Insurance and Billing Coordinator

Insurance and Billing Coordinator-The Billing and Insurance Coordinator manages day-to-day clinical revenue cycle and front-desk financial operations for the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine (LCSDM) Clinics. Responsibilities include accurate entry and maintenance of patient/insurance data in axiUm, insurance/Medicaid eligibility and benefit verification, claim preparation and timely submission, payment posting and account adjustments, cashiering and daily deposit support, and patient financial counseling. The coordinator performs collections and follow-up on unpaid or denied claims (including corrections, documentation, and appeals) to reduce accounts receivable and improve claim approval rates, supports provider enrollment/credentialing maintenance, and trains staff on clean-claim and denial-prevention practices. The role also supports patient check-in/check-out, paperwork completion and document scanning, appointment scheduling/recall and confirmation, phone coverage and message management, and communication between patients, students, faculty, and staff, while safeguarding cash and sensitive information. This position works closely with clinic staff, faculty, and students and reports to the Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs.

Duties and Responsibilities

Submit accurate dental (and, as applicable, medical) insurance and Medicaid claims in accordance with payer rules and clinic policies.

Verify insurance eligibility/benefits and obtain/track authorizations or precertifications when required; document coverage in axiUm to support accurate estimates and clean claim submission.

Ensure required documentation, attachments, and data elements are complete in axiUm prior to billing.

Monitor claim status through payer portals/clearinghouse tools; resolve rejections and correct errors promptly.

Post insurance payments, patient payments, and adjustments/write-offs in axiUm; reconcile EOBs/ERAs to patient ledgers.

Follow up on unpaid, underpaid, and denied claims; research root causes and initiate corrective action.

Prepare and submit corrected claims, reconsiderations, and formal appeals within payer deadlines; track outcomes.

Maintain denial and appeal logs; identify trends and communicate recurring issues to leadership for process improvement.

Perform collections on outstanding patient balances, respond to billing questions, coordinate payment arrangements, and document all collection activity and follow-up.

Perform cashier duties including collecting co-pays and payments, issuing receipts, and safeguarding cash and sensitive information.

Assist with daily balancing, batching, and preparation of deposits per established internal controls and timelines.

Run and distribute routine dental financial and revenue-cycle reporting (daily production/collection and deposit reconciliation; monthly accounts receivable aging, claims/denial trends, payer mix, and adjustments/write-offs; and year-end summaries) using axiUm and related tools; provide results to leadership as requested.

Support provider enrollment/credentialing and payer maintenance (applications, revalidation, roster updates) to ensure uninterrupted billing.

Train and coach staff/students on insurance and billing workflows, documentation standards, and denial prevention to maintain a high approval rate.

Attend meetings and serve on relevant committees; provide updates on claims, denials, and A/R follow-up activities.

Other duties as assigned.

May be required to perform other duties as assigned including but not limited to: committee participation, support to School’s leadership team, special event involvement, and presenting financial reports.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

Individual must possess the knowledge and the following skills and abilities or be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities:

Knowledge of dental terminology, dental insurance processes, and CDT coding; ability to apply coding/documentation standards for clean claims

Ability to verify benefits, interpret payer rules, and work denials, underpayments, and appeals (commercial payers and/or Medicaid)

Accounts receivable follow-up and patient collections skills with a service-oriented, professional approach

Proficiency with axiUm or similar dental practice/clinic management software; patient account management and scheduling systems; ability to learn new systems quickly

Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and comfort using payer portals/online tools

Strong computer/keyboard skills; telephone etiquette; working knowledge of office equipment (printers/scanners)

Strong attention to detail, organization, problem-solving, time management, and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines

Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills; ability to explain billing/insurance clearly and train others

Maintains confidentiality of PHI and financial data; supports compliance practices (HIPAA/FERPA/OSHA)

Requirements

Education: High school diploma/GED required; associate or bachelor’s degree in business, healthcare administration, or related field preferred

Experience: Minimum 2+ years of dental/healthcare insurance billing experience (claims submission, follow-up, and payment posting) required

Compliance: Ability to support compliance with HIPAA, FERPA, and OSHA guidelines

Physical demands: Ability to sit for extended periods (computer work) and use the telephone to conduct business

Lyon College is a USN&WR “top tier” national liberal arts college and recognized by Forbes as “One of America’s Top Colleges.” Founded in 1872, the College is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Arkansas and offers undergraduates exceptional preparation for their post-baccalaureate objectives, particularly in STEM fields, Business, Economics and Accounting, and the Arts. The Lyon College Institute of Health Sciences in Little Rock will house the College’s professional programs, including the School of Oral Health and Dental Medicine, as well as the School of Veterinary Medicine.

Interested candidates should apply electronically at www.lyon.edu/employment. Review of the applications will begin immediately and continue until the positions are filled. To learn more about Lyon College go to www.lyon.edu.

Lyon College does not discriminate with respect to the hiring of applicants or with respect to the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, or national origin. It is the continuing policy of Lyon College to comply with any applicable state and federal law regarding equal employment opportunities.

Advertisement: Lyon College School of Dental Medicine seeks a detail-oriented, patient-focused professional to lead front office operations and manage the clinical revenue cycle.

The ideal candidate will have experience in dental billing, insurance processing, and staff supervision, along with strong communication and organizational skills. Join our dynamic team supporting students, faculty, and patient care in a fast-paced clinical environment.