Patient Financial Counselor

OneOncology•Nashville, TN

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Financial Counselor works under the direct supervision of Authorization leadership and provides financial counseling services to patients. The role covers insurance benefits, out-of-pocket responsibility, payment arrangements, and financial assistance. The counselor interacts with patients compassionately to help them understand their financial liabilities and available payment options, while coordinating with practice staff and documenting account activity in electronic systems.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
At least 3 years of experience in financial counseling and/or accounts receivable collections; preferably in an oncology healthcare setting.
Expertise in insurance policies and regulations related to medical billing.
Working knowledge of government and managed-care benefit structures.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent customer service skills.
Ability to meet deadlines.
Knowledge of clinic office procedures, medical practice, and medical terminology.
Ability to interpret, adapt, and apply guidelines, policies, and procedures.
Ability to recognize, evaluate, and solve problems.
Ability to prioritize work and manage time efficiently.
Strong knowledge of Windows-based software applications, such as Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Strong collaboration skills.
Attendance is an essential job function.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Medical Oncology and/or Radiation Oncology experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Educate patients about insurance coverage and benefits, including deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and estimated out-of-pocket costs.
Determine patients’ financial ability to pay.
Collect patient responsibility due before treatments and procedures.
Inform the practice of balances that need to be collected at the time of service.
Provide financial counseling by phone or in person about payment arrangements and financial assistance for uninsured and underinsured patients.
Evaluate financial assistance applications using current Federal Poverty Levels and established policies.
Obtain information and signatures for financial assistance applications and route them promptly to appropriate teams.
Set up, maintain, and edit payment arrangements on patient accounts.
Refer patients to outside social services organizations when appropriate.
Document account activity in the Electronic Medical Record system and Practice Management System.
Assist patients with questions about accounts, insurance coverage, and patient assistance needs using appropriate etiquette.
Answer patient calls and requests promptly, and return messages within 24 hours.
Assist patient balance collectors with inbound call volume.
Maintain patient confidentiality.
Communicate with front office staff, clinical staff, and patient accounting about scheduling, treatment, and financial counseling needs.
Follow policies and procedures established by management to ensure standardized work.
Take on additional responsibilities that support the organization’s mission.