Greet patients either in person or via telephone, enter and update their insurance/demographics in the practice management system.  Verifies patients insurance coverage prior to patients appointment and advised patient of any insurance referrals or authorizations needed. Prior to patients arrival or at minimum at time of arrival before visit.       Communicate with appropriate staff regarding patients arrival, and ensure that patients medical record is available for physician.  Process/update HIPAA-related paperwork and other institutional forms as necessary.  Collect or retrieve referrals or insurance authorizations for procedures and tests ordered by attending physician. Review status of waiting room on a routine basis and ensure that patients are kept advised of wait times.  May enter orders into the electronic medical record (EMR) system or prepare prescription refill requests on behalf of the physician for the review and approval by the ordering physician. Ensures that patient has paid co-pay or collects co-pay under direction of billing staff, providing patient with receipt following established cash-control processes.  May schedule surgeries/procedures or work in conjunction with Surgical Coordinator verifying times with patients; preparing charts, pre-admissions and consent forms as necessary.May schedule patient for follow-up appointment as needed. Provide patient with guidelines for requesting medical records, if necessary. May perform simple charge entry tasks or enter payments collected from patients and prepare Cashiers deposit. Note: duties are mutually exclusive and may not be performed by the same employee. Answer phones for practice and schedule appointments, Take detailed clinical phone messages for physician or advanced allied healthcare provider.  May initiate reminder phones calls for next day appointments. Help direct patient flow during practice hours. Performs other related duties as necessary