At LifeWorks NW, our work strengthens the health and wellbeing of individuals and families at every stage of life. Our mission is to promote a healthy community through high-quality, culturally responsive mental health, addiction, and prevention services that create real, lasting change. Guided by our values of recovery and resilience, relationships, and results, we partner closely with clients and communities to reduce stigma and build pathways to stability and hope. If you want your work to make a meaningful difference beyond the walls of an office, we invite you to join us.

The Billing Specialist bills private pay, private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid fund sources.

Location: This position is based out of LifeWorks NW's Sylvan site.

Pay/Benefits: $23.62-$30.57 per hour plus Full benefits.

Salary Placement Notice:
The posted salary range reflects the compensation potential for this role. Most candidates will be placed between the entry level and midpoint of the range, depending on their experience and qualifications. However, more seasoned professionals with extensive exact or similar experience may be considered for placement toward the higher end of the range. Final salary offers are made in alignment with internal compensation processes in accordance with Oregon Pay Equity laws.

Essential Responsibilities

• Coordinate with staff and other sites to identify and determine authorizations and re-authorization, including ensuring authorizations are in place; maintaining a tracking system; following up with front desk staff and clinicians when a client is approaching authorization limit.

• Contact clients to obtain or relay insurance/account information, respond to customer inquiries regarding insurance/account issues.

• Follow-up on Explanation of Benefits from funding sources (e.g. denied claims).

• Post 3rd party payments to client accounts and audit the payments for accuracy.

• Coordinate with primary therapist to get updated treatment plans, form completions, etc. for re-authorization as needed. Submit required paperwork to funder.

• Notify therapist/front office, supervisor if treatment is denied.

• Coordinate with billing staff regarding any client changing fund sources.

• Update proprietary software for insurance eligibility and authorized services.

• Review printed claim forms for completeness and complete claims/invoices as needed and submit to insurance.

• Verify insurance eligibility and benefits via phone or state system/insurance website.

• Operate basic office machines including scanner, copier, fax, and adding machine.

• Keep records of invoices and support documents.

• Resolve discrepancies in accounts receivable records.

• Train Billing Specialists and other agency staff on billing insurances, the clients' accounts receivables, authorizations, and/or any part of the billing process.

• Data entry, reference information on computer, and run basic computer reports.

• Continually increase level of cultural sensitivity, awareness, and competency.

• Complete tasks accurately within defined time frames with minimal supervision.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.

• Minimum 1 year experience in insurance, accounts receivable, and/or billing.

• Good computer skills including a functional knowledge of Outlook, Word, and Excel. Ability to master proprietary software which may include on-line billing.

• Demonstrated effective communication skills and maintaining a cooperative working relationship with others in a culturally diverse environment.