Patient Access Representative III - Financial Counselor

Conifer Health Solutions•Mount Pleasant, SC

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Access Representative III - Financial Counselor supports departmental efficiencies at Novant East Cooper Medical Center. The role performs patient registration, pre-admission and admission, reception, and discharge functions; arranges requested hospital support services through referrals; analyzes admission, discharge, and transfer (ADT) and revenue-cycle reports; leads shift Patient Access Operations; and collaborates with department leaders on process and operational excellence. The position provides customer service and completes patient registrations and associated legal and financial documentation. It provides financial counseling, education, referrals, and compliant patient-liability collection; verifies medical necessity, insurance, benefits, coverage, and eligibility; obtains authorizations and inpatient visit notifications; and performs related cash reconciliation and payment-entry duties. The representative may also assist with procedure scheduling and interviews and must be able to work in at least three Patient Access service areas, including the Emergency Department. The stated schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., though the employee must also be available to work hours and days as needed based on departmental or system demands. The work takes place in hospital administration and may include patient-care locations with potential exposure to life-threatening patient conditions. Candidates, as applicable and as permitted by law, must obtain and provide confirmation of required vaccinations and screenings before employment begins.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Two to four years of experience in a medical facility, health insurance, or a related area.
Minimum typing speed of 35 words per minute.
Demonstrated working knowledge of software, systems, equipment, and PCs.
Advanced customer-service skills and experience.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to receive and communicate detailed information orally and in writing.
Advanced patient-liability collection performance and high achievement in productivity.
Ability to perform essential duties in at least three Patient Access service areas, including the Emergency Department.
Ability to use proper negotiation techniques to professionally collect money owed by patients or guarantors.
Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external clients.
Must meet applicable required vaccination and screening requirements before starting employment, as permitted by law.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of functions and relationships within a hospital environment.
Advanced understanding of third-party payor requirements.
Advanced understanding of compliance standards.
Two or more years in Patient Access.
Some college coursework.

Responsibilities

Greet patients according to Conifer Standards of Care and provide customer service.
Complete patient registration at the date of service and follow financial and cash-control policies and procedures.
Explain and secure hospital and patient legal forms, including advance directives, conditions of service, consent for treatment, Important Message from Medicare, and EMTALA forms.
Scan protected health information and create and file patient information packets or folders for upcoming hospital services.
May assist with scheduling diagnostic or surgical procedures, conducting physician-office or patient interviews, and explaining hospital procedure guidelines and policies.
Provide patient financial counseling, education, and referrals.
Complete patient-liability collection escalations using proper, compliant techniques before, during, and after the date of service.
Perform hospital cash reconciliation and secure payment entry in accordance with financial and cash-control policies and procedures.
Secure medical-necessity checks and verification in accordance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requirements.
Verify insurance, benefits, coverage, and eligibility; complete assigned registration financial-clearance work-list activities; obtain authorizations for scheduled and unscheduled hospital services; and secure inpatient visit notifications to payors.
Analyze admission, discharge, and transfer (ADT) and revenue-cycle reports.
Lead shift Patient Access Operations and collaborate with department leaders on process and operational excellence.
Perform essential job duties in at least three Patient Access service areas, including the Emergency Department.
Professionally negotiate collection of money owed by patients or guarantors.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external clients to support effective communication, productivity, and accuracy.
Resolve physician-office and patient issues.