Patient Financial Advocate - Full time

Uintah Basin Healthcare current open positions•Roosevelt, UT

14h

About The Position

Responsible for resolving self-pay accounts while maintaining strong relationships with patients, guarantors, and business office departments. Under the direct supervision of the PFS Director/Assistant Office Manager, the Patient Financial Advocate uses medical billing knowledge and customer service skills to collect payments and connect patients with financial resources, supporting patient satisfaction. The role handles patient communications and correspondence, explains charges, resolves billing errors, negotiates payments and payment plans, maintains self-pay accounts, updates patient demographics, and directs patients to appropriate financial assistance resources. It also collects and records payments through multiple channels, manages cash-drawer funds, and supports the business office through professional development and recommendations for improvement. The position requires knowledge of basic insurance billing, revenue cycle workflows, IT and/or EHR systems, hospital and professional billing and reimbursement, and regulations affecting past-due account collection. The employee must comply with applicable regulations, organizational policies, and accreditation and compliance requirements; maintain patient confidentiality; and demonstrate professional conduct, reliable attendance, and cooperative working relationships. Performance is satisfactory when self-pay accounts receivable over 90 days average 45% or less and the self-pay collections rate averages at least 7%.

Requirements

Medical billing knowledge and excellent customer service skills.
Working knowledge of basic insurance billing practices.
Working knowledge of revenue cycle workflow, IT and/or EHR software systems, hospital and professional billing processes and reimbursement, and statutes and regulations affecting collection of past-due accounts.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Ability to multitask and manage time effectively.
Professional conduct and appearance; excellent attendance; and ability to maintain patient confidentiality and comply with ethical business practices.

Responsibilities

Handle telephone, email, and interpersonal communication with patients and business office departments.
Receive, document, and respond promptly and courteously to patient correspondence.
Provide customer service that supports patient and guarantor relations and a positive work environment.
Explain service charges, report charge or payment errors to managerial staff, and resolve errors in the Uintah Basin Healthcare computer system.
Negotiate full payment and establish agreeable payment plans in accordance with UBH collection policy and/or Health First Financial.
Maintain self-pay accounts, update patient demographics as needed, review accounts for financial assistance, and direct patients to appropriate resources such as financial counseling.
Collect payments over the counter, by phone, and by mail, and record payment types and transactions in the computer system.
Use the safe to deposit large bills and sums of money from the cash drawer and maintain the required minimum cash-drawer balance.
Attend staff meetings, educational seminars, and workshops for continued professional development.
Provide the business office department and leaders with improvement recommendations and communicate observed trends and issues to supervisors.
Use knowledge of basic insurance billing practices to assist patients professionally.
Ensure services comply with state and federal regulations, organizational policy, and accreditation and compliance requirements.
Maintain professional appearance and conduct, appropriate work clothing, and an ID badge.
Maintain good working relationships with physicians, administration, and staff, and represent the organization positively in the community.
Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
Perform other duties as assigned by leadership.
Meet performance targets for self-pay accounts receivable over 90 days and self-pay collections.