Financial Counselor

About the role

The Financial Counselor assists uninsured and underinsured patients in navigating the financial continuum from scheduling through claim adjudication. Responsibilities include helping patients apply for governmental assistance programs and charitable assistance, conducting interviews to ensure optimal customer service, and collaborating with various departments to secure reimbursement and provide financial assistance.

Responsibilities

• Assists uninsured and underinsured patients with applying for State and Federal governmental assistance programs, as well as charitable assistance from the Organization.
• Helps patients gather all appropriate documentation and complete necessary applications.
• Conducts interviews at bedside to ensure optimal customer service and personal attention.
• Refers potentially qualified patients to the best source of financial assistance available based on their unique financial circumstances and future medical needs.
• Works in collaboration with Clinical Resource Management, providers, clinical departments, revenue cycle departments, and the Insurance Verification Team to address patients' financial needs and secure potential sources of funding.
• Collaborates expeditiously to ensure patients’ timely advancement through the continuum of care.
• Performs insurance eligibility verification and executes payer requirements as needed.
• Updates information to ensure correct financial classification and information is on patients’ accounts.
• May discuss Medicare Lifetime Reserve days with patients or designated representatives.
• Collects payments from patients, including prompt pay discounts and discusses payment arrangements.
• Participates in the continuum of the life of a claim by working collaboratively with the collection departments to identify patients that may need assistance.
• Reviews and recommends bad debt based on historical patient information.
• Stays abreast of ever-changing laws and regulations mandating Medicaid eligibility.
• Fulfills all compliance responsibilities related to the position.
• Maintains a high level of ethical integrity while processing applications for government funding and other assistance programs.
• Maintain and Model Nuvance Health Values.
• Demonstrates regular, reliable, and predictable attendance.

Requirements

• Associates degree and four years of job-related experience, or equivalent experience.
• Bachelor's Degree preferred.
• Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: MS Excel, Word, Outlook; exceptional customer service and organizational skills; high degree of intellectual proficiency and critical thinking skills; bilingual in Spanish or Portuguese preferred.
• Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications: Certified Access Counselor through Access Health CT within 1 year of hire; NY Assister certification through NYS Marketplace within 1 year of hire; National Association of Healthcare Access certification or HBI Certification within 1 year of hire.