Accounts Receivable Representative

University of Chicago • Burr Ridge, IL

4d • $22 - $32

About The Position

The Biological Sciences Division (BSD) and the University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC) are managed by a single Dean/Executive Vice President and comprises the largest unit of the University, accounting for 60% of its annual budget. All physician, hospital, and clinic services are managed through the Medical Center, which is a $1.3 billion enterprise. The BSD includes the Pritzker School of Medicine, approximately 20 academic units, degree granting committees, and research centers and institutes. The BSD is located on the University's main campus in Hyde Park, ten minutes south of downtown Chicago. BSD's patient care operations are conducted primarily at the University of Chicago Hospital and clinics, which share the same campus. The University of Chicago Practice Plan (UCPP) is the central organization that supports the clinical activity of nearly 850 clinically active faculty practicing at the University of Chicago. These clinically active faculty collectively form the University of Chicago Physicians Group (UCPG). The University of Chicago Physicians' Group (UCPG) is a component of the physician practice plan for the University of Chicago. The UCPG department provides billing services for medical services provided by University physicians and manages the accounts receivable collection and reporting processes for the Biological Sciences Division (BSD) departments. Each physician is a faculty member and is based in a specified department in the BSD. The Accounts Receivable Representative is a unionized position that supports the revenue cycle team by performing routine physician billing and accounts receivable activities for the University of Chicago Physicians Group. This role researches, resolves, and follows up on outstanding accounts to ensure timely claim processing, accurate cash collection, and reduction of accounts receivable. The position communicates and works with University and UChicago Medicine departments, patients, payers, and other external entities to obtain necessary information to process claims and resolve account balances.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Previous experience with physician billing required.
• Previous experience using electronic medical records (EMR) systems preferred.
• Previous experience with diagnosis and CPT coding terminology required.
• Previous experience working with third party payor rules, procedures and policies in physician billing required.
• Previous Epic EMR experience preferred.
• Previous experience working all Government Payors including but not limited to Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicaid and Medicaid MCO’s preferred.
• Working knowledge of physician billing and accounts receivable processes, including claim submission, denials, payment posting, adjustments, and AR follow up.
• Understanding of diagnosis and CPT coding terminology and third party payer rules as they apply to physician billing.
• Experience using electronic billing systems to update patient demographics, insurance information, and document account activity.
• Experience working within electronic medical record systems; Epic experience preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Working knowledge of physician revenue cycle and accounts receivable processes, including claim submission, denial management, payment posting, and AR follow up.
• Ability to analyze account activity, identify root causes of unpaid or underpaid claims, and take appropriate action to resolve balances and reduce AR.
• Effective communication with third party payers, patients, and internal departments to research claim status, resolve denials, and obtain required information.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy when reviewing accounts, updating demographic and insurance information, and applying payments and adjustments.
• Proficiency in or ability to quickly learn billing systems, EMR platforms, and standard office software, with consistent and accurate documentation of account activity.
• Demonstrated problem solving skills and sound judgment, including knowing when to escalate issues to subject matter experts or leadership.
• Ability to manage assigned workload independently while meeting productivity, timeliness, and quality expectations.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, communicate professionally, and interact with patients, faculty, staff, and external partners with tact and courtesy.
• Consistent adherence to established procedures, policies, and expectations within a union represented environment.
• Ability to understand medical terminology/documentation and basic documentation such as help screens and departmental handouts.
• Ability to handle multiple concurrent tasks in competent and professional manner in a fast paced atmosphere.
• Ability to solve problems independently with limited direction from the supervisor.

Nice To Haves

• Medical terminology certification preferred.
• CPT certification preferred.
• Previous experience using electronic medical records (EMR) systems preferred.
• Previous Epic EMR experience preferred.
• Previous experience working all Government Payors including but not limited to Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicaid and Medicaid MCO’s preferred.
• Experience working within electronic medical record systems; Epic experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform patient and insurance for various revenue cycle activities; such as working rejections, no activity follow up accounts, registration-related functions, eligibility inquiries and other activities that contribute to AR/Account Resolution.
• Perform revenue cycle activities to resolve the account balance, such as resolving claim edits, rejections, resolve complex Provider Level adjustments (PLBs) credit balances, applying payments and adjustments to accounts.
• Responsible to make insurance follow-up phone calls to payers to resolve missing remit file issues.
• Work with IT to resolve EDI file load errors and work with payers to resolve missing remit file issues.
• Communicate with revenue cycle experts regarding the necessary medical records and clinical and/or billing information needed from the department to resolve accounts and escalate issues when appropriate to revenue cycle experts and/or manager.
• Complete daily payment batch reconciliation and create/update accounts within the billing system; including demographic and insurance changes or additions; also maintain documentation within the billing system for account activity.
• Assist in tasks related to projects and in the development, coordination and review of procedures.
• Correspond with internal and external constituencies to obtain appropriate documentation and/or information in an effort to resolve the account.

Benefits

• The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED