Self Pay Collector 1

Carle Health•Champaign, IL

2d•$18 - $30

About The Position

The Self Pay Collector 1 manages hospital and professional accounts receivable in accordance with compliance, regulatory, billing, and payer guidelines. The role collects outstanding receivables, maintains accurate and confidential records under HIPAA and organizational policies, and meets departmental productivity and quality expectations. The collector participates in departmental audits and reviews to ensure work meets established standards. The position involves contacting patients by phone, email, and mail; explaining the self-pay billing process; arranging payments; validating insurance coverage; attaching insurance to claims; and responding to patient inquiries. The collector also provides financial counseling and assistance with applicable financial assistance or discount programs, resolves billing issues, and guides patients through their financial responsibilities with empathy and professionalism.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Healthcare work experience.
Ability to handle sensitive financial conversations with empathy and professionalism.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA regulations.

Responsibilities

Contact patients by phone, email, or mail to collect outstanding balances.
Work account queues to conduct collection activities, investigate balances, request money transfers, confirm statement delivery, and send inquiries about outstanding self-pay receivables.
Initiate and follow up on patient contact to resolve outstanding balances, including underpayments, no payments, overpayments, and undistributed payments.
Set up and monitor payment plans according to established guidelines.
Provide financial counseling and assistance with the Carle Financial Assistance program and other applicable discount opportunities.
Identify and resolve billing and insurance errors to support accurate and timely billing.
Maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA regulations.
Provide empathetic, professional customer service when handling sensitive financial conversations.
Recommend adjustments when applicable or refunds for overpayments to insurance carriers or patients, with appropriate documentation.
Identify problem accounts and escalate them as appropriate; clearly inform patients of their payment obligations and accurately document accounts.
Update patient demographic, insurance, and billing information accurately.
Identify and report account corrections needed for guarantor number changes, double registrations, and other account build issues in the practice management system.
Meet and exceed departmental productivity and quality assurance standards.
Perform other duties as assigned.