Patient Financial Counselor

Looking for meaningful work where you can make an impact? We'd love to meet you! Join GI Associates as our next Patient Financial Counselor!

As a Financial Counselor at GI Associates, you'll help patients navigate the financial side of their healthcare journey by providing clear guidance, answering questions, and identifying payment solutions that fit their individual circumstances. Working closely with patients and internal teams, you'll review financial responsibilities, coordinate payment arrangements, and help ensure patients have the information and resources they need to make informed decisions about their care. This role combines customer service, problem-solving, and financial knowledge to create a positive experience for every patient.

Training & Work Location: This position requires on-site training at our Wausau Clinic. Once fully trained, employees may be eligible to transition to a hybrid work schedule based on performance, department needs, and business requirements.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities

• Manages the financial counseling process directly with patients and negotiates payment plans for self-pay accounts, high deductible accounts, patient balances, and past collection and bankruptcy accounts.
• Processes hardship, bankruptcy, and other adjustments on accounts. Researches and posts bad debt write-offs and self-pay write-offs.
• Reviews and processes Suit authorizations from collection agency.
• Reviews upcoming appointment and meets with or calls patients to review balances, make payment plans, collect pre-pays, and assist with gathering benefit information, if needed.
• Assists patients with billing concerns.
• Sends collection letters, initiates phone calls to collect unpaid and past due balances, processes accounts for collection, and manages bankruptcy and estate filings. Manages patient balances of aged accounts payable.
• Reviews Medicaid balances and completes co-pay letters, follows-up after 30 days and either writes-off or sends an additional letter.
• Handles infusion copay assistance program applications and ensures patient enrollment is up-to-date annually.
• Serves as a resource to patient registration staff in resolving problems.
• Keeps current with all internal and external policies and procedures that may affect patient accounts.
• Promotes positive and effective working relationships and works as part of a team to facilitate teamwork.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education
• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Licensure/Certification
• Advanced training/certification in billing, coding, and/or insurance highly preferred.
• Experience
• Minimum of three-years of medical office experience in billing, coding, and insurance.

Competencies Required

• Knowledge
• Working knowledge of medical and insurance terminology.
• Basic knowledge of CPT, HCPCS, and ICD-10 coding.
• Up-to-date knowledge on state and federal fair debt collection regulations and billing regulations and requirements.
• Skills
• Possesses interpersonal, communication, and listening skills necessary to deal effectively and courteously with patients, physicians, and all staff members.
• Proficient computer skills working in an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and Practice Management software, and Microsoft Word, Excel, and the Internet.
• Demonstrates professionalism and respect in all forms of communication and correspondence.
• High level of accuracy and efficiency when working with patient financial and related data.

• Abilities
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of fiscal and health information.
• Ability to work in a fast paced, multi-tasking environment and cope with rapidly changing demands while working as a team member.
• Ability to prepare and gather information accurately and efficiently.
• Ability to balance compassion for patient's financial situations with business objectives.