Financial Counselor

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Complies with established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance program, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
• Maintains effective communication with hospital staff, physicians, physician’s offices, patient and/or families, insurance companies, and appropriate vendors.
• Identifies patients with financial liability and connects them with appropriate financial programs including Medi-Cal/Medicaid, Financial Assistance, Prompt Pay Discount, and Payment Plans.
• Meets with patients’ bedside in Emergency Room and Inpatient Rooms to deliver estimates, discuss benefits, discuss payment options, and collect payment as necessary.
• Assists patients in applying for Medi-Cal/Medicaid by completing the following functions: screens patients, compiles application and supporting documents, submits completed application to appropriate county, and follows up on eligibility status with county regularly.
• Answers phones from Financial Counseling line. Assists with coverage of Financial Customer Service line as needed.
• Responds to requests from District staff to assist patients.
• Works closely with Patient Financial Services, Authorizations, Credentialing, Case Management, Nursing, Scheduling, Patient Advocate, and Financial Customer Service to research and resolve patient billing and insurance issues.
• Completes Financial Clearance Process for urgent services.
• Enters patient complaint information into tracking system and follows up as needed.
• Completes assigned work queue activities.
• Creates financial estimates for scheduled services and financially clears patient before services are rendered, including collecting deposits.
• Verifies and routes e-mails to appropriate area from information message system.
• Researches all patient requests, billing issues, and concerns. Coordinates with other departments as needed to ensure timely response to patients.
• Sets up patient accounts on payment plans and sends letters to patients.
• Reviews final bad debt notices and bankruptcy documents and processes appropriately.
• Processes Financial Assistance applications.
• Attends and participates in department approved training.
• Demonstrates System Values in performance and behavior.
• Complies with System policies and procedures.

Qualifications

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Supervisory Responsibilities: No supervisory responsibilities.

Minimum Education/Experience

• 6 months to 1 year relevant experience

Required Licenses/Certifications

• AAHAM Certified Revenue Cycle Specialist (CRCS) - Within 1 year of hire into job

Other Experience/Qualifications

• Preferred: Strong aptitude with Microsoft Access
• Utilizes computer system and its features
• Bachelor of Arts Degree
• One to two years’ experience working with public and experience in patient registration and/or hospital patient accounting office