Patient Financial Counselor

Role Summary

The role works under the direct supervision of the Authorization leadership and provides financial counseling services including patient benefits, out of pocket responsibility, payment arrangements and financial assistance. Excellent customer skills required to interact with patients in a compassionate manner to ensure they understand their financial liabilities and available payment.

Responsibilities

• Educate patients about their insurance coverage and benefits, including deductible, copay, coinsurance and estimated out of pocket costs.
• Determine patient financial ability to pay.
• Collect patient responsibility due prior to treatments and procedures.
• Inform the practice of balances due that need to be collected at time of service.
• Provide financial counseling services regarding payment arrangements and financial assistance for uninsured and underinsured patients by phone or in person.
• Make determinations on financial assistance applications based on current Federal Poverty Levels and established policies.
• Obtain information and signatures on financial assistance program applications and route to appropriate teams in a timely manner for optimal financial turn-around.
• Set up, maintain and edit payment arrangements on account when established.
• Refer patients as appropriate to outside social services organizations.
• Properly document all account activity in the Electronic Medical Record system and Practice Management System.
• Assist patients with questions regarding their accounts, insurance coverage and/or patient assistance needs in a skillful manner using appropriate etiquette.
• Answer patient calls and requests promptly and efficiently. Return all messages within 24 hours.
• Assist patient balance collectors with Inbound call volume.
• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
• Communicate with front office staff, clinical staff, and patient accounting regarding scheduling, patient treatment and financial counseling needs.
• Follows Policy & Procedure parameters as outlined by management to ensure standardization of function.
• Additional responsibilities may be assigned to help drive our mission of improving the lives of everyone living with cancer.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience working with financial counseling and/or AR collections, preferably in an Oncology healthcare setting
• Medical Oncology and/or Radiation Oncology experience a plus
• Expertise in insurance policies and regulations related to medical billing

Essential Competencies

• Attendance is an essential job function.
• Working knowledge of government and managed care benefit structures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of clinic office procedures, medical practice and medical terminology.
• Ability to interpret, adapt and apply guidelines and policies and procedures.
• Ability to recognize, evaluate and solve problems.
• Ability to prioritize work and manage time efficiently.
• Strong knowledge of Windows-based software applications. (E.g.: Word, Excel, Outlook…)
• Strong collaboration with other team members required.

#LI-ONSITE