Financial Counselor Price Estimates

Love where you work! Team Bronson is compassionate, resilient and strong. We are driven by positivity which inspires us to be our best and to go above and beyond for our patients, for one another, and for our community.

About the role

The Financial Counselor is responsible for meeting with patients/guarantors who require assistance in seeking and applying for healthcare funding (e.g., Charity Care, Medicaid, or other local/governmental funding program) and/or require assistance in reviewing and establishing payment options. The role encompasses a broad spectrum of duties, from initial patient contact through pre-admit/pre-registration functions to account maintenance until discharge.

Employees providing direct patient care must demonstrate competencies specific to the population served. Work involves high levels of mental/visual fatigue, including CRT work between 70 and 90 percent of the time, and requires close hand/eye coordination. The job includes regular walking, standing, stooping, bending, sitting, and some lifting of light-weight objects.

Responsibilities

• Determine the financial status of patients during the financial counseling process.
• Perform cashiering and customer service functions, including payment receipt and posting, balancing and recording of bank deposits, and processing refunds, adjustments, and transfers.
• Authenticate patient identity to ensure patient safety throughout all essential functions.
• Meet or exceed established customer service, productivity, and quality standards.
• Maintain knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and standards of conduct to ensure adherence.
• Perform financial counseling for multiple patient types (Inpatient Admissions, Outpatient Observation, Diagnostic Outpatients, Ambulatory Surgery, Emergency Department Registrations, Series accounts, etc.).
• Communicate frequently with patients/family members/guarantors, third-party payers, local/governmental agencies, attorneys, employers, physicians/office staff, and contracted vendors/agencies.
• Assist patients in completing applications for funding sources (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare, Charity Care).
• Perform financial counseling on uninsured and under-insured patients on a pre-service, time-of-service, and post-service basis.
• Interview patients and/or their representatives to update demographic, clinical, financial, and insurance data.
• Review prior account notes and document all encounters and actions.
• Inform patients/guarantors of their liabilities and collect appropriate payments, including co-payments, co-insurances, deductibles, deposits, and outstanding balances.
• Calculate patient liabilities, conduct credit scoring, and determine ability/propensity to pay.
• Provide financial education and outline potential funding options.
• Seek appropriate funding based on patient requirements and collect supporting documentation (payroll stubs, tax returns, credit history, etc.).
• Counsel patients/guarantors on financial liability, third-party payer requirements, and outside financial resources (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare, private organizations).
• Establish payment plans and investigate No Fault and Workers’ Compensation cases.
• Assist in completing applications for funding sources and analyze financial/eligibility data to determine potential eligibility for programs.
• Initiate requests for charity write-off when appropriate.
• Monitor accounts in the eligibility pending financial class and follow up on application status, providing appeal assistance as needed.
• Work with contracted vendors/agencies to qualify applicants and review cases prior to agency placement.
• Provide pricing estimates and communicate pre-service patient liability based on expected charges and potential coverage.
• Serve as a notary public, notarizing documents for patients, physicians, and customers.
• Act as a liaison for departments such as Social Work Services and Utilization Review/Case Management.
• Provide relief support and train new employees as needed.
• Cross-train in various functions to assist in the smooth delivery of departmental services.
• Generate itemized bills and process refunds in response to patient inquiries.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Manager/Supervisor.

Requirements

• 1 year of experience within a hospital or clinic environment, insurance company, managed care organization, or other financial service setting, performing financial counseling, financial clearance, and/or customer service activities.
• Associate’s degree preferred.
• Notary public credentials preferred.
• Knowledge of insurance and governmental programs, regulations, and application processes (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security Disability, Champus, Supplemental Security Income Disability).
• Working knowledge of medical terminology desirable.
• Data entry skills (50-60 keystrokes per minute).
• Basic computer skills.
• Accuracy, attentiveness to detail, and time management skills.
• Ability to set and organize work priorities and adapt to frequent changes.
• Ability to work concurrently on a variety of tasks/projects in a potentially stressful environment with diverse personalities and work styles.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication (verbal and written), and organizational abilities.
• Ability to develop positive relationships with clinical staff to maximize the benefit and effectiveness of financial counseling.
• Comfort operating in a collaborative, shared leadership environment.
• Knowledge of insurance payer regulations and requirements.
• Understanding of revenue cycle components and the ability to impact the overall process.

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Full time, 40 scheduled weekly hours.