Patient Financial Counselor 1.0 FTE

FTE/Scheduled Weekly Hours:
1.00 / 40 / 1st Shift (United States of America)

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS

Serves to help all patients - especially those who are uninsured, underinsured, and have low income - assess and ultimately resolve their financial situations. This includes establishing payment plans and other financial arrangements, determining patients' eligibility for hospital-sponsored and external financial assistance, and making arrangements for the collection of remaining balances.


ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Meets with patients to discuss the cost of hospital services and patients' current financial situation options available and the process for applying for assistance.


2. Conducts detailed discussions with patients, obtains information and completes required tasks to determine patients' eligibility for Medicaid and other federal, state, and local government or private sources as appropriate.

• Assists patients in completing applications and follows up with potential sources of outside aide until it is either approved or denied.
• Calculates the amount of financial assistance available for each patient according to hospital guidelines.
• Calculates patients' remaining balances after assistance and finalizes the method of resolving patients' balances through point of service collections, payment plans or other arrangements.

3. Contacts patients with no insurance to review account information, examine patients' eligibility for financial assistance, and secure payment arrangements.


4. Serves as a Certified Application Counselor; assists people without insurance in navigating the Marketplace website and signing up for coverage.


5. Completes the process to obtain "Presumptive Eligibility" for non-insured patients; visits with patients and obtains signatures.


6. Documents patient accounts in Paragon regarding the financial assistance process and other activities; holds and releases accounts as needed.


7. Regularly follows up on pending applications to obtain needed documents.


8. Serves as a resource for social services, clinic, business office and other WHC staff to assist with patients needing or inquiring about financial assistance.


9. Maintain list of other programs and resources available outside of WHC that patients may qualify for.


10. Train new providers on assistance available to WHC patients.


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Experience, and Training

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Prior knowledge of social and government assistance programs preferred.
• Minimum of two years of related work experience required, preferably in a healthcare, finance, or customer service environment.
• Experience discussing and resolving financial situations with patients preferred.
• Must be highly effective in communicating in a clear and concise manner using appropriate grammar and punctuation.
• Excellent organizational, time management, negotiating, and customer service skills required.
• Ability to be accurate and pay close attention to details.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to learn and navigate computer systems including the online training modules, the employee timesheet and the performance appraisal system. Job specific systems are also required.
• Able to read, speak, and write fluent English.

Physical Requirements

• Sitting - Approximately 100% of the shift
• Standing - Not a requirement
• Walking - Not a requirement
• Lifting - Not a requirement
• Twisting - Not a requirement
• Bending - Infrequent
• Squat/Kneel - Not a requirement

WORK ENVIRONMENT


1. May come in contact with hazardous chemicals or treatment modalities.


2. The possibility exists of exposure to communicable disease due to working in a healthcare environment.


3. Involvement in patient care may result in unavoidable work-related illnesses.


This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. A review of this description has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties. All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by his/her manager.


Requirements are representative of the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.


This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship with the Waverly Health Center.


This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. A review of this description has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties. All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by his/her manager.

Requirements are representative of the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship with the Waverly Health Center.