Responsible for communicating with patients, families, physicians, quality review and insurance companies to obtain information and insurance verification to assure quality patient care and payment of hospital accounts. This includes greeting patients, providing information, answering phones, registering outpatients and/or inpatients, coding lab accounts and entering orders as required. Additional responsibilities include, obtaining all demographics, insurance information, appropriate codes, and authorizations from insurance companies, patients (or their representatives) and physicians in a courteous and efficient manner for billing. Other duties pertinent to optimal customer service, patient flow, and efficient staff utilization are also expected. Maintains a professional and courteous behavior to ensure a positive image within the community served and to promote customer satisfaction. May perform bed assignments, assign physicians, and schedule patient appointments. Provides other registration, clerical and billing support as required. Reviews patient accounts and collects payments at time of service, as well as reviews past due accounts for monies owed; refers patients to patient advocacy for any additional financial assistance.