Financial Counselor - Patient Access - Day Shift - Full time - Marina Hospital

Cedars-Sinai•Marina del Rey, CA

17h•$25 - $34

About The Position

The Financial Counselor is an advanced-level patient access position at Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital. The role performs comprehensive patient access and admissions functions and maintains proficiency across departmental workflows, including the ability to provide interim coverage in any admissions area with minimal refresher training. The Financial Counselor supports access to hospital services by obtaining accurate demographic and financial information, completing registration and pre-registration activities, verifying insurance and eligibility, screening for Third Party Liability, Medi-Cal, Medicare, and Workers’ Compensation, and collecting required patient payments such as co-payments, deductibles, and deposits. The position serves as a resource for patients, families, and staff by explaining financial information, addressing questions, and supporting a positive patient experience while complying with organizational policies and regulatory requirements. The role also supports operational needs through worklist management, reporting, collaboration with clinical and operational teams, and coverage across registration and admissions functions.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED (minimum).

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Hospital Administration or equivalent.
Three years of healthcare revenue cycle experience.
Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) certification issued by the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM).

Responsibilities

Perform pre-admission and face-to-face patient registration for inpatient, outpatient, and procedural areas, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timely processing.
Obtain financial clearance by verifying insurance through electronic systems, payer portals, and direct payer communication, and determine appropriate patient financial classification.
Search systems to confirm or assign medical record numbers, maintaining data integrity and preventing duplicate records.
Review physician selection and identify privileging or suspension concerns, coordinating resolution with appropriate departments.
Interview patients and provide customer service with sensitivity to diverse populations and healthcare needs.
Independently manage routine and complex inquiries from patients, representatives, physicians, and payers, escalating concerns when appropriate.
Explain financial obligations, including deductibles, co-payments, and estimated charges, and collect payments at the point of service while meeting established collection goals.
Screen uninsured or underinsured patients for government programs and financial assistance, and assist with timely and accurate application completion and submission.
Educate patients about payment options, financial policies, good faith estimates, and available support resources.
Collaborate with physicians, clinical departments, case management, billing, and other operational teams to ensure accurate intake information, resolve financial concerns, and support continuity of care.
Maintain proficiency in hospital information systems and related software used for registration, insurance verification, and financial documentation.
Compile reports and retrieve system data as requested to support operational needs and departmental decision-making.
Manage assigned worklists daily, prioritize tasks, and assist team members to maintain workflow efficiency.
Demonstrate flexibility and competency across registration and admissions functional areas to support departmental coverage needs.
Follow hospital policies and applicable state, federal, and regulatory requirements related to patient access, financial practices, privacy, and compliance; perform other duties as assigned.