Patient Services Advocate - LifeLong Medical Care

Overview

Supporting Community Healthcare is a rewarding role. LifeLong Medical Care is looking for a Patient Services Advocate (PSA) at our Administrative Site in Berkeley. As part of a team of Patient Services Advocates and Eligibility Specialists, Patient Services Advocates (PSA) provide assistance, information, and support to new and established patients in determining eligibility for health services under various private and public health care assistance programs. Patient Services Advocates provide community outreach, screening and enrollment at various local events and festivals in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. PSA also serve as patient registrars and navigators for new LifeLong patients within the organization.

This is a full time, benefit eligible position. 

This position is represented by SEIU-UHW. Salaries and benefits are set by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), and an employee in this position must remain a member in good standing of SEIU-UHW, as defined in the CBA.

LifeLong Medical Care is a large, multi-site, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with a rich history of providing innovative healthcare and social services to a wonderfully diverse patient community. Our patient-centered health home is a dynamic place to work, practice, and grow. We have over 15 primary care health centers and deliver integrated services including psychosocial, referrals, chronic disease management, dental, health education, home visits, and much, much more. LifeLong Medical Care is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, and bilingual and bicultural individuals and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical condition.

Benefits

Compensation: $20 - $24/hour. We offer excellent benefits including: medical, dental, vision (including dependent and domestic partner coverage), generous leave benefits including ten paid holidays, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) retirement savings plan.

COVID-19 Vaccine Policy

In accordance with LifeLong Medical Care's commitment to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards, we have adopted a Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Policy to safeguard the health of our employees and their families; our patients and visitors; and the community at large from infectious diseases, that vaccinations may reduce. This policy will comply with all applicable laws and is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Order of the California State Public Health Officer. Unless a reasonable medical or religious accommodation is approved, all employees must receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

Responsibilities

• Interviews and screens new and established patients to determine eligibility for health insurances and other programs including Medi-Cal, Covered California, CalFresh, HealthPac and Contra Costa CARES.
• Assists patients and community members with completing and submitting applications through Covered California and other benefit applications.
• Registers new patients, schedules appointments, and provides information on LifeLong Medical Care’s locations, services and available programs.
• Responsible for tracking and reporting all required data for enrollment and outreach efforts.
• Schedules Medi-Cal appointments for patients to meet with On-site Eligibility Workers.
• Schedules, conducts and tracks patient assistance, follow-up and outcomes.
• Advocates for patients with County and State Social Service agencies by helping file appeals and other actions.
• Conducts outreach calls to new Medi-Cal members assigned to LifeLong to register them and get them into care.
• Takes all classes and test to become a Certified Enrollment Counselor
• Attends all eligibility related meetings and trainings.
• Utilizes Epic and other electronic systems to enter patient information and research history.
• Conducts outreach with other county organizations to screen uninsured patients for health insurance and/or other programs.
• Participates in community outreach to raise awareness of available health and social services programs.
• Assists in verifying eligibility two days in advance when necessary. Notifies patients when there’s a change in their eligibility or coverage.
• Coordinates with LifeLong Medical internal staff, and other organizations to resolve patient issues.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Commitment to the provision of primary care services for the underserved with demonstrated ability and sensitivity in working with a variety of people from low-income populations, with diverse educational, lifestyle, ethnic and cultural origins.
• Strong organizational, administrative, multi-tasking, prioritization and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure in a positive friendly manner and to be flexible and adaptive to change.
• Ability to effectively present information to others, including other employees, community partners and vendors.
• Ability to seek direction/approval on essential matters, yet work independently with little onsite supervision, using professional judgment and diplomacy.
• Work in a team-oriented environment with a number of professionals with different work styles and support needs.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written skills.
• Conduct oneself in internal and external settings in a way that reflects positively on LifeLong Medical Care as an organization of professional, confident and sensitive staff.
• Ability to see how one’s work intersects with that of other departments of LifeLong Medical Care and that of other partner organizations.
• Make appropriate use of knowledge/ expertise/ connections of other staff.
• Be creative and mature with a “can do”, proactive attitude and an ability to continuously “scan” the environment, identifying and taking advantage of opportunities for improvement.

Job Requirements   

• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum of two years social service or administrative experience in a clinical or social services setting.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to communicate effectively with elderly or disabled adults from varying cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Proficient in Microsoft office Word, Excel, Outlook.
• Able to work some evenings and weekends.
• Access to reliable transportation with current liability insurance.
• Bilingual English/Spanish.

Job Preferences

• College degree in related field
• Experience in working in a community health center.
• Knowledge of Medi-Cal and Medicare-related benefits and other programs for low-income clients.
• EPIC electronic health record (EHR) and practice management (EPM) experience.