Department of Mental Health
Exam Number: b9192H

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT
Open Competitive Job Opportunity

FILING DATES
 THIS EXAM WILL POST ON TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019 AND WE WILL BEGIN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS ON THE FIRST DAY OF FILING WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 9 AM (PST) ON MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019.  FILING WILL BE SUSPENDED AFTER THE FIRST 500 APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED OR ON THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019, AT 5:00 P.M. (PST), WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE FIRST 500 WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
 

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
Positions allocable to this class typically report to a Supervising Patient Financial Services Worker I.  Positions in this class identify third-party resources by interviewing patients or their relatives and/or representatives to determine patient's financial resources to pay for medical and/or mental health care services by using electronic information systems.  Positions in this class assist patients to determine their potential eligibility to enroll in health care programs, obtain patient signatures on benefit assignment forms to assign and authorize payment of insurance benefits directly to the County, and process applications for a variety of no-cost/low-cost health care programs, such as Outpatient Reduced-Cost Simplified Application (ORSA), Ability To Pay (ATP), and Uniform Method of Determining Ability to Pay (UMDAP).  Patient Resources Workers are distinguished from Patient Financial Services Workers (PFSW) in that Patient Resources Workers screen and refer patients with Medi-Cal linkage to PFSWs for further eligibility determination and screening; and from incumbents of the Intermediate Clerk and the Intermediate Typist-Clerk classes who may direct the patient, relative, and/or authorized representative for financial screening.

Interviews patients or their relatives and/or representatives to obtain identifying information, financial and other eligibility data; determines the patient's potential eligibility to enroll in specific health care programs based upon diagnosis, available medical information, type of medical/clinical services, and residency status; enters and accesses data by utilizing various local and web-based information systems and databases to determine a patient's financial eligibility.

Evaluates financial data and resources to determine the patient's ability to reimburse the County for medical and/or mental health care servicesconsistent with department policy; completes or assists the patient in the completion of benefits forms for third party resources; contacts private insurance companies to verify coverage and to obtain authorization for services; verifies existing governmental coverage for medical or mental health care, and screens for the patient's potential eligibility to receive Medi-Cal or other no-cost/low-cost programs.  

Communicates with patients, responsible relatives and/or representatives, attorneys, employers, agencies and insurance companies to explain County policies and to obtain, verify, or clarify information required to complete standardized billing forms.  Computes plans of payment for patients whose medical share of cost has already been established.

Completes required federal, State, and County forms for patients during emergency room visits, upon admission, and during outpatient clinic visits. 

Refers patients without existing financial resources or with complex financial eligibility issues to a Patient Financial Services Worker or appropriate facility staff member. 

Initiates and/or processes applications for a variety of reduced no-cost/lowcost programs, such as ORSA, ATP, and UMDAP.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS:

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

OPTION I: Two years of experience interviewing the public to initiate or complete applications for financial assistance, insurance, medical, mental health, hospital services, social security, or workers' compensation.

OPTION II: Three years of clerical experience, two years of which must have involved public contact associated with the financial screening and/or registration of patients or claims billing and collection for hospital or medical services.

LICENSE:
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS:
Physical Class II – Light: Light physical effort which may include occasional light lifting to a 10 pound limit, and some bending, stooping or squatting. Considerable walking may be involved.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience conducting health care eligibility verifications via real-time, website, automated telephone or Point of Service (POS) devices, particularly Medi-Cal eligibility checks using the State Medi-Cal website, the Automated Eligibility Verification System (AEVS)*, or a Point of Service (POS) device**.

Experience processing medical paper or electronic claims and remittance information using a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)*** compliant claiming system in either provider or payer roles.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
*Automated Eligibility Verification System (AEVS) is an interactive voice response system that allows providers the ability to access Medi-Cal subscriber eligibility information through a touch-tone telephone.

**Point of Service (POS) device is used to verify recipient eligibility, clear Share of Cost liability, reserve Medi-Services, perform Family PACT (Planning, Access, Care and Treatment) client eligibility transactions and submit pharmacy or CMS-1500 claims.

***Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the general requirement on all  Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) transactions of patient care/service claiming file process.

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

Past and present mental health clients and family members are encouraged to apply.

VACANCY INFORMATION: The resulting eligible list for this examination will be used to fill vacancies within the Department of Mental Health.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION: All applicants are required to submit a Standard County of Los Angeles Employment Application online only.  Resumes cannot be accepted in lieu of applications, although resumes may be uploaded as attachments to the applications.  This examination will remain open until the need of the Department is met and is subject to closure without prior notice.
 
We must receive your application by 5:00 pm, PST, on the last day of filing.

Additional documents may be sent to exams@dmh.lacounty.gov, please include exam number and exam title in the subject line.

The acceptance of your application will depend on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Selection Requirements.  Please be sure your application indicates complete information, including dates for education and jobs held which relate to this position.  For each job held, give the name and addresses of your employer, job title, beginning and end dates, description of work performed, and total number of hours worked (full or part-time).  Resumes showing training and experience may be attached to the Los Angeles County Application.  All information and records are subject to verification.

Falsification of records can result in disqualification from the examination or termination of employment.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password.  Using a family member's or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:
HR Examinations Unit: (213) 972-7034

Joshua Goldman, Exams Analyst
(213) 972-7046
JGoldman@dmh.lacounty.gov

ADA COORDINATOR PHONE: (213) 972-7034
TELETYPE PHONE: (800) 735-2922
CALIFORNIA RELAY SERVICES PHONES: (800) 735-2922