With over 150 years of caring for our community and each other in the Washington, DC area, Howard University Hospital has a world-renowned reputation for high-quality, patient-centric care. Howard University Hospital is the nation’s only teaching hospital located on the campus of a Historically Black University and has created a superior learning environment, with groundbreaking research and positive patient outcomes.

Howard University Hospital seeks to hire a Patient Access Associate I who will embrace our reach and historic tradition of excellence. If you want to make a difference in someone’s life every day, consider a position with a team of professionals who are doing just that—making a difference.

The Patient Access Associate I:

• Provides registration, admission, bed management, financial clearance, and cash collection services for patients receiving care at Howard University Hospital.
• Answers and responds to phone calls, patient inquiries, requests, and other communications in assigned ancillary and clinic areas.
• Contacts insurance carriers and/or reviews information from automated insurance verification systems to determine coverage and eligibility.
• Follows up to ensure information gathered during the registration and admission process is accurately presented to third-party payers or guarantors, minimizing errors that could result in penalties or delays in payment to the hospital.
• Verifies and enters patient demographic, financial, insurance, and registration information into applicable hospital systems.
• Utilizes electronic scanning and documentation systems to maintain accurate patient records.
• Utilizes Soarian Scheduling and other scheduling systems to make appointments for hospital clinics and ancillary departments.
• Supports and assists the Nursing Staffing Office, physicians, and hospital administrators with unit bed placements.
• Identifies self-pay patients and those who may qualify for Medicaid and refers them to the appropriate teams to complete necessary applications.
• Collects applicable copays, deductibles, and other patient payments in assigned service areas.
• Demonstrates excellent customer service and professionalism when interacting with patients, family members, clinicians, third-party payers, hospital employees, and co-workers.
• Works effectively in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions and changing priorities.
• Demonstrates strong organizational, analytical, auditing, reconciliation, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Maintains confidentiality of patients, families, and staff and adheres to HIPAA Privacy Policies and Procedures.
• Promotes adherence to the Health Sciences Compliance Program, the Howard University Code of Ethics, and the Health Sciences Standards of Conduct.
• Attends annual and periodic mandatory Compliance Program training, including HIPAA Privacy training.
• Participates in activities that promote adherence to federal healthcare program requirements.
• Actively participates in Health Sciences Compliance Program activities.
• Assumes other duties and responsibilities that are related and appropriate to the position and area. The above responsibilities are a general description of the level and nature of the work assigned to this classification and are not to be considered all-inclusive.

A qualified candidate will possess:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent. Associate’s Degree preferred.
• Three (3) years of experience in patient access/registration, billing, cash collections, insurance, pre-certifications, or related experience in a medical center or physician office environment.
• Familiarity with medical terminology and medical record keeping.
• Working knowledge of electronic scanning and documentation through applicable systems.
• Excellent customer service skills, communication skills, public relations skills, and telephone etiquette.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions.
• Ability to interpret information sufficiently to determine eligibility for various insurance programs.
• Ability to operate effectively in a medical office or hospital environment.
• Excellent auditing, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in the use of computers and working knowledge of Microsoft applications.
• Must be flexible to department needs and available to work days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays as required.
• Consideration may be given to an appropriate combination of education, training, and experience.

Pay + Schedule

Pay Range: $19.47 – $31.16 per hour
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Schedule: Night Shift (Monday–Friday); must be available for evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays as operational needs require.

At Howard University Hospital our job is to care for you. We do this by offering:

• Work-life balance
• Recognition and rewards for professional expertise
• Competitive, comprehensive benefit plans
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Disability benefits
• Vacation and sick leave
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Professional development and educational opportunities

Compliance Statements

Culture of Care: In an effort to improve patient safety, Howard University Hospital (HUH) supports a Just Culture. This atmosphere of accountability promotes the identification of human error, at-risk behavior, and reckless behavior, with the goal of maintaining a culture for learning, safe systems, and well-managed behavioral choices.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Howard University Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Reasonable Accommodation: Howard University Hospital provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact HUHLA@huhosp.org.

Pay Transparency: Howard University Hospital complies with the DC Pay Transparency Act and provides a good-faith pay range for this position as listed above.

Disclaimer: The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required.