Financial Counselor

About the role

The Financial Counselor offers financial advice and assistance to patients regarding medical bills, acting as a liaison between patients and their insurance companies. They coordinate payments, answer questions, and maintain accurate account balances in accordance with contractual obligations, fee schedules, or regulations.

Responsibilities

• Enters patient demographic and financial information in the patient accounting system for inpatient and IOP admissions.
• Ensures completed admission yields a legacy system facesheet, armband, labels, etc.
• Ensures proper documentation is received for billing compliance, including a complete Intake Assessment and Physician Order.
• Reconciles the midnight census to ensure accuracy in the patient accounting system.
• Meets with all new admissions to review insurance benefits and financial obligations.
• Updates patient accounting system with additional or revised demographic or financial information obtained during patient visits.
• Initiates point-of-care collections with patients.
• Coordinates non-covered day discussions with Utilization Management and patients, scans signed forms into the patient account system, and notifies Financial Intake.
• Performs other duties and projects as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent as a minimum requirement.
• Previous customer service experience in a similar field, such as a call center worker, credit authorizer, or customer service representative.
• Strict adherence to FTC rules regarding collection attempts due to the sensitivity and confidentiality of financial records.

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience with Microsoft Office products and general patient accounting systems.
• Knowledge of third-party payers, Medicare, Medicaid, and other payer requirements.
• Customer service skills for interacting with patients regarding medical claims and payments, including communicating with diverse age groups and backgrounds.
• Able to work in a team environment with minimal supervision.
• Complete understanding and respect for confidentiality.
• Adherence to policies and procedures in accordance with State and Federal Laws, JCAHO, HCFA, and other regulatory boards.
• Must successfully complete CPR certification and an Oceans-approved behavioral health de-escalation program.

Work Environment

• Subject to frequent interruptions and occasional pressure due to multiple calls and inquiries.
• High-paced and potentially stressful environment; must be able to cope mentally and physically.
• Spends approximately 90% or more of the time indoors in a building protected from weather but not necessarily from temperature changes.