Referral Coordinator - Crystal Lake, United States - Advocate Health

Description

Major Responsibilities:

Coordination of the Referral Process:

• Collects all referrals from medical staff daily and obtains any necessary approvals from attendings.
• Works in all aspects of the referral process, including processing referrals for patients based on primary care physician orders and follow up on specialist service recommended.
• Generates necessary correspondence or calls to patients, physicians and office staff, managed care organizations or vendors requesting additional information and requirements for referral authorization.
• Communicates with appropriate Physician, nursing staff and patients regarding follow-up status of referrals.
• Prepare correspondence, input referral information in the automated system, collects additional medical necessity supporting documentation and provide to appropriate parties for approval.
• Attend PHO and other vendor meetings as required to discuss changes in processing requirements.
• Identifies potential problems (i.e., labs, x-rays, procedures, and other physicians) with payment of charges from referral s.by communication with PHO and other managed care specialist

Reviews all payor requirements by type of service and organizes materials to ensure appropriate referral and that steps are followed to avoid claims denials.

• Investigates diagnosis codes and medical necessity guidelines to determine if appropriate based on payor guidelines.
• Discusses any discrepancies with physician for correct coding of referral.
• Provide correct codes both ICD9 and CPT and explains coverage to ordering physician.
• Input codes into automated system and discuss any certification requirements with vendor's nurse certification specialist.
• Monitors approval status and resubmit request as necessary.
• Identifies need for appeal process with insurance companies and Medicare and initiate process.

Participate in education and eligibility problem resolution:

• Works with attendings and nurses in the education of physician office staff on referral procedures.
• Acts as a resource to customers and help resolve referrals, claims and eligibility issues.
• Communication with manager, program director, other health care professionals, and various staff in a positive fashion in order to promote patient satisfaction, quality services delivered and resolution of issues.
• Verify eligibility of patients including problem resolution with Advocate MSO and various managed care organizations.
• Identifies and maintains appropriate communication with supervisor involving problems and observations in course of daily operations.
• Other duties as needed.

Establish controls and a tickler system set-up to see if services are obtained. Maintain tracker to ensure:

• Patients received the services ordered before termination of the referral.
• Patients have proper paperwork before going to the referral site.
• Results are received from the specialist prior to the patient's next appointment.
• Respond as needed to same day request from patient, if patient urgently needed to see a specialist or forgot paperwork.

Assures that referral documentation is filed in the medical record and physician sees clinical results of the referrals based on a tracking system put in place.

• Collect all faxed or mailed in consultant reports for referred patients.
• Sort and place in physician mailboxes for review with patient chart.
• Assure that physician has signed off acknowledging review.
• File data in patient chart and re-file the record in the medical records file room.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.