Financial Assessor Patient Accounting

Northwestern Memorial Hospital; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition Reimbursement

Student Loan Repayment

Professional Development

Wellbeing Fund

401(k) Matching

Medical/Dental/Vision

Life Insurance

Annual Salary Increase

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, IL is seeking a Financial Assessor for Patient Accounting to join our team. You will manage claim edits, follow up on third-party payer receivables, and ensure timely filing while upholding HIPAA and regulatory standards.

The role emphasizes accuracy, reporting, and collaboration with the Patient Accounting team to meet AR goals, while leveraging Epic Systems and MS Office in daily tasks.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent and related work experience or college degree.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations.
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology and billing practices.
• Extensive experience with PC applications including Microsoft Office and Excel.
• Learn quickly and meet continuous timelines.
• Exhibit behaviors consistent with excellent service.

Responsibilities

• Meet productivity and quality standards in timely resolution of claim edits and related communications.
• Meet or exceed productivity targets and reporting requirements for AR.
• Timely follow-up and collection of third party payer receivables; manage denials and appeals follow-up.
• Compliant follow-up correspondence to third party payers regarding outstanding accounts receivable.
• Support operations related to AR across multiple payer types (Managed Care, Commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.).
• Use hospital mainframe and external software; report software and hardware issues.
• Attend training and assist with special projects as assigned.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Time management

Problem solving

Detail oriented

HIPAA compliance

Education

High School diploma

Two or more years college

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

Epic Systems

Job description

The salary range for this position is $20.03 - $30.04 (Hourly Rate)

Placement within the salary range is dependent on several factors such as relevant work experience and internal equity. For positions represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range is guided by the rules outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section located at jobs.nm.org/benefits to learn more.

Northwestern Medicine is powered by a community of colleagues who are purpose-driven and committed to our mission to deliver world-class care. Here, you'll work alongside some of the best clinical talent in the nation leading the way in medical innovation and breakthrough research with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

We recognize where you've been, and we support where you're headed. We celebrate diverse perspectives and experiences, which fuel our commitment to equity and culture of service.

Grow your career with comprehensive training and development opportunities, mentorship programs, educational support and student loan repayment.

Create the life you envision for yourself with flexible work options, a Reimbursable Well-Being Fund and a Total Rewards package that support your physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.

Make a difference through volunteer opportunities we offer in local communities and drive inclusive change through our workforce-led resource groups.

From discovery to delivery, come help us shape the future of medicine.

Benefits:

• $10,000 Tuition Reimbursement per year ($5,700 part-time)
• $10,000 Student Loan Repayment ($5,000 part-time)
• $1,000 Professional Development per year ($500 part-time)
• $250 Wellbeing Fund per year ($125 for part-time)
• Matching 401(k)
• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage
• Life insurance
• Annual Employee Salary Increase and Incentive Bonus
• Paid time off and Holiday pay

Description

The Financial Assessor Patient Accounting reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

Responsibilities

• Consistently meet the current productivity and quality standards in timely resolution of all claim edits, reporting of candidates for bill, outbound compliant claim submission, clinical documentation requirements and any other communication required (verbal or written) regarding claims ensuring timely filing of claims and clean, complete and accurate claims.
• Consistently meet or exceed productivity standards, targets, error ratios, and reporting requirements assigned by the Patient Accounting Lead Financial Assessor and Operations Coordinator.
• Timely follow-up and collection of third party payer receivables. Denials and Appeals follow-up including root cause analysis to reduce/prevent future denials while working to overturn denials for payment resolution.
• Compliant follow-up correspondence to third party payers regarding outstanding accounts receivables (i.e. Statements, letters, e-mails, faxes, portal mail, etc.).
• Support the operations related to optimum third party accounts receivables (i.e. Managed Care, Commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, Replacement plans, Workers Compensations, Corporate Accounts, Research, and Specialty AR Accounts).
• Perform daily, systematic reviews of work lists to ensure all accounts already to be worked are completed.
• Utilize Government, Commercial, and regulatory guidelines for collection of outstanding accounts. Recommend accounts for contractual or administrative write-off and provide appropriate justification and documentation.
• Practice HIPAA privacy standards and ensure compliance with patient health information privacy practices. Provide individual contribution to the overall team effort of achieving the department accounts receivable goals.
• Identify opportunities for customer, system and process improvement and submit to management.
• Follow the NMHC general Policy and Procedures, the Departmental Policy and Procedures, and any Emergency Preparedness Procedures. Follow Joint Commission and outside regulatory agencies mandated rules and procedures.
• Utilize assigned menus and pathways in the hospital mainframe system and report software application problems to the appropriate supervisor.
• Utilize assigned menus and pathways in external software applications and report software application problems to the appropriate supervisor.
• Utilize assigned computer hardware and report hardware problems to the appropriate supervisor.
• Participate in the testing for assigned software applications, including verification of field integrity.
• Assist the Patient Accounting Operational Coordinator and Patient Accounting Team Lead Financial Assessor with special projects and other duties as assigned, as necessary.
• Attend training and seminars as assigned and approved by the Patient Accounting Operations Coordinator.

Additional Responsibilities

• Demonstrate excellent customer service through oral and written communication in providing assistance/expertise to patients, authorized guarantors, and other external and internal contacts.
• Demonstrate proficient use of systems and execution of processes in all areas of responsibilities.
• Working knowledge of physician and facility billing and follow-up including understanding of insurance rules and regulations especially Medicare and Medicaid. Knowledge of HIPAA standards.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations.
• Excellent communication skills when dealing with patients, families, public, co-workers, and professional offices. Basic knowledge of medical terminology and billing practices

Qualifications

Required:

• High School diploma
• One year related work experience or college degree
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology and billing practices
• Extensive experience and knowledge of PC applications, including Microsoft Office and Excel
• Learn quickly and meet continuous timelines
• Exhibit behaviors consistent with principles of excellent service.

Preferred:

• Two or more years’ college or college degree.
• Call center, telephone work experience or cash collections experience.
• Knowledge of Epic Systems.
• Two (2) years progressive work experience in a hospital/ physician billing or SBO environment.
• Detail-oriented, good organizational skills, and ability to be self-directed.
• Strong time management skills, managing multiple priorities and a heavy workload in a high-stress atmosphere.
• Flexibility to perform other tasks as needed in an active work environment with changing work needs.
• High-level problem solving, analytical, and investigational skills.Excellent internal/external customer service skills.

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.

Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position):

Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.