Patient Advocate

Position Summary

This position requires local residency. Only candidates currently living in the Tuscaloosa, AL area will be considered. Relocation assistance is not available. The Patient Advocate serves as a trusted resource for patients by helping them understand and navigate the financial aspects of their healthcare journey. This individual works directly with patients, providers, and internal teams to identify available insurance and financial assistance options, guide patients through application and enrollment processes, and help eliminate barriers that could delay or prevent access to care. This position reports directly to the designated Regional Education & Enablement Manager supporting the assigned hospital system. Leveraging patient census data, data files, and Power BI reporting dashboards, the Patient Advocate proactively identifies uninsured and underinsured patients and ensures that all eligible inpatient referrals are reviewed for available sponsorship and financial assistance opportunities. The role is accountable for conducting timely patient outreach, facilitating enrollment, and driving referral conversion from identification through completed application and funding. This position combines compassion, analytical thinking, strong organizational skills, and a data-driven approach to performance management. The ideal candidate is comfortable utilizing reporting tools, monitoring key performance indicators, and collaborating with hospital partners to deliver an exceptional patient experience while supporting organizational growth objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Utilize Power BI dashboards, patient census reports, and encounter data to identify uninsured and underinsured patients who may qualify for insurance enrollment or financial assistance programs.
• Perform comprehensive daily reviews of assigned inpatient census populations to ensure all eligible patients are evaluated for sponsorship opportunities, and no qualifying referrals are missed.
• Manage the patient engagement process from initial identification through completed enrollment, maintaining accountability for overall referral conversion performance.
• Conduct proactive outreach to uninsured and underinsured patients to assess needs, remove barriers, and provide individualized guidance and support.
• Educate patients on available healthcare coverage and financial assistance options, including Medicaid, ACA Marketplace plans, CHIP, charity care, sponsorship programs, and other available resources.
• Assist patients with completing applications, gathering supporting documentation, and navigating enrollment and renewal processes.
• Explain benefits, coverage options, sponsorship programs, and basic billing questions in a clear, compassionate, and patient-friendly manner.
• Serve as a liaison between patients, healthcare providers, case management teams, social workers, and internal Curae departments to ensure a seamless patient experience.
• Evaluate patient eligibility for available programs and escalate complex cases when appropriate.
• Document and track all patient interactions, referral activity, and case progression within designated case management and CRM platforms.
• Monitor and analyze key performance indicators including inpatient census review completion, referral generation, referral conversion rates, application completion, enrollment outcomes, and overall program effectiveness.
• Support the preparation and delivery of weekly, monthly, and client-facing operational reports through effective use of Power BI and other reporting tools.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and compliance with HIPAA and all organizational and regulatory requirements.
• Advocate for patient access to care by delivering empathetic, patient-centered service while supporting Curae's mission of removing financial barriers to treatment.

Qualifications

Education

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Social Work, Healthcare Administration, Human Services, or a related field preferred.

Experience

• One to three years of experience in patient advocacy, healthcare enrollment, case management, insurance navigation, revenue cycle, medical billing, or a related healthcare setting.
• Working knowledge of Medicaid, ACA Marketplace plans, CHIP, and healthcare financial assistance programs.
• Experience utilizing data analytics or reporting platforms, with Power BI experience strongly preferred.
• Experience managing patient referrals, case workflows, or conversion-based performance metrics is highly desirable.
• Experience interacting directly with patients and delivering exceptional customer service.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational, analytical, and critical-thinking skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex information for diverse audiences.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, electronic health records (EHR), billing platforms, case management systems, and CRM software.
• Candidates must be willing and able to obtain Certified Application Counselor (CAC) certification for the assigned client's state within 30 days of hire.

Why Join Curae?

At Curae, you'll be part of a fast-growing organization that is changing the way patients access healthcare. We foster a collaborative, innovative, and mission-driven culture where employees are empowered to make a real difference in the lives of patients and healthcare partners every day. As a Patient Advocate, you'll play a critical role in ensuring every eligible patient has access to the financial resources they need to receive care, while directly contributing to improved outcomes for both patients and provider partners.