Patient Financial Counselor

Patient Financial Counselor

Patient Access Services

Damien Center Values

Dignity-Collaboration-Accountability-Access-Quality-Innovation

Founded in 1987, Damien Center is Indiana's oldest and largest AIDS service organization (ASO) and serves more than 8,000 individuals living with or at risk for HIV through a comprehensive, innovative approach to care and prevention. Our purpose is to be a trusted partner in providing services, education and advocacy for all people living with or at risk for HIV and any person seeking a safe and welcoming home for care. Our services include care coordination, clinical and pharmacy services, mental health, housing, and nutrition.

Position Summary:

The Patient Financial Counselor is responsible for providing complete registration and financial advocacy for the patient upon entry to the health center. The Patient Financial Counselor obtains specific demographic and financial information to determine patient's financial needs and ensure timely delivery of care. The Patient Financial Counselor assists uninsured and underinsured patients by applying for federal, state, & local health insurance programs. The Patient Financial Counselor also assists patients with navigating the health center's programs and services, educating about health insurance, and answering patient billing questions.

Duties and Responsibilities:

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all required duties, responsibilities, and skills.

• Subject Matter Expert in Registration and Financial Counseling.
• Complete registration functions, validate patient demographic data, identifies and verifies medical benefits, accurate plan code, and updates Coordination of Benefits to ensure maximized front-end revenue cycle operations.
• Assists uninsured and underinsured patients by applying for Medicare, Medicaid, Marketplace, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP), Sliding Fee Scale, and other federal, state, & local programs.
• Follow up with the State on cases pending eligibility and/or contacting patient for additional information on pending accounts requiring more than originally provided.
• Deliver education in regard to explaining affordability programs, qualified health plans, essential health benefits, and rights when using insurance.
• Maintains an understanding and remains current with the health center's Sliding Fee Scale and Financial Hardship Program.
• Calculate and provide "Good Faith Estimates" to patients for services provided by the health center.
• Add and term coverage properly, ensuring that billing is initiated when appropriate.
• Maintains departmental and/or individual work queues and reports as required.
• Conducts Financial Counseling appointments on assigned days in clinic.
• Answers calls received in the Financial Counseling call queue and assists patients with their needs.
• Explains/answers patient billing inquiries and interprets statement data to resolve accounts.
• Documents patient account notes for all interactions/transactions.
• Maintains productivity and quality standards set forth by the department.
• Performs special assignments and other work, on an as-needed basis.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor's degree preferred but not required.
• 1-4 years' experience in registration and financial counseling required.
• Experienced in applying patients for Medicare, Medicaid, Marketplace, and/or Ryan White HIV/AIDS Programs (RWHAP) required.
• I ndiana Navigator license and Certified Application Counselor (CAC) required or obtained within 30 days of hiring.
• Bilingual in Spanish/ English highly desired.

*Work or lived experience may substitute for education requirements on a case-by-case basis.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Possess superior organizational and administrative skills. Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities. Excellent computer skills in a Microsoft Windows environment. Ability to work independently and achieve high standards of productivity, achieving deadlines and with superior product results. Strong calendaring, organizational, and document management skills required. Proactive approach to solving problems and communicating to leadership. Knowledge of office management systems, procedures, and office equipment required. Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize work.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the basic knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The individual in this role must display the highest level of integrity and confidentiality. The individual should have effective communication skills, attention to detail and organization, and flexibility and adaptability. The individual will also maintain knowledge of trends in their area of responsibility.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are general representations of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to touch and handle objects.The employee frequently stands or walks.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Remote work is on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the supervisor.

• Office setting, with sustained use of a computer.
• The noise level in the work environment is minimal to moderate.
• Individuals should maintain personal and professional competency and work to create an environment of courtesy, respect, inclusion, and positivity in all interactions both internal and external to the organization.

FLSA Status: Hourly, Full-time, Non-Exempt

Leader: Financial Counseling Manager

Salary: $21.79 hourly

Benefits: 

• 150 hours of PTO in the first year followed by 195 hours per year moving forward.
• 12 paid holidays
• Medical coverage options include a PPO plan or a HDHP.
• Dental & Vision plans
• Health Saving Account or Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403b Retirement Account with 5% matching and 100% vesting after 90 days
• Life Insurance @ 2 times the annual salary
• Voluntary Life Insurance Plan including spouse and child coverage options
• Short- & Long-Term Disability Plans
• Premium Subscription to the CALM APP which assists with anxiety, stress & other mental health challenges
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Tuition Assistance
• Annual performance review that includes an annual performance-based salary increase

Protecting our team members, clients, volunteers, and community partners is an integral part of how we ensure our continued work with the clients we serve. As a condition of employment, Damien Center requires team members to be vaccinated against influenza and receive a tuberculosis skin test (or chest x-ray) annually, barring an approved religious or medical exemption.

Damien Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Damien Center provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family status, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, status as a covered veteran, other legally protected status, or genetic (including tamily medical history) information.

Damien Center complies with applicable federal laws and with all state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which Damien Center has facilities.This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment,including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

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This position description does not constitute a contract of employment or guarantee of any terms or conditions of employment. Damien Center employees are employed on an at-will basis. Nothing in this position description restricts Damien Center's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.