Financial Counselor

Lifepoint Health • Holyoke, MA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

A Financial Counselor maintains and processes all assigned patient accounts and counsels patients regarding the admitting and discharging processes and payment alternatives. Work is of a confidential nature. The role involves supporting patients and responsible parties to establish payment methods, obtaining necessary information and signatures prior to admission, estimating and informing patients of their financial obligations, and establishing payment plans for those unable to pay the full estimated portion upon discharge. The Financial Counselor also identifies and reports patients with past payment difficulties, ensures completeness of pre-admission and admission information, and accurately interprets insurance policy provisions to calculate self-pay portions of bills. They patiently and clearly advise patients of their obligations, collect payments, and document payment agreements when necessary. The role requires applying age-appropriate communication, maintaining knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements (Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, Veterans Administration), and collecting/controlling cash receipts, including deductibles, co-pays, and non-covered charges. Maintaining and balancing a cash drawer, preparing daily cash reports, and ensuring accurate deposit documentation are key duties. The Financial Counselor determines patient responsibility through eligibility and insurance verification, maintains control over cash payments, and operates and maintains assigned equipment and work areas. Proficiency in the patient financial services accounts receivables system (Paragon) and other supporting software is expected, along with keeping work areas organized. Participation in hospital and departmental support activities, including stand-by and re-call, may be required.

Requirements

• High school diploma required
• Proficient in use of software programs.
• Excellent customer service and telephone skills a must.
• Minimum of one year of business or related experience including bookkeeping with use of calculating equipment and collection of monies is required.

Nice To Haves

• advanced education preferred

Responsibilities

• Maintains and processes all assigned patient accounts.
• Counsels patients (or responsible parties) to establish payment method.
• Contacts patients in advance of admission to obtain missing information, particularly patient’s signature for accepting obligation to pay.
• Estimates and informs patient of portion of bill which must be paid directly.
• Establishes a payment for patients unable to pay the estimated portion of bill upon discharge.
• Identifies and reports to manager patients with whom payment difficulties arose in the past.
• Ensures completeness of pre-admission and admission information, following through as needed, to obtain and document missing information/signatures prior to patient’s admission date.
• Checks for, and identifies patients with histories of payment problems, and informs supervisor of any found, prior to patient’s admission date.
• Accurately interprets insurance policy provisions and calculates self-pay portion of patient’s bill based on expected length of stay and services rendered.
• Patiently, clearly, and accurately advises patient of self-pay obligations and estimate and ensures that patient signs acceptance of such obligation on the designated forms.
• Collects self-pay monies in advance, upon entry, or at discharge according to circumstances.
• Ensures that a mutually agreed upon payment agreement is documented and signed by all parties, in compliance with established guidelines and procedures, in cases where patient is unable to pay self-pay portion due upon discharge.
• Selects and applies appropriate communications based on the age of the patient/customer.
• Maintains knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements related to state and federal agencies such as Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, Veterans Administration and other demonstrates this knowledge by the accurately obtaining information and updating records to remain in compliance.
• Collects and Controls cash receipts.
• Collects patient deductible, co-pays and non-covered patient charge amounts.
• Maintains and balances cash drawer.
• Prepares daily cash report and submits to Cashier with collected monies and copies of Relay Account Report/Daily Deposit Reconciliation.
• Determines the appropriate amount due from the patient through eligibility and insurance verification, by evidence of the insurance card, or in the event of no insurance, follow Self-pay processes/policies.
• Maintains control over cash payments, so that receipts balance to cash drawer.
• Accurately prepares deposit documentation and delivers deposits.
• Operates and maintains assigned equipment and maintains work area.
• Ensures that no damage or undue wear and tear occurs to assigned equipment due to failure to operate or maintain it in accordance with specifications.
• Has demonstrated adequate knowledge and proficiency in using the patient financial services accounts receivables system (Paragon) and other supporting software.
• Keeps assigned work areas neatly organized on a continuous basis.
• Participates in hospital and departmental support activities requiring stand-by and re-call at times.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
• flexible-spending and health-savings accounts
• Competitive paid time off and extended illness bank package for full-time employees
• Income-protection programs, such as life, accident, critical-injury insurance, short- and long-term disability, and identity theft coverage
• Tuition reimbursement
• loan assistance
• 401(k) matching
• Employee assistance program including mental, physical, and financial wellness
• Professional development and growth opportunities

What This Job Offers

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