Financial Counselor

Job Description

Your experience matters
Copper Springs East Behavioral Health is part of Lifepoint Health, a diversified healthcare delivery network with facilities coast to coast. We are driven by a profound commitment to prioritize your well-being so you can provide exceptional care to others. As a Financial Counselor joining our team, you're embracing a vital mission dedicated to making communities healthier ®. Join us on this meaningful journey where your skills, compassion and dedication will make a remarkable difference in the lives of those we serve.

How you'll contribute
A Financial Counselor who excels in this role:

• Maintains and processes all assigned patient accounts and counsels patients regarding admitting and discharge processes, as well as payment options. Handles all work in a confidential manner.
• Counsels patients or responsible parties to establish appropriate payment arrangements.
• Contacts patients prior to discharge to obtain missing information, including signatures required to acknowledge financial responsibility.
• Estimates and communicates the portion of the bill for which the patient is financially responsible.
• Establishes payment arrangements for patients who are unable to pay the estimated portion of their bill upon discharge and identifies and reports patients with prior payment difficulties to management.
• Ensures the completeness of pre-admission and admission information by obtaining and documenting all required information and signatures prior to the patient's admission date.
• Reviews patient accounts for histories of payment issues and notifies the supervisor of any concerns prior to admission.
• Accurately interprets insurance policy provisions and calculates the patient's self-pay responsibility based on the expected length of stay and services rendered, ensuring final patient responsibility remains within a reasonable variance of the estimate.
• Clearly, accurately, and professionally explains self-pay obligations and estimates to patients and obtains signed acknowledgment of financial responsibility on required forms.
• Collects self-pay amounts prior to admission, upon admission, or at discharge, as appropriate. When patients are unable to pay at discharge, ensures mutually agreed-upon payment arrangements are documented and signed in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Selects and applies appropriate communication techniques based on the age and needs of the patient or customer.
• Maintains knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements related to Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, the Veterans Administration, and other applicable agencies, and demonstrates this knowledge by accurately obtaining information and updating records to ensure compliance.
• Collects and controls cash receipts in accordance with established procedures.
• Collects patient deductibles, copayments, and non-covered charges.
• Maintains and balances the cash drawer.
• Prepares daily cash reports and submits collected funds, supporting documentation, and Daily Deposit Reconciliation reports to the Cashier.
• Determines the appropriate patient financial responsibility through eligibility and insurance verification, review of insurance documentation, or application of self-pay policies when insurance coverage is unavailable.
• Maintains control of cash payments to ensure receipts reconcile with the cash drawer.
• Accurately prepares deposit documentation and delivers deposits in accordance with established procedures.
• Operates and maintains assigned equipment and maintains an organized work area.
• Ensures assigned equipment is operated and maintained according to specifications to prevent damage and excessive wear.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the patient financial services accounts receivable system (Paragon) and other supporting software applications.
• Maintains assigned work areas in a neat and organized manner at all times.
• Participates in hospital and departmental support activities, including standby and recall assignments as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What we're looking for

Education:

• High school diploma required; advanced education preferred.

Skills & Experience:

• Proficient in use of software programs.
• Excellent customer service and telephone skills are a must.
• Minimum of one year of business or related experience including bookkeeping with use of calculating equipment and collection of monies is required.
• Hospital or medical business office experience preferred.
• Medical terminology preferred.
• Familiarity with organization and functions of each hospital department.
• Ability to problem-solve effectively and handle stress in a positive manner.
• Maintain harmonious relationships with nursing personnel, medical staff, hospital administration, and all hospital departments.

Schedule : Full-time w/option of: Monday-Friday 8am-5 with an hour lunch, or 8:30am-5pm with a ½ hour lunch

Why join us

We believe that investing in our employees is the first step to providing excellent patient care. In addition to your base compensation, this position also offers:

• Comprehensive Benefits : Multiple levels of medical, dental and vision coverage for full-time and part-time employees.
• Financial Protection & PTO : Life, accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity insurance, short- and long-term disability, paid family leave and paid time off.
• Financial & Career Growth : Higher education and certification tuition assistance, loan assistance and 401(k) retirement package and company match.
• Employee Well-being : Mental, physical, and financial wellness programs (free gym memberships, virtual care appointments, mental health services and discount programs).
• Professional Development : Ongoing learning and career advancement opportunities.

More about Copper Springs East

Copper Springs East in Gilbert, AZ, located in the greater Phoenix metro area, is a behavioral health hospital providing inpatient and outpatient programs for mental health and addiction. We treat adults and seniors.

Our treatment programs include inpatient mental health and addiction treatment, outpatient Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), and ECT therapy.

EEOC Statement

Copper Springs East Behavioral Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Copper Springs East Behavioral Health is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity for all applicants and employees and complies with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination and harassment in employment.

About Us

Lifepoint Health is a leader in community-based care and driven by a mission of Making Communities Healthier. Our diversified healthcare delivery network spans 29 states and includes 63 community hospital campuses, 32 rehabilitation and behavioral health hospitals, and more than 170 additional sites of care across the healthcare continuum, such as acute rehabilitation units, outpatient centers and post-acute care facilities. We believe that success is achieved through talented people. We want to create places where employees want to work, with opportunities to pursue meaningful and satisfying careers that truly make a difference in communities across the country.

About the Team

We employ and provide care to people from all walks of life. We are committed to promoting healing, providing hope, preserving dignity and producing value with an inclusive workforce in which diversity is leveraged, respected, and reflective of the patients, family members, customers and team members we serve.