Senior Financial Counselor

Parkland Health

About The Position

Serves as a program expert and lead resource for the immediate supervisor on funding programs, supporting financial counselors with training, complex financial assessments, workflow issues, and dwell-time monitoring. The role helps ensure patients are screened for and qualified for appropriate financial assistance and that funding applications, account coverage, and billing are handled accurately and on time. The Senior Financial Counselor interviews patients, reviews demographic and financial documentation, helps patients complete public funding certifications, explains financial responsibilities and payment policies, and documents actions and transactions in the hospital accounting system. The position also verifies insurance benefits, performs registration functions, posts payments, balances the cash drawer, monitors assigned accounts through application or review completion, and maintains productive working relationships with patients, agencies, insurers, clinical personnel, and colleagues. The role requires a high school diploma or GED and four years of experience determining financial eligibility for government, public, program, or patient assistance funding in a physician or hospital business office. Two years of college is preferred. ACA certification must be obtained within 12 months of hire. Spanish bilingual ability and Microsoft Office Suite proficiency are preferred.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Four years of experience determining financial eligibility for government, program, public funding, or patient assistance programs in a physician or hospital business office setting.
Obtain Affordable Care Act (ACA) certification within 12 months of hire.
Complete the required HealthStream tests: Patient Access Pre-Registration 100-1 and Patient Access Pre-Registration Eligibility.
Ability to interview patients to determine and assess financial eligibility.
Proficiency using personal computers and standard office equipment.
Experience with medical software.
Solid understanding of public assistance programs and required documentation.
Thorough knowledge of third-party payors and insurance verification procedures.
Understanding of managed care and insurance contractual agreements.
Attention to detail, basic mathematical skills, and analytical ability to resolve financial issues involving payors, physicians, patients, and the healthcare system.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, professionalism, and a positive attitude.
Ability to handle stressful situations and multiple tasks, including counseling patients about payment policies and public assistance programs.
Strong organizational and planning skills, attention to detail, and ability to maintain productivity during financial screenings.
Ability to communicate effectively with patients, government entities, and Parkland staff.
Ability to solve problems within established policies and procedures.
Ability to complete additional job-related training offered.
Ability to interact effectively with patients and their families.
Ability to work collaboratively with nurse navigators, referral coordinators, and Patient Financial Services team members.
Equivalent combinations of education and/or experience may substitute for the specified education and/or experience.

Nice To Haves

Two years of college.
Bilingual in Spanish.
Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

Complete designated HealthStream courses annually, as assigned by management.
Act as a primary resource for the immediate supervisor by supporting financial counselors with training, complex financial assessments, and workflow or dwell-time issues.
Review patient accounts and financial files to ensure appropriate funding sources are pursued, applications are completed accurately and on time, and accounts are billed correctly.
Screen patient demographic and financial documentation to identify appropriate funding programs and ensure patients who qualify for assistance are instructed and receive benefits.
Verify and obtain insurance benefits, and forward referrals and pre-certifications to clinical staff so patient information is complete and accurate.
Assist patients with public funding certification applications, ensuring applications are complete, deadlines are met, and certification is expedited before discharge.
Arrange and encourage applicants to keep appointments needed to complete financial assistance qualification, and document actions in the hospital accounting system.
Explain patients’ financial responsibility, collect copayments and unpaid balances, provide billing information, enter payments, and balance the cash drawer daily.
Assign appropriate coverage to accounts, including outside agencies when applicable.
Perform registration functions, including verifying patient identification, demographics, and third-party funding payors.
Distribute and explain required forms and obtain signatures and dates.
Attach appropriate coverages, prioritize filing order, and document actions in the hospital accounting system.
Track productivity and provide cumulative reports daily, weekly, or monthly as required.
Monitor assigned accounts until application, certification, denial, or review is complete and coverage is attached and prioritized for billing.
Maintain positive working relationships with agencies, funding programs, patients, insurers, government entities, clinical personnel, other Financial Counselors, and management.
Serve as a positive role model, promote client cooperation with state and federal agencies, accept constructive criticism, and apply suggestions effectively.
Keep current with developments and trends in financial assistance through seminars, workshops, professional journals, organizations, or certification activities, and apply relevant knowledge to work practices.
Complete Parkland-based training and attend staff meetings as required.
Maintain knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws, guidelines, accreditation standards, and health plan requirements; establish internal controls that support compliance and seek guidance as needed.
Identify process and customer-satisfaction improvements, recommend changes, implement them, and monitor outcomes in support of department and Parkland goals.
Perform other reasonably related work as requested, consistent with qualifications and competencies.