Financial Counselor

Job Description

The Financial Counselor represents the patient and Singing River Health System (SRHS) in all aspects of patient responsibility in a joint effort to resolve all patient amounts due in a feasible and amicable manner. He/She handles questions regarding patient accounts in an efficient and timely manner while displaying empathy and professionalism. The Financial Counselor educates patients and their families as to the SRHS policy and procedures regarding various payment sources for services rendered. This requires fundamental knowledge of Singing River Health System policies and the various payment options available to a patient including financial assistance. The Financial Counselor identifies/screen patients for possible assistance program eligibility. He/She is responsible for careful financial evaluation of patients while taking appropriate actions that are most beneficial to SRHS and giving the proper level of consideration to the patient.

Qualifications

• High School Graduate, or equivalent, required.
• College courses in healthcare, business, or finance preferred.
• Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) or Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR), Certified/recognized as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) or Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) is preferred.
• De-escalation training completed by the end of position orientation (90 days).
• A minimum of one (1) year experience in medical terminology, insurance regulations, professional billing procedures, and collection regulations required.
• One (1) years’ financial counselor experience preferred or a minimum of at least three (3) years’ previous experience in healthcare revenue cycle related field with an emphasis on insurance and billing.
• A minimum of one (1) year customer service experience performing registration, scheduling, and insurance verification required.
• A minimum of one (1) year experience as a Medical Assistant preferred.

Physical Demands

Work is moderately active: involves sitting with frequent requirements to move about the office, move about the facility, and to travel to another facility within the SRHS service area. Work involves exerting a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Work involves using many physical motions in performing daily work activities; subject to exposure of body fluids, sputum and tissues, which may carry the hazard of infectious disease. Work involves using repetitive motions: substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and or fingers while operating standard office equipment such as computer keyboard. Work involves being able to perceive the nature of sound at normal speaking levels with or without correction; the ability to make fine discriminations in sound. Work requires close visual and acuity and the ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus, i.e. shift gaze from viewing a computer monitor to forms/printed material that are closer to compare data at close vision. Must be able to be active for extended periods of time without experiencing undue fatigue. Must be able to work schedules assigned with the understanding that changes may be instituted according to the needs of the hospital for off days, shifts or weekends.

Mental Demands

• Demonstrate keen mental faculties/assessment and decision making abilities.
• Demonstrate superior communication/speaking/enunciation skills to receive and give information in person and by telephone.
• Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrate strong emotional stability conducive to dealing with high stress levels.
• Must demonstrate ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Attention to detail and the ability to multi-task in complex situations is required.
• Maintain collaborative and respectable working relationships throughout SRHS and other organizations.

Special Demands

• Possess superior customer service skills and professional etiquette.
• Possess proficient knowledge and ability to use a computer (must be keyboard proficient) and other office technology (i.e., telephone, fax, etc.), MS Outlook and Word.
• Possess appropriate clinical judgment and apply appropriate professional skills to a patient population of all ages.