Financial Counselor I

Emory•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

Responsible for administering, understanding, and communicating financial policies and financial screening processes to patients, patients' families, and legal guardians in an Emory Clinic, Inc. clinical specialty. The role helps secure maximum reimbursement by identifying and collecting patient liabilities up front. It serves as a resource for staff and patients needing financial arrangements, account inquiries, or account reconciliations, including extensive auditing, and acts as a liaison between Patient Financial Services (PFS) and clinic operations to resolve billing and customer-satisfaction inquiries in a timely manner. The Financial Counselor performs insurance eligibility and benefits verification and applies knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, third-party carriers, referrals, and precertification procedures. The role monitors in-house accounts, completes cost estimates, follows pre-payment guidelines, identifies patients needing early financial counseling, and communicates outcomes to supervisors and clinic managers. It maintains patient confidentiality and follows HIPAA and Emory Healthcare compliance guidelines. The counselor collects payments or arranges payment for balances not covered by insurance or for patients without coverage, and financially clears patients before visits by collecting payment or determining insurance eligibility. The role may also provide counseling to satellite clinics for assigned sections and perform other related duties as required.

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.
Knowledge of third-party carriers, referrals, and precertification procedures.
Ability to multitask efficiently and work in a fast-paced environment with strong attention to detail.
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 promptly.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact successfully with internal and external customers at all levels.
Ability to maintain patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and organizational compliance guidelines.

Responsibilities

Administer, understand, and communicate financial policies and financial screening processes to patients, families, and legal guardians.
Identify and collect patient liabilities up front to secure maximum reimbursement.
Assist staff and patients with financial arrangements, account inquiries, and account reconciliations, including extensive auditing.
Act as a liaison between PFS and clinic operations to resolve billing and customer-satisfaction inquiries in a timely manner.
Perform insurance eligibility and benefits verification.
Monitor in-house accounts to improve revenue and timely payment of claims.
Complete cost estimates and follow pre-payment process 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 arrange payment 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.