A/R Financial Counselor, Collections

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Communicates with patients, face-to-face or by telephone, collecting on patient financial liability.
• Process patient accounts promptly and efficiently to reduce receivables and bad debts.
• Makes outgoing phone calls to verify demographics for update and/or place accounts with external collection agency as appropriate.
• Reviews patient account ledgers and contacts responsible parties to collect monies on delinquent accounts.
• Participates in automated telephone work queue collecting on past due balances.
• Places delinquent accounts with collection agency.
• Consults with patients regarding their financial responsibility, current benefits, and limitations on coverage for their plan product and payment options.
• Reviews and processes bankruptcy paperwork and deceased patient accounts.
• Communicates with patients, insurance carriers, and other outside entities in a professional manner.
• Identifies solutions and responds professionally to patient concerns, using appropriate grammar and demonstrating tact and diplomacy in patient interactions, by phone and in person.
• Diffuses negative situations with patients and maintains a pleasant and professional tone during stressful circumstances and heavy workload.
• Communicates with staff members in a professional, pleasant manner; shares information relevant to work, no gossiping or disparaging remarks, accepts work without complaint or provides reasons why assignment is unmanageable, asks and answers questions related to improving department performance.

QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma/GED required.
• Some postsecondary education preferred.
• At least 2 years of previous A/R experience or billing/collections experience in a medical office setting required.
• Experience in healthcare patient accounting, managed care, or case management preferred.