Patient Financial Counselor

Southern Vitreoretinal • Tallahassee, FL

5d • $17 - $21 • Onsite

About The Position

Southern Vitreoretinal Associates (SVA) is seeking a Patient Financial Counselor for its Central Billing Office in Tallahassee, Florida. This on-site, full-time role serves as a liaison between patients, clinical staff, the billing team, and insurance companies. Much of the patient interaction takes place by phone and involves sensitive discussions about account balances, financial responsibility, payment options, financial assistance, and payment arrangements. The counselor is expected to communicate SVA’s financial policies with empathy and professionalism while taking ownership of assigned work and following through independently.

The role supports SVA’s Revenue Cycle by helping patients understand and meet their financial responsibilities. It involves reviewing accounts and appointments, collecting and tracking payments, maintaining accurate account information and documentation, and coordinating with patients and internal and external partners. The position follows a Monday–Friday schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with one rotating 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. lock-up shift per week.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience working directly with patients on out-of-pocket payments, cost estimates, and balances.
• Working knowledge and experience with Electronic Health Records (EHR) and medical billing software.
• Understanding of private insurance rules, regulations, reimbursement requirements, and billing practices.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple responsibilities and deadlines.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and take ownership of assigned responsibilities.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when handling patient and financial information.
• Ability to communicate professionally and empathetically about balances, financial responsibility, payment options, financial assistance, and payment arrangements.
• Ability to identify account discrepancies, research issues, determine next steps, and follow through with minimal supervision.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with patient financial services, medical billing, healthcare collections, or a Revenue Cycle environment.
• Experience with CareCredit or other healthcare financing programs.

Responsibilities

• Review upcoming appointments and patient accounts to identify balances due and support timely collection of patient responsibility.
• Coordinate time-of-service collections with front desk and clinical staff in accordance with SVA policy.
• Communicate primarily by phone with patients about account balances, financial responsibility, payment options, and available financial assistance.
• Provide clear and accurate information about patients’ financial responsibility.
• Assist patients who may qualify for CareCredit or other available financial assistance options.
• Establish appropriate payment arrangements and monitor accounts to support successful payment.
• Collect estimated patient responsibility, including copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and other balances due.
• Review patient accounts and process appropriate transfers and adjustments to ensure payments are accurately applied.
• Verify and update patient demographics, employment, and other information needed to manage patient accounts.
• Review patient credits and process refunds when appropriate.
• Contact patients about returned payments and help arrange an alternate payment method.
• Manage patient statements and collection letters in accordance with SVA collection policies.
• Communicate with the outside collection agency and monitor accounts placed for collection.
• Review probate information for deceased patients and complete appropriate documentation to support reimbursement for services rendered.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of patient financial activity, communications, payments, arrangements, and account information.
• Use Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, to organize, track, reconcile, and maintain account and financial information.
• Protect patient confidentiality and comply with applicable laws, regulations, and SVA policies.

Benefits

• Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays.
• Bereavement leave and jury duty pay.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with a generous employer-paid portion.
• Employer-paid life insurance and short-term or long-term disability, based on position.
• Access to supplemental benefits such as accident and critical illness coverage.
• Employer-matched 401(k).
• Employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts (HSA), when applicable.
• Scrubs allowance.
• Opportunity to develop and strengthen skills in patient financial services and healthcare Revenue Cycle operations.
• Opportunity to work alongside experienced billing and healthcare professionals.
• Opportunity to develop knowledge of insurance requirements, patient responsibility, payment options, and healthcare financing.
• Opportunity to contribute to process improvements that enhance financial performance and the patient experience.

What This Job Offers

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