Patient Financial Advocate - PLIT

Human Resources•Morrilton, AR

27d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Financial Advocate works in Revenue Cycle and reports to Revenue Cycle leadership. The role secures and maintains verified patient coverage and collects valid patient responsibility through accurate, respectful financial counseling and follow-through. It works directly with patients and authorized representatives, assists with Medicaid enrollment, renewal, or restoration, and follows unresolved cases through verified outcomes and clear handoffs to the revenue cycle team. The position reconciles patient census and coverage records with Admissions and Utilization Review, identifies uninsured patients and coverage interruptions, and helps patients complete applications using approved channels. It tracks case requirements, deadlines, and next steps; follows up with patients, representatives, and agencies; verifies coverage outcomes and payer information; and documents evidence and handoffs. It also explains benefits, estimated responsibility, financial assistance, and approved payment options; collects and records patient payments; coordinates authorized payment arrangements; and escalates issues beyond delegated authority. The role protects patient and financial information, uses approved systems, and follows facility financial policies and cash-handling controls. This is an onsite, hourly, FLSA non-exempt position at the Little Rock facility. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a 30-minute unpaid, duty-free lunch and 40 paid hours per week. Compensation is $23–$27 per hour.

Requirements

Prior hands-on experience helping patients or applicants complete Medicaid enrollment is required; general customer service, provider credentialing, or billing experience alone is not an equivalent.
High school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to meet the onsite schedule and assigned work location requirements.
Ability to use electronic records, application portals, and standard office software.

Nice To Haves

Direct Medicaid enrollment work in the hiring state.
Patient-facing healthcare experience, particularly in substance use treatment.
Ability to explain coverage and financial terms in another language relevant to the served population.

Responsibilities

Reconcile the current patient census, verified coverage, and existing coverage-case records with Admissions and Utilization Review; identify uninsured patients, interrupted coverage, and cases requiring renewal or other assistance.
Screen patients’ circumstances, explain the appropriate application or renewal pathway, and obtain required information and supporting documents through approved, authorized channels.
Complete accurate Medicaid enrollment, renewal, or restoration submissions and retain proof of receipt.
Follow the approved state playbook and current internal turnaround deadlines.
Track each case’s status, outstanding requirements, agency deadlines, and next action.
Follow up with patients, authorized representatives, and agencies until a verified outcome or documented escalation is reached.
Verify eligibility outcomes, coverage effective dates, and relevant payer information.
Record evidence in designated systems and distinguish submission, active coverage, authorization, and payment.
Provide Utilization Review and Revenue Cycle Management with a documented handoff containing coverage evidence, dates, unresolved issues, and the next responsible party; follow up on incomplete handoffs or continuing enrollment issues.
Explain benefits, estimated patient responsibility, financial assistance, and approved payment options in understandable language; resolve questions with billing staff without promising coverage or changing approved financial terms.
Protect patient and financial information, use approved systems, and promptly escalate material barriers to Revenue Cycle leadership.
Use approved tools to reduce repetitive work while verifying the underlying evidence.
Explain and directly collect valid deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and other patient responsibility using approved estimates, verified balances, and facility financial policies.
Establish or coordinate approved payment arrangements within delegated authority when immediate payment is not feasible; document terms and follow up on commitments.
Accurately record payments in approved systems, provide receipts, and follow cash-handling and reconciliation controls.
Escalate disputed balances, assistance requests, refunds, and adjustments to the authorized owner.