Patient Access Financial Counselor-3

About the Role

Provides counseling to inpatients and outpatients for financial responsibility. Serves as the primary contact for patients and families regarding financial assistance and insurance coverage eligibility. Partners with the managed care group to determine advanced verification of insurance, pre-certification, and benefit determination.

Responsibilities

• Interviews patients and/or family members to secure information concerning insurance coverage, eligibility, and qualification for various financial assistance programs.
• Meets with patients/families on the unit to obtain information not collected during the admission process and completes registration items (e.g., insurance cards, prescription cards, correct demographic information).
• Assesses the patient’s need for financial assistance during the admission process or prior to discharge.
• Determines patient eligibility for charity care for inpatient/outpatient level of care. Completes the charity application in accordance with NCH charity care policies. Forwards applications to Patient Accounts for final review and approval.
• Completes notes in the EPIC system on all discussions, events, and outcomes.
• Responds to all inquiries regarding patient accounts and financial assistance policies.
• Maintains effective communication and cooperative working relationships with other departments, staff, patients, and visitors.

Requirements

• High school graduate (required). Associate’s degree preferred.
• Two years’ experience in registration, collections, customer service, billing, or a related medical field (preferred).
• Familiarity with government, commercial, and third-party billing (preferred).

Skills

• Excellent customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to work and problem-solve with minimal supervision.
• Analytical and decision-making skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to understand and retain complex and quickly changing information.
• Knowledge of the impact of managed care trends on hospital operations.
• Familiarity with medical terminology.
• Ability to function as a team member responsible for staffing operational hours.
• Ability to adapt positively to changes in workflow and process.
• Keyboarding, typing, and data entry skills.

Physical Requirements

• Occasionally: Chemicals/Medications, climb stairs/ladder, communicable diseases and/or pathogens, lifting/carrying 0-10 lbs, loud noises, pushing/pulling 0-25 lbs, pushing/pulling 26-40 lbs, reaching above shoulder, squat/kneel, standing, walking.
• Frequently: Bend/twist.
• Continuously: Audible speech, computer skills, decision-making, flexing/extending of neck, hand use (grasping, gripping, turning), hearing acuity, interpreting data, peripheral vision, problem-solving, repetitive hand/arm use, seeing (far/near), sitting.

Additional physical demands include the ability to multi-task within a stressful environment.