Financial Counselor

Parkland Health

About The Position

The Financial Counselor interviews patients at entry to advise them on the optimal funding program, begin eligibility determination, and ensure patients are screened and qualified for assistance. The role reviews demographic and financial documentation, verifies insurance benefits, supports public funding applications and certifications, and communicates patients’ financial responsibilities. It also performs registration and payment-processing functions, maintains account documentation, tracks productivity, and monitors assigned accounts through application, certification, denial, or review completion. The Financial Counselor works with patients, families, agencies, insurance companies, clinical personnel, and Parkland staff to support accurate billing, financial assistance, and a positive patient experience.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Two years of experience determining financial eligibility for government, program, public funding, or patient assistance programs in a physician or hospital business office setting; an equivalent combination of education and/or experience may substitute.
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 professionalism in appearance and approach.
Ability to handle potentially stressful situations and multiple tasks simultaneously, including instructing and counseling patients about 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 medical terminology knowledge.
Bilingual skills.

Responsibilities

Interview patients to begin determining financial eligibility and advise them about appropriate funding programs.
Screen patient demographic and financial documentation to identify funding programs and ensure eligible patients are instructed and receive benefits.
Verify and obtain insurance benefits, and forward referrals and pre-certifications to clinical staff.
Assist patients with public funding certification applications, ensuring applications are complete, deadlines are met, and the process is expedited before discharge.
Arrange and encourage patients to keep appointments needed to complete the financial assistance process.
Explain patient financial responsibility, collect co-pays and unpaid balances, provide billing information, enter payments, balance the cash drawer daily, and document transactions in the hospital accounting system.
Assign appropriate coverage to accounts, including outside agencies when appropriate, and document account actions.
Perform registration functions, including verifying patient identification, demographics, and third-party funding payors; distribute and explain required forms; obtain signatures and dates; attach coverage; prioritize filing order; and document actions.
Track productivity and provide cumulative reports daily, weekly, or monthly.
Monitor assigned accounts until application, certification, denial, or review processes are complete and appropriate coverage is attached and prioritized for billing.
Maintain positive working relationships with agencies, funding programs, patients, insurers, government entities, clinical personnel, other Financial Counselors, and management.
Serve as a positive role model, support client compliance and cooperation with state and federal agencies, accept constructive criticism, and incorporate suggestions.
Identify opportunities to improve work processes and customer satisfaction, make recommendations to a supervisor, and implement and monitor results as appropriate.
Keep current with developments and trends in the field through seminars, workshops, professional journals, professional organizations, and/or certification or licensure maintenance, and apply relevant knowledge to work practices.
Maintain knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws, and guidelines; develop effective internal controls supporting compliance; and seek guidance when needed.