Patient Eligibility & Private Patient Optimisation Lead

Mercy Health; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercy Health’s Patient Eligibility & Private Patient Optimisation Lead will drive significant improvements across Mercy Hospital for Women (Heidelberg) and Werribee Mercy Hospital. You will strengthen private patient election processes, improve patient administration and reduce Medicare ineligible debt, partnering with clinical, operational and corporate teams to deliver measurable outcomes.

The role requires extensive private patient services experience, strong project management, and a

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in private patient services, patient eligibility or revenue optimisation in healthcare.
• Knowledge of private patient election processes in Victorian public health services.
• Experience with private health insurers and health fund eligibility.
• Understanding of Medicare eligibility, overseas patient charging and related compliance.
• Experience developing strategies to improve private patient conversion and reduce debt.
• Strong communication, facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives to strengthen patient eligibility assessments and private patient processes.
• Design and implement process improvements to optimise private patient conversions and patient financial engagement.
• Partner with clinical, operational and corporate teams to deliver sustainable improvements across hospital sites.

Skills

Private patient services

Revenue optimisation

Medicare eligibility

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Job description

Patient Eligibility & Private Patient Optimisation Lead# Careers## Patient Eligibility & Private Patient Optimisation LeadApply: Mercy Hospital for Women: Werribee Mercy Hospital: Full time: Posted Today: End Date: November 11, 2026 (14 days left to apply): JR-9429**Employment Type:** Full-time, 12-month fixed-term contract**Salary:** HS6**Location:** Mercy Hospital for Women Heidelberg / Werribee Mercy Hospital**Upload with Application:** Resume, cover letter, and all relevant qualifications**Contact:** Maree Bonacci **|** [e-mail] **Where there’s life, there’s Mercy.****Where there’s care, there’s You.** Through the battles and the breakthroughs, we're there. Where will you be? For over a century, our incredible teams have provided care for people when they need it most. Our people feel great pride in this, and they value the security and stability we offer. But it also means so much opportunity - to build on all that’s gone before, to grow your impact and gain experience that’s hard to find elsewhere. As a for-purpose organisation with over 10,000 dedicated, compassionate people, we continue to offer more services and deeper care than ever before. With Mercy, you’ll have the chance to make an impact and gain experience that’s hard to find elsewhere. **At Mercy Health, it’s all about taking what we have and making it better.****To do that, we need you.****Join us at Mercy Health, and help our teams deliver even greater outcomes.** **About the opportunity:**Join Mercy Health's Patient Support Services & Systems team, with two full-time opportunities available across our hospital network, one based at Mercy Hospital for Women, and one based at Werribee Mercy Hospital. This newly created role offers the opportunity to lead meaningful change that improves the patient experience, strengthens private patient processes and reduces avoidable Medicare ineligible debt. Working closely with operational, clinical and corporate stakeholders, you will drive initiatives that deliver better outcomes for patients and the organisation. * Lead strategic initiatives that strengthen patient eligibility assessments, private patient election processes and patient administration practices across Mercy Health.* Design and implement process improvements that optimise private patient conversions, patient financial engagement and compliance while enhancing patient experience.* Partner with clinical, operational and corporate teams to deliever sustainable improvements, reduce avoidable debt and support consistent, patient - centered practices across hospital sites. **What you’ll bring:**This role is ideally suited to someone with extensive experience in private patient services, patient eligibility, revenue optimisation, patient accounts or health information/patient administration within a public health setting. You will bring a strong understanding of private patient election requirements, health fund processes and Medicare ineligible patient management, using this expertise to improve patient experience, strengthen compliance and deliver sustainable financial outcomes. To thrive in this role, you will have: * Demonstrated experience leading service improvement, operational transformation, process redesign or optimisation initiatives in a healthcare environment.* Strong knowledge of private patient election processes within Victorian public health services, including regulatory, compliance and documentation requirements.* Experience working with private health insurers and a sound understanding of health fund eligibility, coverage requirements and private patient billing processes.* Deep understanding of Medicare eligibility requirements, Medicare ineligible patient management, overseas patient charging arrangements and associated compliance obligations.* Experience developing strategies that improve private patient conversion, reduce avoidable debt and strengthen patient financial outcomes.* Strong project management, business analysis and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence outcomes without direct reporting authority.* Experience using data and performance insights to identify opportunities, measure outcomes and drive continuous improvement.* Excellent communication, facilitation and relationship-building skills, with a collaborative and solutions-focused approach.* Strong project management, business analysis and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence outcomes without direct reporting authority. You will also be required to provide evidence of, or in the process of obtaining: * A current Police Record Check and Working with Children Check.* Proof of current influenza vaccination and other vaccination status consistent with public health orders. **Ready to help us shape the future of healthcare?** Join us and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives - and your career. Are you ready to apply for this role? Click **Apply now** Please contact us if you would like to find out more or communicate any requirements to ensure we provide you with a fair and equitable interview and selection process. *We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples, traditional Custodians of the Land in which our Head Office is based, on traditional lands of the Kulin Nation and recognise their deep connections to the land, sea, and culture.* *We extend this acknowledgment to the many Traditional Lands that we operate across Australia and pay our respects to Elders past and present.* *The team at Mercy Health is as wonderfully diverse as the patients, residents, clients and communities we support. We’re proud to be recognised as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA). Mercy Health strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people of all ages, sexualities, genders, abilities and cultural backgrounds.*