Patient Financial Counselor

Southern Vitreoretinal • Tallahassee, FL

10d • $17 - $21 • Onsite

About The Position

Southern Vitreoretinal Associates (SVA) is seeking a Patient Financial Counselor to join our Central Billing Office. This role is ideal for someone who is compassionate, dependable, highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable working independently while helping patients navigate their healthcare financial responsibilities. The Patient Financial Counselor serves as an important liaison between patients, clinical staff, the billing team, and insurance companies. Much of the patient interaction takes place by phone and involves sensitive conversations regarding account balances, financial responsibility, payment options, financial assistance, and payment arrangements. We are looking for someone who can approach these conversations with patience, empathy, and professionalism, while also confidently communicating SVA's financial policies and expectations. The successful candidate will be both patient-focused and accountable, taking ownership of their work, managing responsibilities with minimal supervision, and following through on outstanding issues without constant direction or reminders.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Experience with patient financial services, medical billing, healthcare collections, or Revenue Cycle environment preferred
• Experience working directly with patients on their 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
• Experience with CareCredit or other healthcare financing programs
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and Outlook
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple responsibilities and deadlines
• Demonstrated 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

Responsibilities

• Reviewing upcoming appointments and patient accounts to identify balances due and support timely collection of patient responsibility
• Collaborating with front desk and clinical staff to coordinate time-of-service collections in accordance with SVA policy
• Communicating with patients primarily by phone regarding account balances, financial responsibility, payment options, and available financial assistance
• Providing patients with clear and accurate information regarding their financial responsibility
• Assisting patients who may qualify for CareCredit or other available financial assistance options
• Establishing appropriate payment arrangements with patients and monitoring accounts to support successful payment
• Collecting estimated patient responsibility, including copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and other balances due
• Reviewing patient accounts and processing appropriate transfers and adjustments to ensure payments are accurately applied
• Verifying and updating patient demographics, employment, and other information necessary to properly manage patient accounts
• Reviewing patient credits and processing refunds when appropriate
• Contacting patients regarding returned payments and working with them to arrange an alternate payment method
• Managing patient statements and collection letters in accordance with SVA collection policies
• Communicating with the outside collection agency and monitoring accounts placed for collection
• Reviewing probate information for deceased patients and completing appropriate documentation to support reimbursement for services rendered
• Maintaining accurate and timely documentation of patient financial activity, communications, payments, arrangements, and account information
• Using Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, to organize, track, reconcile, and maintain account and financial information
• Protecting patient confidentiality and complying with applicable laws, regulations, and SVA policies

Benefits

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• paid holidays
• Bereavement leave
• jury duty pay
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with a generous employer-paid portion
• Employer-paid life insurance
• 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

What This Job Offers

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