Collection Representative

Advocate Health • Milwaukee, WI

1d • $23 - $34 • Remote

About The Position

The Collection Representative follows up on assigned accounts to obtain payment until accounts are paid or resolved, meet the work standard for referral to a collection agency, or are deemed uncollectable. The representative contacts patients, employers, insurance companies, and government agencies by telephone or mail to expedite payment and works with patients, collection agencies, vendors, and internal departments to resolve account issues.

The role handles requests, inquiries, and complaints related to the bad debt collection process; interprets insurance verification, billing, collection, and legal information; and documents account history, actions, and resolution efforts. The representative also accounts for settlement offers and vendor remits, addresses cash-posting issues, learns and uses patient billing systems, reconciles records and balances with third-party agencies, monitors trends, and alerts management. The position is 100% remote, scheduled Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., for 40 hours per week.

Requirements

• High school graduate.
• Typically requires 2 years of experience in insurance processing, collections, or customer service.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and ability to quickly learn new systems and processes.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proven negotiation skills.
• Ability to review information quickly and make decisions.
• Flexibility to work on special projects and new assignments as business needs dictate.
• Knowledge of medical insurance billing, accounts, and/or legal processes.
• Must be able to sit for the majority of the workday; occasionally lifts up to 10 pounds.
• Must be able to operate all equipment necessary to perform the job.

Responsibilities

• Follow up on assigned accounts to obtain payment until they are resolved, ready for agency referral, or deemed uncollectable.
• Contact patients, employers, insurance companies, and government agencies by telephone or mail to expedite payment.
• Build effective working relationships with patients, collection agencies, vendors, and internal departments to resolve account issues.
• Handle requests, inquiries, and complaints related to bad debt collection; resolve patient billing and collection complaints using appropriate human-relations skills and credit procedures.
• Interpret insurance verification, billing, follow-up, collection, and legal information to resolve patient questions and account issues.
• Document why accounts were opened, processing information, and actions taken to resolve outstanding issues.
• Account for settlement offers and vendor remits, and address cash-posting issues related to bad debt accounts.
• Learn and use current and past patient billing systems to properly handle bad debt accounts.
• Use effective collection methods to maintain a low bad debt expense write-off ratio.
• Maintain and reconcile records of placements with third-party agencies and reconcile differences between bad debt balances and agency records.
• Monitor trends in agency or patient billing issues and alert management.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off programs.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
• Adoption assistance and paid parental leave.
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
• Educational Assistance Program.
• Career development programs.
• Potential premium pay, incentive pay for select positions, and annual performance-based increases.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED