Patient Financial Counselor

Overview

Enters facility and physician charges. Verifies appropriateness and completeness of charge capture prior to releasing charges for billing. Ensures that pre-certification/authorizations and insurance benefits are obtained and documented within designated time frames. Successful fulfillment of these responsibilities will ensure that patient financial needs are met and hospital claims are reimbursed to the fullest extent. Updates pre-certification requirements when the level of care has been changed to ensure pre-certification requirements are met. Is responsible for complete and accurate registration and preregistration of patients.

Why UnityPoint Health?

• Commitment to our Team

• For the third consecutive year, we're proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare for our commitment to our team members.

• Culture

• At UnityPoint Health, you matter. Come for a fulfilling career and experience a culture guided by uncompromising values and unwavering belief in doing what's right for the people we serve.

• Benefits

• Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you're in.

• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment

• We're committed to ensuring you have a voice that is heard regardless of role, race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.

• Development

• We believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is an essential part of delivering a remarkable employment experience.

• Community Involvement

• Be an essential part of our core purpose-to improve the health of the people and communities we serve.

Visit https://dayinthelife.unitypoint.org/ to hear more from our team members about why UnityPoint Health is a great place to work.

Responsibilities

• Posts daily physician and facility charges.

• Reviews charges for completeness.

• Reconciles charges to daily log.

• Builds patient accounts and schedules in the system as needed to generate charges.

• Reviews basic demographics and insurance information.

• Reviews/ corrects billing charges

• Assigns procedure codes on charge tickets.

• Account and aging reports worked in a timely manner to determine liability.

• Answer billing questions in a prompt and efficient manner.

• Educates and advises staff, physicians and providers on correct coding and compliance.

• Demonstrates initiative to improve quality and customer service by striving to exceed customer expectations.

• Interviews patient / family member to obtain accurate demographic and financial data.

• Provides financial assistance applications based on patient needs. Provides patients with price estimates for treatments.

• Obtains signatures on all forms pertinent to the patient's current visit from the patient or family member who has authority to sign on behalf of the patient.

• Answers questions about the financial advocacy process and provides information to patients and their family members as needed.

• Obtains and accurately documents pre-certification or other necessary authorizations using established departmental insurance guidelines to ensure maximum financial reimbursement.

• Verifies insurance benefits with insurance companies via phone calls, faxes or the internet and documents this into ACCTDOC.

• Reviews all inpatient and ambulatory accounts to ensure that pre-certification or other necessary authorizations were obtained and documented appropriately. Obtains pre-certification authorizations for accounts that were not authorized during the registration process. Uses established sources for documenting notification including VoiCert, FaxCert, Pix Cert, PC call and various internet sites.

• Notifies patients of their financial responsibility and makes payment arrangements when needed.

• Screens patients for Medicaid eligibility and provides forms to those who meet a category. Follows the paperwork and updates the account when a SID (state ID number) has been assigned.

• Assists walk-in patients and/or family members who have questions about their hospital bills or who want to update insurance information.

Qualifications

Education:

High school graduate or GED equivalent is required. Medical Terminology course (available in Net Learning or of comparable content) completion required or demonstration of knowledge within six months of hire.

Experience:

Must have experience using computer based software including Microsoft Office and Excel. Accurate data entry with numbers, letters and the ability to spell medical terms correctly is required. One year previous experience in Patient Access or Billing preferred with demonstrated competency working with third party payers to meet notification and authorization requirements. Knowledge of third party payer processes and billing procedures preferred. Previous customer service is desired: all staff members must have the ability to work with all age groups in a professional and positive manner.

License(s)/Certification(s):

Valid driver's license when driving any vehicle for work-related reasons.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

Writes, reads, comprehends, and speaks fluent English. Basic computer skills using email, web browser, and word. Professionalism and relationship management. Ability to handle multiple interruptions and changing priorities.

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• Area of Interest: Patient Services;

• FTE/Hours per pay period: 0.01;

• Department: Radiation Oncology- Meth;

• Shift: As needed days;

• Job ID: 146533;