Financial Counselor

Financial Counselor

Eskenazi Health serves as the public hospital division of the Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County. Physicians provide a comprehensive range of primary and specialty care services at the 333-bed hospital and outpatient facilities both on and off of the Eskenazi Health downtown campus including at a network of Eskenazi Health Center sites located throughout Indianapolis.

The Financial Counselor assists customers with information necessary for securing verifications from various companies/agencies (Work One, banks, life insurance companies, health information, physician offices, Social Security Administration, Health Department, etc.).

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Accept daily assigned customer referrals in management designated systems to determine customers to be screened/interviewed
• Assist walk-in customers as they present
• Explain available payer programs and benefits to customers, including Healthy Indiana Plan, various Medicaid or State programs and services, Health Insurance Marketplace, COBRA, or any other possible third-party payer sources, or the hospital's charity program, Eskenazi Health Financial Assistance program
• Interview/screen customers for all potential payer programs as described in previous job function
• Assist customer with information necessary for securing verifications from various companies/agencies (Work One, banks, life insurance companies, health information, physician offices, Social Security Administration, Health Department etc.)
• Complete timely submission of documentation and application in management designated system(s), adhering to all deadlines and requesting extensions from management when necessary
• Document and update application status in management designated system(s) on a regular basis
• Maintain confidentiality of patient health information in compliance with HIPAA regulations
• Contact patients by phone, correspondence, or home visit to continue to secure necessary documentation
• Monitor progress of applications to ensure application completion and processing timelines are adhered to
• Attend interviews (phone or in-person) with State, County, or other payer program representatives for those patients with signed authorization that are determined not able to participate, have requested representation, or have a history of lack of cooperation
• Update management designated system(s) with eligibility determinations and update all appropriate EMR accounts if eligibility is retroactive
• Mentor peers, including training as needed
• Ability to meet all productivity and quality requirements

Job Requirements

Accredited Associates or Bachelor's degree; OR Two (2) years of experience in financial counseling, insurance verification, credit, collection and billing, including pre-admissions and admission registration, preferably in a hospital setting. High School Diploma or GED required. Bilingual in English/Spanish is a plus Indiana Navigators Certification within 45 days of hire

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of eligibility policy rules and processing requirements for programs administered by CMS, FSSA, and other applicable State and Federal programs
• Knowledge of medical and insurance terminology
• Extensive knowledge of health care related insurance rules and guidelines, coverage and benefit plans, and strong ability to calculate and demonstrate insurance and patient payment methodologies and respective amounts due
• Strong investigative, analysis and judgment skills
• Must be able to perform basic mathematical calculations
• Ability to organize and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Must demonstrate good organizational skills, set priorities, meet deadlines; ability to multi-task and carefully proof own work
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Professional demeanor in person, email, and over the phone
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Tools
• Must be sensitive to the medical needs of customers and professional duties of hospital staff
• Ability to adjust to changes in policies, procedures, and systems