PATIENT FINANCIAL COUNSELOR

Premier Health • Dayton, OH

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Financial Counselor serves as the hospital’s primary contact for resolving patient account balances in accordance with PHP policies. The counselor helps patients—particularly those who are uninsured, underinsured, or have low incomes—assess and resolve their financial responsibilities by establishing payment plans and other financial arrangements and evaluating eligibility for Medicaid, state and hospital-sponsored charity care, grants, and other funding sources. The role also calculates and collects estimated patient balances before or at the point of service. It requires knowledge of hospital financial and discounting policies and sound judgment to identify an appropriate resolution for each patient’s circumstances.

The counselor collaborates with hospital departments and outside eligibility vendors, uses financial systems to document information, and assists patients with applications for Medicaid and other public assistance programs. The role requires integrity and good judgment in protecting patient confidentiality, strong communication and math skills, and the ability to multitask and adapt to changing assignments. The position is full-time at Miami Valley Hospital, with variable shifts that include weekends and holidays.

Requirements

• High school completion or GED is required.
• Three to five years of job-related experience is listed as the minimum; additionally, four or more years of recent financial assistance, billing, insurance verification, or self-pay accounts receivable management experience in a healthcare/medical or financial-institution setting is required.
• Overall knowledge of patient registration, third-party collections, insurance-benefit verification, Medicaid and other government programs, financial assistance, hospital billing, and/or managed-care contracts is required.
• Experience overseeing functions such as processing credit applications, verifying credit references and information, determining credit lines, and preparing credit and collections status reports and other operating statements is required.
• Good math skills and successful completion of a skills test that includes calculating co-pays and deductibles are required.
• Ability to perform varied tasks, adapt to short-notice assignment changes, and multitask.
• Excellent verbal and listening communication skills and the ability to maintain a professional demeanor in stressful situations.
• Ability to build productive relationships with all contacts.
• Proficiency with Windows-based computer technology and keyboarding/typing at least 30 words per minute.
• Ability to learn and work with multiple software and hardware products and use machinery typically found in a business office environment.
• Mathematical aptitude to make contractual calculations and estimate patient financial obligations for financial clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Associate degree in a related field preferred.
• Windows-based computer typing speed of 25 words per minute preferred; the knowledge/skills section separately states a requirement of at least 30 words per minute.
• Medical terminology and coding knowledge preferred.
• Experience working with the public preferred.
• Courses or workshops in compliance, medical self-pay accounts receivable management, Medicaid, or medical billing preferred.
• Familiarity with statutes and regulations regarding self-pay collections practices and financial assistance preferred.
• At least one year of experience in a hospital, medical office/clinic, or insurance company preferred.
• Knowledge of third-party collections, registration, billing, and contracts preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the hospital’s primary contact for resolving patient account balances in accordance with PHP policies.
• Help patients assess and resolve their financial responsibilities, including establishing payment plans and other financial arrangements.
• Evaluate patient eligibility for Medicaid, state and hospital-sponsored charity care programs, grants, and other funding sources.
• Calculate and collect estimated patient balances before or at the point of service.
• Apply hospital financial and discounting policies and use critical thinking to identify appropriate resolutions for patients.
• Collaborate with hospital departments and outside eligibility vendors as needed.
• Use financial systems to document data and assist patients with applications for Medicaid and other public assistance programs.
• Protect patient confidentiality.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED