Dental Insurance Specialist

CORE VALUES

The core values of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Inc. (CHC/SEK) are dignity and stewardship. Each staff member is expected to perform their job duties in a way that preserves dignity for our patients and maintains good stewardship of CHC/SEK’s resources.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

This position is part of the operations team and provides critical support to general dentistry and CHC/SEK’s pediatric dental program. The Dental Access Specialist is responsible for providing excellent customer service by helping to ensure that dental appointments are scheduled in an efficient, accurate, and timely manner as well as understanding revenue cycle and insurance and conveying this information in an understandable manner to providers, staff and patients. This position may be the first interaction that patients have with CHC/SEK and it is imperative that interactions, attitudes and practices do not create barriers to care. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Answers patient phone calls and responds to messages to schedule appointments following the Dental Scheduling Protocol and the timeliness goals established by CHC/SEK.
• Audits the schedule to ensure all scheduling parameters are met. 
• Thorough knowledge of our financial assistance program for general dentistry and SEK Smiles, CHC/SEK’s pediatric dental program.
• Communicates effectively with patients to ensure they are informed on appointments and expectations, including the appointment confirmation policy.
• Understands and can communicate basic dental terminology and procedures to ensure appointments are scheduled appropriately and are able to communicate effectively with patients. 
• Verifies and updates patient demographic and insurance information.
• Able to complete dental special services estimates, payment agreements and collection of required payment.
• Ensures financial guidelines are met prior to scheduling any dental appointment or procedure as well as communicates financial responsibility to the patient prior to the appointment.
• Conducts reminder appointment phone calls, confirms appointments as needed, and works to fill any available appointment slots on the schedule.
• Completes prior authorizations for restorative and major procedures based on patient’s insurance plan requirements and schedule and complete prior authorizations for operating room and in-clinic sedation dentistry.
• Performs additional duties, as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• High School diploma or equivalent 
• Experience in clinic, healthcare setting, or call setting, preferred.
• Dental terminology, preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Social and cultural sensitivity appropriate to ethnically and economically diverse patient-and employee-base.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the rationale of appropriate patient care.
• Must be organized and able to manage/prioritize tasks to meet deadlines, adapts to change in a positive manner, able to work as a part of a team.
• Communicates through appropriate channels. Use proper chain of command for patient complaints.
• Ability to handle emergency situations calmly and effectively.
• Must be computer literate, especially with Microsoft Office products and be proficient with the Electronic Health Record software.
• Must be able to maintain good inter-personal relationship with co-workers and other members of the health care team and the organization.
• Provide customer service in accordance to the organization’s mission.
• Be courteous and respectful when interacting with patients and family members.
• Maintain patient confidentiality in accordance to organization’s policy and procedure and HIPAA requirements.

WORKING CONDITIONS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.