Financial Counselor (Santa Rosa)

Northern California Behavioral Health System•Santa Rosa, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Santa Rosa Behavioral Healthcare Hospital (SRBHH), formerly Aurora Santa Rosa Hospital, opened in 2016 and is an integral part of the greater Santa Rosa and Northern California mental health system of care. Located in the North Bay, SRBHH serves adolescents and adults, treating both mental health and co-occurring psychiatric and substance abuse conditions. The Financial Counselor will work closely with the Revenue Cycle Team, Patient Access, Patient Accounts, and Case Management, as well as nursing units, physicians, insurance companies, attorneys, and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This role is responsible for patient admissions, including interviews and some cashiering, and providing information regarding admissions and billing. The Financial Counselor is also responsible for coordinating credit and collection procedures, assessing and resolving self-pay account balances, assessing private pay accounts, and verifying insurance and governmental programs for inpatient and outpatient accounts. This position is a key component of Patient Access and the Revenue Cycle Team, aiming to decrease denials, increase reimbursements, and proactively assess high-dollar accounts.

Requirements

High school degree or equivalent.
Demonstrated knowledge of medical terminology and insurance billing.
Minimum of two years of healthcare billing and insurance knowledge.
English proficiency required.
Maintains confidentiality of patients at all times.
Sensitivity to and willingness to interact with persons of various social, cultural, economic and educational backgrounds.
Proficiency with software and/or equipment (Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.)
Strong organizational skills with ability to prioritize projects, work relatively independently, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Good judgment, problem solving and decision-making skills.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, expanding organization.
Use standard office equipment and access, input, and retrieve information from a computer.
Use computer keyboard with manual and finger dexterity and wrist-finger speed sufficient to perform repetitive actions efficiently for extended periods of time.
Communicate effectively in person or via telephone in a manner which can be understood by those with whom the person is speaking, including a diverse population.
Give and follow verbal and written instructions with attention to detail and accuracy.
Perform complex mental functions and basic arithmetic functions; interpret complex laws, regulations, and policies; collect, interpret, and/or analyze complex data and information.
Vision: see details of objects at close range.
Coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously.
Reach forward, up, down, and to the side.
Sit or stand for minimum periods of one hour at a time and come and go from the work area repeatedly throughout the day.
Lift up to fifteen (15) pounds.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of CPT/ICD-10 coding helpful.
Knowledge of Third-Party payers, Medi-Cal TAR processes, billing requirements, and reimbursement methods
Knowledge of Medical Terminology
Thorough understanding of charity care processing, federal poverty guidelines and indigent criteria
Ability to understand charge description master, provide price estimates, analyze and work daily, weekly and monthly reports.
Excellent Communication Skills
Professional Appearance
Good PC Software Skills
Must work independently and maintain workflow.
Knowledge of multi-registration and front-end processing.
Service Excellence

Responsibilities

Arranges patient admission to facility.
Receives and interviews incoming patients or relatives to obtain pertinent data and verify insurance coverage.
Types and processes necessary admission paperwork.
Ensures timely communication of patient admission to other departments.
Provides financial options to patients and authorized family members prior to admission.
Assists in resolution of routine admitting inquiries.
May also interface with medical staff for information required for patient admissions.
Collects monies and accept patient valuables for safekeeping for patients during his or her stay at the hospital.
Sets up payment arrangement with self-pay patients.
Collects co-payments when applicable.
Able to fill in to help the reception desk if needed, including answering and redirecting phone calls, greeting and providing callers or visitors with information, and duties related to this coverage as requested.
Timely reporting of appropriate accounts is essential.
Handle incoming calls professionally and timely.
Demonstrate service and commitment in working with peers, management team and other hospital staff.