Open To Work
La Rita Hicks
Release of Information Specialists
O’Fallon,Illinois
Summary
As a seasoned business and administrative professional with exceptional communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills. I am seeking to acquire a position that allows me a long-term opportunity to exhibit self-motivation, positive work ethics, and other qualities of a mature individual that will prove to be an asset to a financial, educational, insurance, healthcare and marketing corporation.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Credit Balance Specialist
Ensemble RCM LLC
Cincinnati, OH
04.2025 - 04.2026
Variance Analysis Representative
HSHS St. Elizabeth Hospital
O’Fallon, IL
10.2023 - 04.2025
- Assists with processing of refund checks for patients and insurance companies.
- Collects Explanation of Benefits to support refund checks.
- Identifies, analyzes, and resolves overpayments.
- Investigates reasons for overpayments.
- Applies payments to appropriate dates of services.
- Transfer.
Release of Information Specialist
St. Elizabeth Hospital
O’Fallon, Illinois
07.2022 - 10.2023
- Managed day to day processing of release of medical records and other requests to insurance companies (nation-wide), patients, healthcare professionals, attorneys and others in a timely and efficient manner ensuring accuracy and confidentiality.
- Provided excellent customer service by being attentive, respectful and professional in identifying and addressing member concerns and problems.
- Protected patients’ right to privacy by ensuring that only authorized individuals have access to their information and that all authorizations are in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
- Maintained working knowledge of the current state laws regarding fee structure, and HIPAA regulations as well as facility policies and procedures regarding release of information.
- Performed responsibilities in accordance with the Company’s and member facilities policies, procedures; state and federal labor regulations.
- Worked within the scope of position and direction, willingly accepting assignments and ability to adapt to change and respond to difficult and challenging situations in a professional manner.
Client Contact Representative
Internal Revenue Services
St. Louis, MO
12.2021 - 06.2022
- Provide technical assistance to individuals primarily through telephone interaction in a dynamic call center environment.
- Address wide range of tax questions/issues/problems that require unique solutions.
- Provide information to assist taxpayers in understanding and meeting their tax responsibilities.
- Secure, analyze and protect sensitive personal and financial information.
- Make determinations and use sound judgment to resolve taxpayer disputes and delinquency issues.
- Evaluate information involving the research of computerized records by accessing multiple online/database systems.
Client Liaison
Paszkiewicz Litigation Services
Glen Carbon, IL
07.2019 - 12.2021
- Assisted with requesting records from various healthcare facilities
- Conducted research via telephone and internet to identify or confirm appropriate accounts for litigation purposes.
- Called and established the lines of communication with clients.
- Conducted regular and persistent follow-up phone calls to clients.
- Received and reviewed records for compliance with requested records and dates of service.
- Performed uploading and storage of records as needed.
- Created professional written correspondence.
- Responded to questions and concerns from internal staff by phone, email and face-to-face.
- Highly motivated, self-starter with a strong ability to succeed in a multi-tasking, fast paced team environment.
Financial/Marketing Coordinator
Hope Jones & Associates, Inc.
Fairview Heights, IL
07.2018 - 06.2019
- Assessed financial position of clients seeking private and/or public funding.
- Prepared financial reports (i.e. profit and loss statements, balance sheets.)
- Projected revenue reports, annual budgets.
- Assisted clients in developing healthy internal financial reporting systems and controls.
- Performed administrative duties for marketing department.
- Assisted in planning and concept development, and executive activities for company and its clients.
- Assisted in coordination of events and campaigns.
- Developed marketing materials to ensure valid and accurate contents.
Release of Information Specialist
Ciox Health
Alpharetta, GA
02.2000 - 11.2018
- Managed day to day processing of release of medical records and other requests to insurance companies (nation-wide), patients, healthcare professionals, attorneys and others in a timely and efficient manner ensuring accuracy and confidentiality.
- Provided excellent customer service by being attentive, respectful and professional in identifying and addressing member concerns and problems.
- Protected patients’ right to privacy by ensuring that only authorized individuals have access to their information and that all authorizations are in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
- Maintained working knowledge of the current state laws regarding fee structure, and HIPAA regulations as well as facility policies and procedures regarding release of information.
- Performed responsibilities in accordance with the Company’s and member facilities policies, procedures; state and federal labor regulations.
- Worked within the scope of position and direction, willingly accepting assignments and ability to adapt to change and respond to difficult and challenging situations in a professional manner.
- Assisted in training new associates.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Health Information Management
Lindenwood University
05-2001
Master of Arts - School Counseling K-12
Lindenwood University
05-2010
Skills
- Effective Communication
- Teamwork
- Time Management
- Leadership
- Productivity and organization
- Attention to detail
- Customer service
- Organizational skills
- Team collaboration
- Effective communication
- Reliability
- Decision-making skills
- Self motivation
- Data entry
Certification
- [Area of certification], [Company Name] - [Timeframe]
Timeline
Credit Balance Specialist
Ensemble RCM LLC
04.2025 - 04.2026
Variance Analysis Representative
HSHS St. Elizabeth Hospital
10.2023 - 04.2025
Release of Information Specialist
St. Elizabeth Hospital
07.2022 - 10.2023
Client Contact Representative
Internal Revenue Services
12.2021 - 06.2022
Client Liaison
Paszkiewicz Litigation Services
07.2019 - 12.2021
Financial/Marketing Coordinator
Hope Jones & Associates, Inc.
07.2018 - 06.2019
Release of Information Specialist
Ciox Health
02.2000 - 11.2018
Master of Arts - School Counseling K-12
Lindenwood University
Bachelor of Arts - Health Information Management
Lindenwood University