Job Summary

As a Patient Access Services-Financial Counselor, you will be the liaison between insurance verification, and case management to ensure proper reimbursement on Emergency Room an Inpatient accounts. Responsible for ensuring all accounts are accurate.  Responsible for insurance verification and obtaining authorizations when required.  Collects copays, deductibles, or deposits for cash pay patients and makes financial arrangements as needed. Obtains authorizations when required.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for ensuring all in-house accounts are accurate.
• Obtains and copies insurance cards and updates all financial data in the patient account
• Properly appropriates the correct payor, financial class, and billing information for each registered account
• Document notes to billing that are pertinent to getting claims paid
• Ensures accounts are properly documented with authorizations and reference numbers
• Review utilization management notes to ensure that concurrent reviews have been done
• Refers all accounts needing concurrent review to case management
• Review in-house report daily to ensure reimbursements
• Refers all problem accounts to appropriate parties such as verification, case management, supervisor, or manager
• Ensures follow-ups for all inpatient accounts is done in a timely manner
• Obtains signatures from patients for consent and financial responsibility
• Helps in registration when needed
• Responsible for insurance verification and obtaining authorizations when required.
• Identifies the payor source and verifies insurance for all payors
• Documents the insurance verification in the patient's account
• Obtains authorizations when required and documents calls in the patient account
• Collects copays, deductibles, or deposits for cash pay patients and makes financial arrangements as needed
• Collects copays/deductibles/deposits
• Refers patients to appropriate resources to ensure financial reimbursement
• Notifies patients of non-covered services, and offers alternatives or advises patients of financial requirements for visit, admission, or continued stay
• Identifies problem accounts and notifies supervisor
• Maintains a professional atmosphere in the department
• Responds to patients in a courteous and respectful manner
• Answers the telephone in a prompt, courteous manner identifying their name, and the department they are working in
• Extends special attention and sensitivity to all patients, visitors, physicians, and fellow employees
• Assists in maintaining an atmosphere of cooperation with other departments and allied professionals
• Demonstrates the ability to participate in and/or implement team decisions
• Works together in a spirit of teamwork
• Demonstrates the ability to adapt to varied age-specific patient populations
• Maintains confidentiality regarding patient/employee/facility information 100% of the time
• Attends and participates in meetings and is responsible for all information communicated at meetings
• Attends all hospital mandatory in-services on a timely basis as scheduled
• Participates as an active team member at all staff meetings
• Reads all communications and acts upon in a positive and informative manner

Experience:

• Minimum two (2) years of experience in healthcare, insurance, or a related field.
• Experience in an inpatient or outpatient admissions setting or a physician’s office is preferred.
• Knowledge of patient accounting, insurance payor systems, and medical terminology.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, to interact with patients, payers, and hospital staff.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Computer literacy required.
• Bilingual (Spanish) preferred.

Education:

• High School diploma or equivalent required
• Some college coursework, Certified Patient Account Technician certification, or medical terminology course preferred

Licensure/ Certification:

• Must successfully complete and maintain LA City Fire Card certification within the first 30 days of employment
• Must successfully complete and maintain Managing Aggressive Behavior certification within 30 days of employment

Salary Range: $23.77 - $27.87 per hour