Associate Director of Payment Posting & Cash Applications

Summary

Join Natera as the Associate Director of Payment Posting and Cash Applications, leading the billing, collection, and accounts receivable management team. You will manage billing staff, implement strategic goals, and ensure accurate claim submission and timely collections. Responsibilities include analyzing reimbursements, maximizing cash collections, maintaining billing policies, preparing reports, and managing continuous improvements within the revenue cycle. You will also collaborate with various teams, provide performance reviews, and develop staff. This role requires a Bachelor's degree, 8+ years of relevant experience, and extensive knowledge of billing, coding, and compliance regulations. Natera offers competitive benefits, including comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life, and disability plans, as well as free testing for employees and their families.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field or equivalent required
• Extensive knowledge of reimbursement, billing, coding and compliance regulations is required
• Employees must complete training relating to HIPAA/PHI privacy, General Policies and Procedure Compliance training and security training as soon as possible but not later than the first 30 days of hire
• Must maintain a current status on Natera training requirements

Responsibilities

• Direct Billing Payment Posting and Cash Applications Management and staff to ensure that accurate submission of all claims and timely collections occurs in accordance with all third party contract terms including, Medicare, Medical, managed care, commercial insurance, and direct patient pay
• Establish and maintain all billing and financial data, including medical billing code tables, rate schedules and payer information
• Analyze reimbursement from all sources, including carrier reimbursement exception reporting and follow up pending claims analysis and denials management
• Assure maximization of cash collections through diligent and timely monitoring of all open accounts receivable balances
• Maintain and enhance billing policies and procedures for each function in the revenue cycle process and ensure staff adherence to policies
• Prepare detailed analyses and reports of billing and accounts receivable activity and results, including performance matrixes, bad debt expense and AR days outstanding
• Manage for continuous improvements within the revenue cycle process
• Effectively interact with various functional areas
• Provide mentoring, coaching and performance reviews for direct reports
• Manage all outreach billing operations, including hiring, orientation, training, development, coaching, corrective actions, and ongoing monitoring of all staff work-related activities
• Ensure consistent quality of the billing services by distributing and assigning duties and responsibilities to employees, ensuring skill levels are appropriate to the assigned tasks, and monitoring the department’s productivity
• Lead a high performance team responsible for Data Entry, Cash and Non-cash Posting, Refunds Processing. Provide leadership, drive change, and facilitate process improvements
• Actively collaborate with the RCM (Billing) Finance team on analysis of billing activity for monthly financial reporting, the sales and marketing team of new and existing clients, and senior management on performance and new initiatives
• Participate in the Compliance Committee for Coding and Billing related items; establish and enforce departmental and company policies and procedures
• Develop and monitor operating procedures and, where necessary, implement changes in workflow to improve productivity. Draft accurate budgeting and forecasting of headcount and cash receipts
• Create and hold billing leadership accountable for established performance and production standards. Maintain billing related quality patient outcomes
• Conduct annual performance evaluations, make hiring decisions, and develop corrective action plans when necessary
• Provide direction to and development of associates through daily coaching, the administration of Performance Management, and the creation and implementation of development plans
• Assess performance and provide timely and constructive feedback to staff
• Determine additional training needs
• Prepare annual performance evaluations and recommend merit increase and bonus percentages. Promote organizational efficiency, needed change and continuous quality improvement
• Identify and implement opportunities for automation and improved efficiency
• Assist as needed to perform other related duties and special projects as required

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in managing a high volume, fast growing billing office within the laboratory setting is preferred (staff of 50-100)
• Demonstrated leadership ability in a multi-site environment
• Capacity to actively engage and communicate with a wide variety of employees, senior leaders and external auditors to drive change and problem solve
• Ability to respond to change quickly and generate creative ideas and solutions to emerging business changes
• Active, visible and influential leadership style such as ability to directly engage, arrive at conclusions, drive consensus, and monitor actions in support of quality outcomes
• Skilled in researching, interpreting, and presenting data in a concise manner
• Demonstrates strong ability to effectively plan, organize, and delegate
• Leads by example and demonstrates commitment to continual improvement and a passion for excellence
• Maintains a high standard of discipline, professionalism, and sound decision making for excellence. Ability to motivate a highly successful team to exceed performance goals, drive change, and lead a growing staff
• Personable, persuasive, and comfortable navigating all levels of the workforce
• Communication – Proficient verbal and written communication skills
• Willingness to share and receive information and ideas from all levels of the organization in order to achieve the desired results
• Teamwork – Commitment to the successful achievement of team and organizational goals through a desire to participate with and help other members of the team
• Customer Service Focus – Demonstrate a focus on listening to and understanding client/customer needs and then delighting the client/customer by exceeding service and quality expectations

Benefits

• Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents
• Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits
• Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more
• We also offer a generous employee referral program!