Billing Specialist-Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (Open & Promotional)

San Mateo, CA, United States

San Mateo County Health is seeking an experienced individual for the position of Billing Specialist-Behavioral Health & Recovery Services to perform technical, complex, or specialized patient services office support and business office support for the Billing Unit.

The current vacancy is in the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) Division’s MIS Billing Unit located at 2000 Alameda da las Pulgas, San Mateo, CA. The incumbent may travel/drive occasionally to attend meetings. Some remote work potentially  available after training.

This Billing Specialist will primarily be responsible for specific billing tasks which include the following:

Setting up complex financials for all billing categories including Medicare, Insurance and Medi-Cal.

Verifying clients financial eligibility.

Processing admissions, discharges for San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) and Inpatient clients.

Researching Medi-Cal denials, unbilled services, and re-billing when appropriate.

Working with daily BHRS missing information financial reports.

Working the Medi-Cal Monthly Eligibility File (MMEF) and Health Plan of San Mateo (HPSM) reports for new, termed, and retro enrollment.

Researching Medi-Cal Other Health Coverage (OHC) denials and unbilled SMMC PES and Inpatient services including outstanding claims over 90 days.

Applying payments for SMMC Inpatient and PES crossover clients.

Back up for other specialist functions when needed.

The ideal candidate will have:

In-depth experience using a behavioral health electronic health record (EHR), preferably Avatar, for business operations.

Experience working with insurance companies for claim follow-up.

Experience using the MEDS file, HDXpress and the HPSM website to verify eligibility.

Ability to read, interpret and apply rules, policies, and procedures applicable to each payor.

Knowledge of and experience with Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance.

Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate records and files.

Experience organizing work, setting priorities, and meeting critical deadlines.

Experience working with diverse client groups, providers and staff.

Ability to establish and maintain effective positive working relationships with BHRS staff, clients, other outside organizations and others encountered in the course of work.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

NOTE:  The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies. Knowledge of:

Medical terminology as related to patient services support work.

Policies and procedures related to patient services office support and hospital or clinic business office activities.

Office administrative practices and procedures, including filing and the operation of standard office equipment.

Basic business data processing principles and the use of word processing or computing equipment.

Proper form for typed materials.

Business arithmetic, including percentages and decimals.

Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Record keeping principles and procedures.

Skill/Ability to:

Perform technical, specialized, complex or difficult patient services office support work.

Organize, prioritize and coordinate work activities.

Read, interpret and apply rules, policies and procedures.

Organize, research and maintain patient and general office files.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.

Compose routine correspondence from brief instructions.

Make arithmetic calculations with speed and accuracy.

Use initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines.

Operate standard office equipment, including a word processor, personal or on-line computer, and centralized telephone equipment.

Note: Specific positions may require the ability to type at a rate of 40 net words per minute from printed copy.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

One year of journey level office support experience in a patient services setting. Open & Promotional.  Anyone may apply . Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours)  of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, Confidential and Management extra-help/limited term, and SEIU or AFSCME represented extra help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight:  pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification . All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button.  If you are not on the County's website, please go to  https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

~ TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE ~

Final Filing Date:  March 11, 2024

Application Screening:  March 13, 2024

Combined Civil Service Panel and Department Interviews:  March 27 and/or 28, 2024

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities. The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work. The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels.

Talent Acquisition Contact: Yvonne Alvidrez (022324) (Patient Services Specialist - G414)

#J-18808-Ljbffr