (MS Excel, Word, Practice Management software).
- Ability to maintain composure and professionalism when exposed to stressful situations.
- Ability to engender trust from the dentists, co-workers, and patients.
- Ability to work cooperatively with management, staff, and patients.
- Ability to prioritize, organize, and complete tasks in a timely and independent manner.
- Ability to understand and follow written and verbal instructions, and quickly grasp relevant concepts regarding duties and responsibilities.
Experience:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Minimum of one year of relevant experience in the dental profession, including experience with dental insurance
Physical and Environmental Requirements:
- May be required to lift up to eighty pounds.
- Sedentary position: may be required to sit for long periods of time.
- Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or operate equipment.
Special Requirements/Certifications:
- CPR certification preferred
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $17.00 - $25.00 per hour
Expected hours: 37 – 40 per week
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Bereavement leave
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Free parking
- Opportunities for advancement
- Paid orientation
- Paid time off
- Paid training
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
Schedule:
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
Experience:
- Customer Service: 1 year (Preferred)
- dental insurance: 1 year (Required)
- dental front office: 1 year (Required)
Language:
License/Certification:
- CPR Certification (Preferred)
Work Location: In person