Financial Assistance Specialist 1

Tampa General Hospital•Tampa, FL

About The Position

The Financial Assistance Specialist 1 works to secure financial assistance for unfunded and underfunded patients and consumers. The role requires extensive knowledge of managed care, Medicaid and Medicaid Disability, Medicare, Healthcare Marketplace Insurance, the Hillsborough County Health Care Program (HCHCP), the Health Care Responsibility Act (HCRA), and Victims of Crime programs, together with strong customer service, time management, and organizational skills. The specialist submits, tracks, and follows Medicaid, HCHCP, and HCRA applications through approval or denial and performs all duties in accordance with Tampa General Hospital’s mission, vision, and values. The role interviews private-pay and underinsured patients to assess eligibility and financial capabilities, prepares charity-care applications, collects required documentation, and submits applications within filing deadlines. The specialist tracks and documents application status, communicates decisions to the Financial Assistance Specialist Team Lead, explains financial accountability to patients and their representatives, and attends DCF hearings to appeal cases closed in error or denied. The role also obtains Lifetime Reserve Days letters for Medicare patients and follows up on workers’ compensation and auto admissions with missing billing information.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least two years of Financial Assistance, Patient Access, or Patient Accounting experience; an equivalent combination of education and years of experience may be considered.
Proficiency with word processing, databases, spreadsheets, EMR platforms, and applications.
Knowledge of English-language structure and content, including vocabulary, spelling, composition, and grammar.
Knowledge of CMS, TJC, and AHCA regulations as they pertain to hospital registration.
Extensive knowledge of Medicaid, Medicaid Disability, Medicare, commercial insurance, Healthcare Marketplace Insurance, HCHCP application processes, HCRA, Victims of Crime, PCIP, and Healthcare Exchange.
Knowledge of financial assistance and charity processes and Patient Access processes.
Skill in collecting personal financial and medical information.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Ability to handle difficult and stressful situations with professional composure.
Ability to process and handle confidential information with discretion.
Ability to analyze, organize, and prioritize work while meeting multiple deadlines.
Ability to recognize the appropriate order of medical coverage.
Ability to identify and/or calculate patient responsibility, including copays, deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, and coinsurance.

Responsibilities

Interview private-pay and underinsured patients to determine eligibility for government financial assistance programs.
Assess patients’ financial capabilities.
Prepare charity-care applications, including Utilization (EA) Letters for illegal aliens when required by the Department of Children & Families (DCF).
Acquire documentation required by government agencies, including Social Security Disability (SSI/SSD) documentation, and contact patients or their families when needed, including after discharge.
Submit assistance applications to the appropriate agency within specified timely filing requirements.
Track assistance applications and document their location, status, and approval or denial.
Attend DCF hearings to appeal cases closed in error or denied.
Notify the Financial Assistance Specialist Team Lead of application approvals or denials.
Explain financial accountability to patients and/or their guarantors or families.
Obtain Lifetime Reserve Days letters for Medicare patients.
Follow up on workers’ compensation and auto admissions that are missing billing information.