Associate Administrator, Patient Access - Heath System - Full Time 8 Hour Days (Exempt) (Non-Union)

The Associate Administrator, Patient Access is responsible for setting strategic direction and providing leadership to achieve operational quality, productivity, and efficiency in the Patient Access department, both with the hospitals and Clinics. The Associate Administrator is responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing the performance of the functional areas that report to this position, including Financial Clearance, Financial Counselling, Patient Registration, Emergency Department Registration,. The role serves as the leader of the Patient Access Department for the Health System to internal and external organizations, including government agencies, payer organizations and external auditors. The role will partner with hospital and clinic leaders, and other Revenue Cycle teams to address root causes for front-end denials or patient data quality issues. This role will also be responsible for elevating the patient experience in patient facing activities touched by Revenue Cycle.

Essential Duties:

• Leadership • Oversees the development of Patient Access strategies, policies, and procedures to maintain and manage key performance indicators. • Provides strategic vision and direction to effectively manage industry shifts, regulatory changes, and rising cost pressures. • Relies on management staff to handle day-to-day operational needs. • Seeks ways to control costs without compromising the quality of services delivered. • Implements system-wide projects, as assigned, for realizing process improvement opportunities within Patient Access. • Coordinates and collaborates with key functions outside of Revenue Cycle to ensure strategic alignment with broader organizational goals and objectives. • Ensures that processes are consistently evaluated for alignment with the strategic vision set forth by leadership teams throughout the organization. • Works with peers to coordinate and oversee all patient access process transition points between patient financial service, onsite patient access services, medical facilities, and other areas. • Establishes strategic vision for prioritizing and organizing job roles and work distribution to align with leading practice trends in Patient Access functions. • Apprises Patient Access Services staff of state-specific regulations and legislation, as applicable. • Displays commitment to treating both internal and external constituents as clients and customers, maintaining a flexible customer service approach and orientation that emphasizes service satisfaction and quality. • Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements, and trends in Revenue Cycle and Patient Access Services by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals, actively participating in professional organizations, and/or maintaining certification or licensure. Integrate knowledge gained into current work practices. • Communicates shifts in healthcare trends, develops strategic mitigation plans and coordinates with other functional areas of the Revenue Cycle Department.
• People • Oversees and ensures effectiveness of strategic talent initiatives, building capabilities of current and future leaders. • Demonstrates leadership and commitment to staff and colleagues by accepting accountability for outcomes, sharing timely information, building effective relationships, and communicating clearly and directly. • Ensures adequate training is being provided to staff to educate on the following skills: current working knowledge of payer requirements; sufficient healthcare knowledge necessary to perform job requirements; knowledge of state, local and federal policy requirements for functions performed; and relevant knowledge of information technologies. • Collaborates with Human Resources to establish performance expectations and disciplinary action plans for subordinate staff. • Demonstrates leadership and commitment to staff and colleagues by accepting accountability for outcomes, sharing timely information, building effective relationships, and communicating clearly and directly. • Leads and coordinates ongoing staff evaluation, retention, training and management of policies and procedures. • Manages and oversees staff performance through performance planning, coaching and performance appraisals. • Holds managers accountable for effective people management strategies.
• Process • Manages, directs, oversees, and approves budget development for operational areas while monitoring financial performance and developing action plans in order to remediate variances. • Oversees the development and implementation of efficient and effective operational policies, processes, and performance monitoring across all functions of the Patient Access Services Department. • Ensures Patient Access Services staff across all functions (Financial Clearance, Financial Counseling, Scheduling, Registration, ED Registration, and Patient Placement) comply with established policies, processes, and quality assurance programs. • Works with various Revenue Cycle stakeholders, state agencies, government agencies and third-party payers to ensure timely and appropriate resolution of accounts receivable. • Oversees and ensures two-way communication with Patient Access staff and Revenue Cycle and hospital leadership. • Partners with other operational areas and leaders within the health system to implement strategies designed to improve the effectiveness of the financial clearance and other Patient Access functions through increased automation and controls. • Oversees all business office administrative functions that contribute to the management, financial clearance of patients and the achievement of key performance measures which define revenue cycle performance. • Oversees and coordinates communication with Information Technology to ensure appropriate systems, enhancements, and tools are utilized to effectively manage day to day Patient Access operations. • Governs the Patient Access department according to statistics, variances and exceptions, creates and maintains a data-driven performance management culture. • Oversees evaluating purchases, contracts and services provided by external vendors to ensure best pricing and effective results (external vendors, reference tools, software tools, etc.), including ongoing vendor performance monitoring and issue resolution. • Maintains knowledge of The Joint Commission and state/federal regulations, laws and guidelines that impact the Patient Access. Develops effective internal controls that promote adherence to applicable state/federal laws, and the program requirements of accreditation agencies and federal, state and private health plans. Seeks advice and guidance as necessary to ensure proper understanding.
• Performance Monitoring • Establishes Key Performance Indicators that the department will be expected to meet and exceed. • Establishes the performance improvement initiatives and coordinates accordingly with department leadership to implement appropriate action plans across the functions. • Drives accountability across Patient Access management and staff based on responsibilities outlined in the Service Level Agreement. • Measures and reports ongoing financial and operational performance of the Patient Access department. Recognizes areas of excellence and oversees the development and implementation of action plans within specific areas of Patient Access where performance is not meeting expectations. • Interprets and communicates key revenue cycle performance indicators; reports key findings to appropriate leadership. • Oversees the identification, resolution, and reporting of operational and financial issues that impact patient service revenue. • Identifies gaps in training and defines training requirements.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Req Bachelor’s Degree in business, health administration, public administration, management accounting, finance, or related fields

• Additional 3 years of experience may substitute degree requirement

• Req 5-7 years Leadership Experience
• Req 7-10 years Revenue Cycle or related Patient Access Services experience

• Req Significant understanding of healthcare business and finance principles, with special emphasis on hospital and physician access services.
• Req Experience at multi-hospital systems with a preference for academic health systems.
• Req Demonstrated knowledge of healthcare management, registration, billing and collection processes for government, grant, and non-government funding sources.
• Req Ability to grasp complex concepts and knowledge of Patient Access (registration, financial clearance, referrals, and authorizations), Strategic Vendor Management, California Collection Law, and insurance billing regulations.
• Req Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state payer rules and regulations, patient rights, and ICD-9/ICD-10, and CPT coding practices.
• Req Knowledge of computer applications and equipment related to work.
• Req Strong organizational skills, working effectively in a multi-task environment, prioritizing tasks properly, and completing tasks/projects in a timely manner.
• Req Demonstrated proficiency in written and verbal communication skills.
• Req Demonstrated ability in leadership and capability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Req Ability to relate cooperatively and constructively with clients, families, co-workers, administration, other clinic departments, providers, community agencies, referral sources and other health team members.
• Req Effective communication with external customers and internal stakeholders.
• Req Ability to interpret data across systems to inform Patient Access performance and diagnose operational deficiencies.
• Req Ability to negotiate and compromise, and ability to influence the strategic vision of the organization.
• Req Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and remain flexible under stressful situations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Pref Master’s degree in business, finance, or healthcare administration

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• Req Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) If no card upon hire, one must be obtained within 30 days of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date. (Required within LA City only)

The annual base salary range for this position is $174,720.00 - $288,288.00. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.