Virtual Medical Receptionist / Insurance Verification Specialist

Long Island Gastro is seeking a highly organized, patient-focused Virtual Medical Receptionist / Insurance Verification Specialist to support our busy Gastroenterology practice. This role serves as the first point of contact for our patients and combines front-office responsibilities with insurance verification duties. The ideal candidate is professional, compassionate, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a fast-paced medical environment while delivering exceptional customer service over the phone. The primary focus of this position is answering inbound patient calls, scheduling appointments, and completing patient intake. During slower call periods, the candidate will assist with verifying insurance eligibility and benefits to ensure patients are financially cleared before their appointments. Candidates should be confident verifying insurance coverage, copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and determining whether prior authorizations are required. This position identifies authorization requirements and prepares documentation for the clinical team but does not submit or obtain prior authorizations . Experience in Gastroenterology or Internal Medicine is highly desirable, although strong insurance verification experience is the highest priority. Key Responsibilities Patient Communication Answer inbound patient calls professionally and efficiently. Serve as the first point of contact for patients. Respond to questions regarding appointments, insurance coverage, and office procedures. Deliver outstanding customer service during every patient interaction. Route messages and patient concerns to the appropriate team members. Appointment Scheduling & Patient Intake Schedule new patient consultations and follow-up appointments. Confirm, reschedule, and cancel appointments as needed. Collect and update patient demographic and insurance information. Complete patient registration and intake processes. Ensure patient records are accurate and complete before appointments. Insurance Verification Verify insurance eligibility and benefits for upcoming patient appointments. Confirm copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and coverage limitations. Utilize Availity and NaviNet to verify insurance information. Determine whether prior authorizations are required based on payer guidelines. Prepare and document authorization requirements for the clinical team (documentation only—not submission). Administrative Support Maintain accurate patient records within MD Land EMR. Document patient communications and insurance verification activities. Support daily front-office and administrative operations. Assist providers and office staff with additional administrative tasks as needed. Requirements Required Qualifications Minimum of 2 years of experience as a Medical Receptionist, Medical Administrative Assistant, Patient Care Coordinator, or similar healthcare administrative role. Experience handling high-volume inbound patient calls. Strong appointment scheduling and patient intake experience. Extensive insurance verification experience. Knowledge of insurance eligibility, copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and authorization requirements. Excellent English communication skills with a professional phone presence. Little to no noticeable accent preferred. Strong organizational, multitasking, and time-management skills. Ability to work independently in a remote environment. Preferred Qualifications Experience using MD Land EMR . Experience using Availity . Experience using NaviNet . Gastroenterology practice experience. Internal Medicine experience. Bilingual English/Spanish. Experience supporting high-volume medical practices. Benefits Please note that this is a full-time contractor position (40 hours per week) with a negotiable pay rate depending on skillset and experience. The schedule is Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to 5 PM EST.