Financial Counselor

Parkland Health

About The Position

Interviews patients at the time of entry to advise them about the optimal funding program, begin eligibility determination, and ensure Parkland patients are screened and qualified for assistance. The Financial Counselor screens patient demographic and financial documentation, verifies insurance benefits, supports applications for public funding and patient assistance, explains financial responsibilities and billing information, collects and posts payments, performs registration functions, and monitors assigned accounts through the application, certification, denial, or review process. The role also maintains accurate account documentation, tracks productivity, and builds positive working relationships with patients, families, funding agencies, insurers, government entities, clinical staff, coworkers, and management. The position contributes to process improvement, customer satisfaction, and compliance by staying current with developments in the field and maintaining knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws, and guidelines.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Two years of experience determining financial eligibility for government, program, or public funding, or patient assistance programs in a physician or hospital business office setting.
An equivalent combination of education and/or experience may substitute for the stated education and/or experience requirements.
Ability to interview patients for financial eligibility determination.
Working knowledge of personal computers and standard office equipment.
Basic knowledge of medical software and public assistance programs and required forms.
Knowledge of third-party payors and insurance verification procedures, and understanding of managed care and insurance contractual arrangements.
Detail orientation, basic mathematical skills, and analytical ability to resolve financial issues involving third-party payors, physicians, patients, and the system.
Positive demeanor, good verbal and written communication skills, and a professional appearance and approach.
Ability to handle potentially stressful situations and multiple tasks, including instructing and counseling patients about Parkland payment policies and public assistance programs.
Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, government entities, insurance companies, and Parkland staff.
Ability to solve problems within established policies and procedures.
Ability to successfully complete additional job-related training when offered.

Nice To Haves

Basic knowledge of medical terminology.
Bilingual skills.

Responsibilities

Interview patients to advise them about funding options and begin financial eligibility determination.
Screen patient demographic and financial documentation to identify appropriate funding programs and ensure eligible patients receive instructions and benefits.
Verify and obtain insurance benefits, and forward referrals and pre-certifications to clinical staff.
Assist patients with public funding applications, ensuring applications are complete, deadlines are met, and certification is expedited before discharge.
Set up appointments and encourage applicants to keep them to support completion of the financial assistance process.
Communicate patients’ financial responsibilities, collect co-pays and unpaid balances, and provide billing information as needed.
Enter and post payments in the computer system, balance the cash drawer daily, and document actions in the hospital accounting system.
Assign appropriate coverage to accounts, including outside agencies when appropriate, and document actions taken.
Perform registration functions, including verifying patient identification, demographics, and third-party payors; distribute and explain required forms; obtain signatures and dates; attach appropriate coverages; and prioritize filing order.
Track productivity and provide cumulative reports on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
Monitor assigned accounts until application, certification, denial, or review is complete and appropriate coverages are attached and prioritized for billing.
Maintain positive working relationships with agencies, funding programs, patients, insurers, government entities, clinical personnel, Financial Counselors, and management.
Identify process-improvement and customer-satisfaction opportunities, make recommendations to the supervisor, and implement and monitor results as appropriate.
Stay current with field developments through seminars, workshops, professional journals, professional organizations, and/or maintaining certification or licensure; apply relevant knowledge to work practices.
Maintain knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws, and guidelines; develop effective internal controls and seek guidance to ensure understanding and compliance.