Financial Counselor - UH Patient Access - University Hospital

USA Health • Mobile, AL

2h

About The Position

The Financial Counselor works in Patient Access at University Hospital, assessing treatment orders and protocols to estimate patients’ total oncology treatment costs and future services. The role reviews insurance coverage, explains patients’ financial obligations, collects payments when required, and provides information about financing and charity care programs. The counselor communicates with patients and responsible parties in person, by phone, and by email, and coordinates with physicians’ offices, hospital departments, billing staff, and the business office to address financial arrangements and insurance payment appeals.

The position also involves researching and correcting demographic information, documenting activity, rescheduling patients when needed, and helping ensure billing information is complete. The counselor must stay informed about insurance plans, reimbursement, Medicaid eligibility, regulatory requirements, and patient financing programs while maintaining HIPAA, infection-control, and safety standards. Regular and prompt attendance is required, and the employee must work the defined schedule and overtime as required. Related duties may be assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent and four years of medical business office or medical insurance experience.
• Higher education in Social Work, Counseling, or a directly related field may substitute year for year for the required experience.
• A comparable combination of education and experience may substitute for the stated requirements.
• Familiarity with medical terminology.
• Understanding of commercial insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, managed care plans, precertifications, deductibles, co-pays, and out-of-pocket maximums.
• Knowledge of hospital charity care policies, sliding-scale fee programs, state and federal aid, and philanthropic grants and programs.
• Awareness of HIPAA and other healthcare privacy laws, financial counseling regulations, and fair debt collection policies.
• Ability to explain medical bills, insurance policies, and payment terms clearly; assess financial documents and household income; calculate deposits and payment plans; and manage high-volume patient interactions and billing follow-ups.
• Ability to handle emotionally charged conversations with empathy and de-escalation skills and interact respectfully with people from varied socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to use Microsoft Word and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Assess treatment orders and protocols to determine total oncology treatment costs and estimate future services.
• Review insurance policies and coverage in electronic systems to determine patient payment obligations.
• Explain financial requirements to patients or responsible parties and collect deposits, deductibles, or coinsurance as required.
• Advise patients of balances due and communicate financial expectations before services are provided.
• Research incorrect patient demographic information using databases and document all activity.
• Collect appropriate payment before services when satisfactory arrangements have not been made.
• Work with physicians’ office staff, physicians, departmental directors, and management to determine whether services can be postponed until financial obligations are met.
• Reschedule patients in the computerized scheduling system as needed.
• Provide information about payment requirements, alternative financing, and eligible charity care programs in accordance with applicable guidelines.
• Work with billing staff to ensure necessary information is collected for timely billing.
• Coordinate appeals of insurance payment rejections with the business office.
• Stay current on regulatory statutes, insurance plans, deductibles, coinsurance, non-covered services, and state legislation.
• Apply knowledge of insurance reimbursement, Medicaid eligibility, and patient financing programs.
• Interact professionally with patients, physicians, faculty, staff, administrators, and outside entities.
• Provide excellent customer service to internal and external customers.
• Maintain HIPAA requirements and adhere to infection-control and safety standards.
• Use Microsoft Word and Excel to prepare correspondence and reports.
• Complete mandatory department, educational, and hospital requirements.
• Maintain regular and prompt attendance, work the defined schedule and overtime as required, and perform related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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