How to Become a Patient Access Representative in New Hampshire

Patient access representatives are front-office healthcare employees who deliver essential and routine services across various medical settings, including specialty clinics, medical offices, hospitals, surgery centers, and numerous other facilities.

Beginning your career in a patient access role offers numerous benefits, including exceptional job growth and a respectable salary, especially for entry-level work.

Keep reading to learn more about how to become a patient access representative in New Hampshire!

Steps to Become a Patient Access Representative in New Hampshire

Six primary steps exist to becoming a patient access representative in New Hampshire, including the following:

Step One: Complete a High School Degree

Employers require postsecondary education to enter the field, so you must hold at least a high school degree to be accepted into any program.

However, for those who know they want to become a patient access representative, applying during your senior year can help get you into a program shortly after graduation. 

Step Two: Complete the Patient Access Program

Once accepted into a school, you must complete the patient access program to be considered for employment.

Program degree awards range from a certificate to an associate degree, which varies in time commitment and cost.

However, the more education you have, the more prospective employers you can attract.

Postsecondary education also prepares you for certification exams, further boosting your resume.

Step Three: Gain Experience

Many patient access roles require one-to-two years of work within the field.

As a result, many students opt for internships during their training program or working part-time within the function or in a medical facility setting.

This firsthand experience is a critical aspect of the learning process and can help you uncover skills that must be improved or identify areas of interest for the future.

Step Four: Sharpen Relevant Skills

While the classroom and firsthand experience are critical aspects of success, you must also hold specific skills that cannot be learned and are only gained through practice and experience.

These include the following:

• Dedication to learning
• Empathy and compassion
• Excellent communication skills
• Flexibility
• Strong attention to detail

The best patient access representatives have a combination of interpersonal skills and formal education.

Step Five: Consider Registrations, Certifications, and Licenses

While these advanced achievements are not required in New Hampshire, earning certifications, like the CHAA (Certified Healthcare Admissions Associate) certificate, will make you more appealing to the employer and provide additional skills to refine your craft.

One of the best aspects of the healthcare industry is that there are always new challenges and new skills to learn.

Step Six: Start Your Career

Once you’ve completed all training and other employment requirements, you’re ready to start your new career as a patient access representative at a medical clinic, physicians’ office, hospital, or different location.

A patient access career requires minimal upfront financial and time investment but offers fantastic rewards.

Schools in New Hampshire

Medi-Cali

This online patient access representative training program only costs $349 and comprises 25 courses with a final examination to become a Certified Patient Access Specialist.

The course covers any front office topics like HIPAA, medical necessity basics, patient liability determination, patient payment basics, assessing patient financial status, Medicare as a secondary payer, and service authorization basics.

Penn Foster

Penn Foster is another online patient access representative program that can be completed in over a year and awards you a diploma.

The program prepares students to conduct administrative tasks relevant to working in any healthcare setting, as well as public health clinics and insurance companies.

The curriculum is sequenced to ensure learner success and help prepare students for industry certification exams like CEHRS and CMAA.

Classes include electronic medical records, health insurance and medical billing, medical office procedures, body systems and medical terminology 1 and 2, pharmacology and pathology, confidentiality, ethics, and law in Allied Health.

Patient Access Representative Schools in New Hampshire – Summary Table

Salary

The average U.S. annual patient access representative salary is around $50,000, with pay ranging from $45,800 to $56,300.

In New Hampshire, the average salary is slightly higher at around $51,000, with compensation ranging from $46,400 to $57,000.

Regional Salary in New Hampshire