PATIENT FINANCIAL SERVICES WORKER/EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS HOMELESSNESS

About the role

The Department of Mental Health is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Patient Financial Services Worker vacancies related to the homelessness crisis. Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

Responsibilities

• Interviews patients or their relatives and/or representatives to obtain financial and other eligibility data and assists patients in preparing, completing, and processing Medi-Cal and other healthcare program applications.
• Collections data and enters patient information into the Los Angeles Eligibility Automated Determination Evaluation and Reporting (LEADER) system, as well as other information systems.
• Interprets provisions and requirements of the various governmental healthcare programs to provide a plan that is beneficial to the patient and the department.
• Analyzes financial and eligibility data and reviews medical records to establish patient eligibility for a variety of federal, State and County healthcare programs, such as Medi-Cal, Ability-to-Pay Plan, and Outpatient Reduced-Cost Simplified Application; completes the necessary documents within time limits specified by the appropriate governmental agency.
• Determines patients' financial ability to reimburse the County for healthcare services; interviews and corresponds with patients, responsible relatives and/or representatives, attorneys, employers, agencies, and insurance companies to obtain, verify, or clarify information, and explains County policies; may secure payments and arrange payment plans.
• Reviews and evaluates a wide variety of deeds, life insurance policies, negotiable securities, and miscellaneous assets to determine their value; obtains assignments of insurance benefits and third party liability liens.
• Determines whether patients have healthcare coverage and identifies the billable resource(s) for collection.
• Identifies problem situations and refers patients to other hospital departments, agencies, or community resources when appropriate.
• Reviews and evaluates a wide variety of deeds, life insurance policies, negotiable securities, and miscellaneous assets to determine their value; obtains assignments of insurance benefits and third party liability liens.
• Determines whether patients have healthcare coverage and identifies the billable resource(s) for collection.
• Reviews patients' files to pursue the collection of delinquent accounts receivable, as needed; recommends, when appropriate, temporary or permanent suspension of accounts or transfer delinquent accounts to collection services for further follow-up, as needed.

Requirements

• Completion of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university AND one (1) year of experience interviewing the public in connection with applications for financial assistance, credit, insurance, medical or hospital services, social security or workers' compensation.
• Two (2) years of experience as a Patient Resources Worker interviewing patients or their relatives and/or representatives to determine patients' financial resources to pay for healthcare services.
• One (1) year of experience in the supervision of Patient Resources Workers.

License

A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Physical Class

Physical Class II – Light. This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10 pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

Special Requirement Information

To receive credit for your units, include a copy of your official transcript from an accredited institution within seven (7) business days from the date of filing your application. The official transcript should be in English; if it is in a foreign language, it must be translated and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards. For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812_PPG123.pdf and https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/205105_PPG_123_ACE_Resource_Guide.pdf.

Application and Filing Information

Applicants are required to complete and submit an online Los Angeles County Employment Application AND Supplemental Questionnaire in order to be considered for this examination. Paper applications, resumes, or any unsolicited documents will not be accepted in lieu of completing the online application and Supplemental Questionnaire. Application filing may be suspended at any time without advance notice.

Instructions for Filing Online

Applications must be submitted online only and will be reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis. If you have not been contacted within 60 days and the recruitment remains open or reopens for filing, we encourage you to submit a new application. This will allow you to reaffirm your interest and update any relevant information.

Additional Information

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment. Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%. Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment.