Lab Assistant .4 FTE

FTE/Scheduled Weekly Hours:

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS

The billing clerk is responsible for daily review and correction of laboratory charges applied to patient accounts.  In addition, the lab billing clerk is responsible for the following:

• Resolve patient billing errors including removal or write-off of charges to the appropriate department; communicates changes to the appropriate business office.
• Maintains complete documentation of charge and chart reviews.
• Miscellaneous tasks to include:  receptionist duties, processing laboratory orders, updating information resources, reviewing the account hold list, and printing Medicare waivers.
• Add appropriate charges to accounts related to the Unity Point and Mayo bills.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Charge Evaluation: Daily Review

• Works with billing office to post charges prior to receiving a reference laboratory bill.
• Works with insurance and claims to reduce the number of late charges.
• Reviews daily charges within time limits set by the Lab Manager.
• Responsible for daily review of inpatient or observation accounts for accuracy and completeness of information and documentation.
• Ensures completion of all forms needed for billing.
• Responsible for obtaining patient waivers when procedures are not deemed as medically necessary.

Documentation: Information resources

• Updates address, telephone number, and fax number file by submitting IS helpdesk tickets with request for additions or changes to provider contact information in timely fashion.
• Assists in the maintenance of informational resources within the laboratory.
• Assists in the maintenance of the laboratory’s information data and lab information system.
• Acts as a super user assistant within the laboratory. Creates new tests in the LIS. Troubleshoots interface problems with Quest.

Charge Review: Documentation

• Accurately codes, diseases, procedures, and other conditions and services using standard classification systems for all Health Center patient medical encounters. 
• Verifies patient name and number on all discharge documents in file. 
• Reviews all records and ensures completion of face sheet, order, reports, and appropriate signatures or designated documents. 
• Always seeks guidance from lab management for situations requiring follow-up.
• Reviews hold list monthly.
•  Assesses the adequacy of order documentation to ensure that it supports the principal procedure, and principal diagnosis.
• Verifies that coded information is entered into the database without any errors within required timeframes.
• Completes inpatient and outpatient reports, including proper processing and delivery according to policies.
• Maintains miscellaneous and nursing home charge records.
• Compiles patient charts accurately and performs chart reviews.
• Files lab reports according to lab procedure.  Properly stores end of the year reports.
• Annotates orders when needed.

Charge Review: Problem Resolution

• Resolves patient inquiries, complaints, and problems regarding their accounts.
• Follows-up on any billing problems, and scans required documents.
• Makes appropriate corrections and obtains missing information/documentation as needed.
• Serves as a resource to patient registration staff in resolving problems.
• Assists providers, clinicians, and ancillary departments with coding, billing issues, Medicare coverage concerns, and related issues with timeliness, courtesy, and tact.
• Reviews the Health Information Management queue and provides appropriate follow-up for problem accounts.
• Works on the HIM queue.

Continuing Education

• Keeps current with all internal and external policy and procedures that may affect reimbursement.
• Remains abreast of developments in medical record technology by pursuing a program of professional growth and development, attending educational programs and meetings, reviewing pertinent literature, attending required seminars, and utilizing professional affiliations.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Lab Assistant Backup

Meets and directs patients and visitors, performs telephone duties, schedules patient appointments as needed.

Greets patients/family in a professional, friendly manner. 

Answers incoming calls and communicates information appropriately and in a polite manner.

Performs phlebotomy duties as needed.

• Organizes operations within the blood collection area.  Prepares and accurately performs phlebotomies.  Processes specimens appropriately for requested tests and delivers specimens to appropriate department for testing.  Prepares paperwork and samples to be sent out to reference labs.  Inventories and stocks supplies as needed.
• Orders supplies from reference labs as needed.
• Performs phlebotomies on hospital inpatients and outpatients.  Collects blood at nursing homes.
• Assists with specimen processing by ensuring prompt delivery of specimens to lab area.  Helps prepare and track send out specimens.
• Assists with the orientation of new staff to the blood collection area.
• Keeps current in the profession by seeking out continuing education sources and opportunities.
• Completes annual competency review as assigned.

Assist with review and update of specimen collection and billing procedures as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Experience, and Training

• Must possess high school diploma or equivalent.
• A Medical Assistant Degree is preferred.
• Previous experience in a healthcare setting preferred.
• Previous experience in phlebotomy is preferred.
• Previous experience in data entry, medical insurance, accounting, and/or credit and collections preferred.
• Must have proficiency in clerical skills, computer skills, and phone etiquette.
• Ability to learn and navigate computer systems including the online training modules, the employee timesheet and the performance appraisal system. Job specific systems are also required.
• Knowledge of medical terminology is preferred.
• Must have strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Must be able to perform many different functions, often changing from one task to another without loss of efficiency or composure.
• Must be able to work under stress when confronted with critical or unusual situations.
• Must be able to work in situations requiring staying within an exact set of limits and work accurately.
• Must possess the ability to operate a variety of office machines, including calculator, fax machine, and copy machine.
• Must be able to read, speak, and write fluent English.

Physical Requirements

• Sitting – Approximately 100% of shift.
• Standing – Not a requirement.
• Walking – Not a requirement.
• Lifting – Not a requirement.
• Twisting – Not a requirement.
• Bending – Infrequent.
• Squat/Kneel – Not a requirement.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

1. May come in contact with hazardous chemicals or treatment modalities.

2. The possibility exists of exposure to communicable disease due to working in a healthcare environment.

3. Involvement in patient care may result in unavoidable work-related illnesses.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  A review of this description has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties.  All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions.  Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by his/her manager.

Requirements are representative of the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities.  To perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.  Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.  All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship with the Waverly Health Center.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  A review of this description has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties.  All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions.  Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by his/her manager.

Requirements are representative of the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities.  To perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.  Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.  All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship with the Waverly Health Center.