Patient Access Representative Training Programs
Patient access is a crucial aspect of the healthcare system that focuses on ensuring patients receive timely, efficient, and appropriate care. It encompasses various administrative processes such as patient registration, insurance verification, appointment scheduling, and more.
One of the key players in this process is the Patient Access Representative (PAR).
Education & Online Training
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How Much Does it Cost
Courses listed above cost approximately $2,700. Some trade schools may charge as much as $5,000. Associate degree programs typically cost more, with tuition fees ranging from $3,000 to $15,000.
The Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) certification from the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM) costs around $200 to $300 for the exam fee (depending on whether you’re a NAHAM member or not).
How Long Does it Take?
The online courses listed above are self paced but take about 12 months to complete.
Associate degree programs can take up to 2 years. Certificate programs are usually shorter, taking approximately 6 to 12 months to finish.
What Will You Study?
A good training program will include the following:
- Daily job duties & responsibilities of a Patient Access Representative (PAR) in a medical office
- Preparation for two national certification examinations
- Ethics & law including compliance with HIPAA regulations
- Patient communication (face-to-face, digital, and telephone communication)
- Hands-on experience, with the best courses using an Electronic Health Records (EHR) simulator that shows you how to do common medical office tasks
- Financial duties such as insurance and patient billing procedures
For reference material, the courses listed above will include these textbooks:
- Medical Terminology for Health Professions
- Administrative Medical Assisting, 8th Edition
- Understanding Health Insurance: A Guide to Billing and Reimbursement 2022
- Workbook to Accompany Understanding Health Insurance: A Guide to Billing and Reimbursement 2022
What Are The Requirements?
The minimum educational requirements to become a Patient Access Representative (PAR) typically include a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate.
Certifications
Most organizations will look for candidates that have passed the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) and Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist (CEHRS) exams. Any good training program should prepare you for these exams. These tests are administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Obtaining these certifications is a key step to becoming a Patient Access Representative. They can also help you with similar career paths such medical assisting.
Some healthcare facilities may prefer candidates with additional education in areas like medical terminology, customer service, or healthcare administration.
Salary
How Much Does a PAR Make?
It is hard to give a specific number at this point in time because the Bureau of Labor Statistics has not reported any salary data for this role. However, comparing the salary to similar medical positions we can estimate that the average annual salary is around $38,000 to $45,000 depending on experience. Some remote opportunities might pay $16 to $20 hourly.
Job Duties & Responsibilities
What Does a PAR Do?
Some of the primary duties and responsibilities include:
- Registering patients
- Collecting necessary insurance information
- Verifying insurance coverage
- Obtaining authorizations for services
- Scheduling appointments
- Coordinating follow-up care
- Explaining payment options and assistance programs
- Ensuring accurate medical records
- Maintaining patient confidentiality
Why Are They Important?
By serving as the bridge between patients and healthcare providers, PARs benefit both parties. Patients receive a seamless and efficient experience, which can alleviate stress and anxiety related to medical appointments. Meanwhile, healthcare facilities benefit from improved patient satisfaction, better coordination of care, and streamlined administrative processes.
Career Outlook
The demand for healthcare administrative professionals is expected to grow. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 9% growth rate for medical records and health information technicians between 2020 and 2030.
Similarly, medical and health services managers are expected to see a 32% growth rate during the same period.
Its is noteworthy that this rate of growth is much faster than the average for many occupations outside of healthcare.
To enhance your career prospects, enroll in a class that will prepare you for the CMAA and CEHRS certification exams.
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