Patient Account Representative I, Patient Accounting

Job Description

Join Hilo Benioff Medical Center and be part of a team that proudly cares for our friends, family, and neighbors across East Hawaii. 

Job Description

Join our Patient Accounting team at Hilo Benioff Medical Center and play a vital role in ensuring patients receive accurate, timely billing and compassionate financial support. In this entry-level role, you’ll help connect patients, providers, and payers—directly contributing to the financial health of the hospital and a positive patient experience. This is a great opportunity to grow your career in healthcare finance while making a meaningful impact in your community.

Key Responsibilities

• Process, review, and submit patient claims accurately and in compliance with federal, state, and payer regulations to support timely reimbursement
• Communicate with patients and third-party payers to collect payments, resolve outstanding balances, and explain billing information
• Interview patients or responsible parties to gather financial information and determine appropriate payment arrangements
• Research and resolve billing discrepancies, delayed payments, and credit balances, including initiating refunds when appropriate
• Monitor delinquent accounts and coordinate with collection agencies when necessary to support revenue cycle goals
• Promote excellent customer service by maintaining positive communication with patients, staff, and providers while ensuring confidentiality and compliance

Required Qualifications: To qualify, you must meet all of the following requirements. Please note that unless specifically indicated, the required education and experience may not be gained concurrently.  In addition, qualifying work experiences are credited based on a 40-hour workweek.

Education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Experience: Two (2) years of clerical, cashiering, data entry, customer service skills or any combination of these experiences which duties demonstrating strong administrative and communication skills.

Substitution of Education for General Experience: An Associate’s or Bachelor’s from an accredited college or university may substitute for all of the Experience required.  Evidence of the appropriate training (e.g. official transcript or diploma) should be submitted with the application to be given credit for education.  A legible photocopy will be accepted.  However, HBMC reserves the right to request an official copy.

Preferred Knowledge & Skills:

• Familiarity with medical billing, insurance processes (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid, HMSA), and coding systems such as ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS
• Understanding of billing regulations and collections practices, including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
• Strong attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and ability to communicate clearly and professionally

Company Description

As the Big Island’s leading providers of inpatient and outpatient care, the East Hawaii Region of Hawai`i Health Systems Corporation (HHSC), consisting of Hilo Benioff Medical Center, Honoka'a Hospital, Ka′u Hospital, Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home, East Hawaii Medical Group and East Hawaii Health Pharmacy, delivers a full range of services and programs. Our three hospitals include 290 beds and more than 1,900 employees. Our medical staff is comprised of 250 physicians, physician assistants and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, representing 33 specialties. East Hawaii Health is our network of clinics offering primary and specialty care. Hilo Benioff Medical Center functions as a Level III Trauma Center, which includes the second busiest emergency room in the state, providing 24-hour care and serving more than 50,000 patients annually. Honoka'a Hospital and Ka′u Hospital are designated as Critical Access Hospitals. To learn more about the East Hawaii Region, please watch our Video Yearbook or visit www.hbmc.org, www.honokaahospital.org or www.kauhospital.org.

Benefits

• 13 paid holidays each year (104 hours); 14 (112 hours) during election years*
• 21 paid vacation days (168 hours) per year*
• 21 paid sick days (168 hours) per year*
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Participation in the State of Hawaii’s retirement system
• Potential eligibility for various student loan repayment & scholarship programs

* Rates listed for paid holidays, vacation and sick days are for 1.0 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) positions assigned to 8 hour shifts. Accruals for these benefits are otherwise prorated based on FTE.

Pre-Employment Health Requirements

Offers of employment will be contingent on successfully passing a pre-employment examination, which includes a drug screen and other regulatory medical requirements such as, but not limited to, a tuberculosis (TB) screen.  The cost for drug screening and blood draw for QuantiFERON and Titers, shall be borne by the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

Pre-Employment Assessments for External Candidates

As part of the recruiting process for this position, external applicants (job applicants NOTemployed by HHSC’s East Hawaii Region) are required to complete pre-employment assessments shortly after application submission. If you are not an employee of the East Hawaii Region of HHSC, you will receive an email containing assessment instructions. We ask that you complete the assessments within two days of receipt of the request. 

Equal Opportunity Employer

The East Hawaii Region of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation is a drug free workplace and an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Shift Details

Must be available to work shifts, weekends and holidays as necessary based on hospital operations. Services are provided 24/7.