Financial Counselor I

Emory Healthcare•Atlanta, GA

3d•$19 - $23

About The Position

The Financial Counselor I administers, understands, and communicates financial policies and financial screening processes to patients, their families, and legal guardians in an Emory Clinic, Inc. clinical specialty. The role seeks to secure maximum reimbursement through early identification and collection of patient liabilities. The counselor supports staff and patients with financial arrangements, account inquiries, and account reconciliations, including extensive auditing. The role also liaises between Patient Financial Services (PFS) and clinic operations to resolve billing and customer-satisfaction inquiries in a timely manner, and performs insurance eligibility and benefits verification. Knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, third-party carriers, referrals, and precertification procedures is required. Responsibilities include monitoring in-house accounts to improve revenue and timely claim payment, completing cost estimates and following pre-payment guidelines, identifying patients who need early financial counseling, and coordinating outcomes with supervisors and clinic managers. The counselor maintains confidentiality and complies with HIPAA and Emory Healthcare compliance guidelines, collects payments or arranges payment for uncovered balances, and financially clears patients before visits. The position may provide counseling to satellite clinics for assigned sections and perform other related duties as assigned. The role requires the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment, attention to detail, excellent customer service with compassion and empathy, effective account resolution, strong organization and time management, and the ability to interact successfully with internal and external customers at all levels.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent and at least 3 years of healthcare experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, and other managed-care payors, including HMO and PPO plans.
Ability to multitask efficiently in a fast-paced environment and maintain strong attention to detail.
Excellent customer service skills, including compassion and empathy, with a focus on account resolution.
Organizational and time-management skills to prioritize daily work and follow up on accounts in a timely manner.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact successfully with internal and external customers at all levels.

Responsibilities

Administer, understand, and communicate financial policies and screening processes to patients, families, and legal guardians.
Identify and collect patient liabilities up front to secure maximum reimbursement.
Help staff and patients make financial arrangements and address account inquiries and reconciliations, including extensive auditing.
Liaise between PFS and clinic operations to resolve billing and customer-satisfaction inquiries in a timely manner.
Perform insurance eligibility and benefits verification, including knowledge of referrals and precertification procedures.
Monitor in-house accounts to improve revenue and timely payment of claims.
Complete cost estimates and follow pre-payment guidelines.
Identify patients who require early financial counseling and coordinate outcomes with supervisors and clinic managers through written and verbal communication.
Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and Emory Healthcare compliance guidelines.
Collect payments or complete payment arrangements for balances not covered by third-party insurance or for patients without coverage.
Financially clear patients before visits by collecting payment or determining insurance eligibility.
Provide financial counseling to satellite clinics for assigned sections when required.
Perform other related duties as required or assigned.