DAMARIS PANAMENO
Willis,TX
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Financial Counselor (Revenue Cycle)
Texas Oncology
01.2023 - Current
- Assist patients in understanding their healthcare insurance coverage, benefits, limitations and out-of-pocket expenses
- Educate patients on their financial responsibilities such as deductibles, copays and co-insurance
- Verify and assure all accounts are ready for billing with adequate supporting documentation
- Responsible for counseling patients regarding their financial obligation and collection of monies owed for medical services
- Assess patients’ eligibility for financial assistance programs like Medicaid, Medicare and patient assistance programs through each drug company
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of patient financial information, insurance coverage, and payment arrangements
- Assist with chemotherapy authorization process and appeals; obtain insurance pre-authorization or referral approval codes prior to each treatment
Patient Access Representative (New Patient Coordinator)
MD Anderson Cancer Center
06.2022 - 12.2022
- Screen and schedule appointments for new patients to ensure optimal efficiency in clinic operations
- Collect complete and accurate financial and consent data during intake and registration process
- Use technical expertise to obtain insurance information when needed and electronically verify eligibility when available
- Provide financial information to patients that include cost estimates, payment plans, discounts and supplemental financial assistance
Patient Service Representative (Scheduling)
Cedar Sinai Tower Hematology Oncology
02.2019 - 05.2022
- Provide outstanding customer service through successful intake, prioritizing, and resolution of calls and patient needs for an Oncology team
- Schedule appointments and provide high level of patient service
- Process and track referrals and prior authorizations for various insurance types
- Explain policies, procedures, or services to patients using administrative knowledge
Patient Access Coordinator (Revenue Cycle)
UCLA Health Hematology Oncology
12.2017 - 12.2018
- Identified and pursued opportunities for maximization of copay reimbursement for UCLA’s 16 Hematology Oncology clinics
- Linked qualified patients to programs and non-profit foundations to help with chemotherapy medication costs
- Support HCP’s with the buy and bill process, benefits investigation, prior authorization and appeals
- Educate and assist clinics on payer coverages, reimbursement challenges, pharmaceutical reimbursement programs and their policies, procedures and resources
- Assisted with administrating grant funds, including allocating program funds to direct recipients, tracking fund balances, and reporting financial progress information
- Responsible for providing a monthly financial variance report to Senior VP, Finance Department, Patient Account Representatives and Oncology Director
- Collected 1.3 million dollars in payments for the 2017 fiscal year, and saved patients from collection and increased the department accounts receivables
Administrative Assistant II (Chemotherapy Scheduler)
UCLA Health Hematology Oncology
03.2016 - 12.2017
- Coordinated patient chemotherapy schedule accordingly
- Provided general and administrative support to the staff, physicians and patients of the Oncology Clinic
- Worked with external specialty pharmacies for chemo drug ordering and delivery scheduling
- Provided high-level, consistent customer service to faculty, colleagues, patients and the general public
Prior Authorizations Specialist
UCLA Health Hematology Oncology
05.2013 - 03.2016
- Managed benefit verification and prior authorization for infusion and chemotherapy drugs, including specialty medication for Rheumatology
- Ensured all authorization processes comply with payer requirements, HIPAA, and other regulatory standards
- Maintained accurate and thorough documentation of benefit verification and authorization processes for claims and submission and billing support
- Stayed up-to-date on payer policy changes and implement necessary adjustments to processes
- Tracked data related to authorization statuses, including turnaround times, approval rates, and payer trends
Administrative Assistant II
UCLA Health Hematology Oncology
05.2012 - 05.2013
- Followed up on patient appointments and cancellations
- Completed demographics, referral forms, on-line transactions including appointment and procedure scheduling using the Encounter Registration system
- Balanced and deposited cash and checks; provided receipts to main cashier
- Worked with insurance companies in obtaining treatments and medication authorizations
- Ensured quality control standards are met, while providing extensive personalized customer service
Patient Services Coordinator
UCLA Health Hematology Oncology
09.2010 - 04.2012
- Provided a high level of service for three UCLA Hematology/Oncology Practices
- Served as initial point of contact for HemOnc practices, with the knowledge and ability to triage patient to particular clinic/service based on information provided by patient
- Ensured quality control standards were met, while providing extensive personalized customer service
Administrative Assistant I (Medical Records)
UCLA Health Hematology Oncology
05.2008 - 09.2010
- Coordinated patient charts
- Managed document flow, including creating and maintaining files
- Assisted authorization department with scheduling patients for upcoming radiology exams
- Re-organized 20 years’ worth of files
Education
Certified Billing and Coding Specialist -
Conejo Valley School
Thousand Oaks, CA01.2017
Bachelor of Arts Degree -
Cal-State University Northridge
Northridge, CA01.2007
Associates Degree -
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA01.2005
Skills
- Efficient Keyboard Skills: 50 WPM
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
- HIPAA Compliance
- Health Insurance Management
- Eligibility Assessment
- Insurance Eligibility Verification
- Buy and Bill; Reimbursement Process
- Prior Authorization
- ICD-10
- Patient Assistance Programs
- EPIC Systems Administration
- Strong Organizational Skills
Languages
Spanish
Full Professional
Timeline
Financial Counselor (Revenue Cycle)
Texas Oncology
01.2023 - Current
Patient Access Representative (New Patient Coordinator)
MD Anderson Cancer Center
06.2022 - 12.2022
Patient Service Representative (Scheduling)
Cedar Sinai Tower Hematology Oncology
02.2019 - 05.2022
Patient Access Coordinator (Revenue Cycle)
UCLA Health Hematology Oncology
12.2017 - 12.2018
Administrative Assistant II (Chemotherapy Scheduler)
UCLA Health Hematology Oncology
03.2016 - 12.2017
Prior Authorizations Specialist
UCLA Health Hematology Oncology
05.2013 - 03.2016
Administrative Assistant II
UCLA Health Hematology Oncology
05.2012 - 05.2013
Patient Services Coordinator
UCLA Health Hematology Oncology
09.2010 - 04.2012
Administrative Assistant I (Medical Records)
UCLA Health Hematology Oncology
05.2008 - 09.2010
Certified Billing and Coding Specialist -
Conejo Valley School
Bachelor of Arts Degree -
Cal-State University Northridge
Associates Degree -
Santa Monica College
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