Financial Information Counselor PRN-17

Baptist Health • Prattville, AL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Financial Information Counselor verifies and discusses patients’ insurance benefits, treatment cost estimates, and other business forms needed for treatment and imaging services. The role provides financial counseling to patients, explains their financial responsibilities, collects payments, and initiates financial assistance applications and forms as needed. At MCC, the position also works with providers and clinical staff to obtain prior authorizations and ensures finalized pre-certifications and authorizations are communicated to departments in a timely manner. The Counselor identifies alternative payment sources, arranges payment schedules for medical services, identifies returning patients with accounts in bad debt, and collects point-of-service payments from insured patients as appropriate. Additional duties within the role’s scope may be assigned.

The position is based at Prattville Baptist Hospital and is designated PRN. Work is primarily indoors, with substantial computer use and minimal noise. The environment is protected from weather but may be subject to temperature changes, with occasional exposure to electrical shock risk, infectious disease, and hazardous chemicals. Physical activity includes sitting for 60% and mobility for 40% of the workday, occasional stooping, bending, kneeling, and crouching, frequent reaching and repetitive hand use, and occasional lifting or carrying up to 10 pounds and pushing or pulling up to 50 pounds. The job requires continuous clear speech, conversational hearing, and close- and distant-range visual acuity.

Requirements

• High school graduation or equivalent.
• Previous experience using eligibility systems for Medicare, Medicaid, commercial, and HMO payers.
• For MCC, at least 2 years of experience in a medical business office, patient access, medical billing, or collections department.
• Strong interpersonal and public relations skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse customers.
• Ability to perform basic analytical problem solving and basic math.
• Ability to function in hospital systems, including patient registration, accounting, and billing systems.
• Proficiency with PC applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and GroupWise.
• Knowledge of organizational structure, workflow, and operating procedures.
• Strong oral and written communication, organization, and time management skills.
• Ability to follow directions and establish priorities effectively.

Nice To Haves

• Associate’s degree in a healthcare- or business-related field.
• Bilingual English/Spanish capability.
• Previous hospital insurance billing and collecting experience.

Responsibilities

• Verify and discuss patients’ insurance benefits and treatment cost estimates.
• Complete financial counseling services for patients and advise them of their financial responsibilities.
• Collect payments and initiate financial assistance applications and forms as needed.
• At MCC, work with providers and clinical staff to secure prior authorizations for services.
• Maintain the authorization process and communicate finalized pre-certifications and authorizations to departments in a timely manner.
• Identify alternative sources of payment and arrange payment schedules for medical services.
• Identify returning patients with accounts in bad debt.
• Collect point-of-service payments from insured patients as appropriate.
• Perform additional duties within the scope of the role.

What This Job Offers

• Education Level: High school or GED