Financial Counselor

Memorial Physician Practices; Holyoke (MA); Hybrid; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vis

Flexible‑spending and health-savings

401(k) matching

Tuition reimbursement

Employee assistance program

Professional development

Job summary

Valley Springs Behavioral Hospital in Holyoke, MA is seeking a Financial Counselor to support patient accounts, advise on payment options, and ensure accurate self-pay processing. The role involves pre-admission and admission coordination, cash handling, and patient communication to establish payment obligations.

Qualifications include a high school diploma and at least one year of relevant experience including bookkeeping, with proficiency in software programs and strong customer service

Qualifications

• High school diploma required; advanced education preferred.
• Minimum of one year of business or related experience including bookkeeping with use of calculating equipment and collection of monies is required.
• Proficient in use of software programs; excellent customer service and telephone skills a must.

Responsibilities

• Counsels patients (or responsible parties) to establish payment method.
• Contacts patients, in advance of admission, to obtain missing information, particularly patient\'s signature for accepting obligation to pay.
• Estimates and informs patient of portion of bill which must be paid directly.
• Establishes a payment for patients unable to pay the estimated portion of bill upon discharge.
• Identifies and reports to manager patients with whom payment difficulties arose in the past.
• Ensures completeness of pre-admission and admission information, following through as needed, to obtain and document missing information/signatures prior to patient\'s admission date.
• Checks for, and identifies patients with histories of payment problems, and informs supervisor of any found, prior to patient\'s admission date.
• Accurately interprets insurance policy provisions and calculates self-pay portion of patient\'s bill based on expected length of stay and services rendered, so that final accounting of self-pay amount is within a reasonable variance from estimate.
• Patiently, clearly, and accurately advises patient of self-pay obligations and estimate and ensures that patient signs acceptance of such obligation on the designated forms.
• Collects self-pay monies in advance, upon entry, or at discharge according to circumstances. In cases where patient is unable to pay self-pay portion due upon discharge, ensures that a mutually agreed upon payment agreement is documented and signed by all parties, in compliance with established guidelines and procedures.
• Selects and applies appropriate communications based on the age of the patient/customer.
• Maintains knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements related to state and federal agencies such as Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, Veterans
• Administration and other demonstrates this knowledge by the accurately obtaining information and updating records to remain in compliance.
• Collects and Controls cash receipts.
• Collects patient deductible, co-pays and non-covered patient charge amounts.
• Maintains and balances cash drawer.
• Prepares daily cash report and submits to Cashier with collected monies and copies of Relay
• Account Report/Daily Deposit Reconciliation.
• Determines the appropriate amount due from the patient through eligibility and insurance verification, by evidence of the insurance card, or in the event of no insurance, follow Self-pay processes/policies.
• Maintains control over cash payments, so that receipts balance to cash drawer.
• Accurately prepares deposit documentation and delivers deposits.
• Operates and maintains assigned equipment and maintains work area.
• Ensures that no damage or undue wear and tear occurs to assigned equipment due to failure to operate or maintain it in accordance with specifications.
• Has demonstrated adequate knowledge and proficiency in using the patient financial services accounts receivables system (Paragon) and other supporting software.
• Keeps assigned work areas neatly organized on a continuous basis.
• Participates in hospital and departmental support activities requiring stand‑by and re‑call at times.

Skills

Customer service

Telephone skills

Bookkeeping

Cash handling

Education

High school diploma

Advanced education preferred

Tools

Paragon

Job description

Pay: $25.89 - $34.96

Your experience matters:

At Valley Springs Behavioral Hospital, we are committed to empowering and supporting a diverse and determined workforce who can drive quality, scalability, and significant impact across our hospitals and communities. In your role, you'll support those that are in our facilities who are interfacing and providing care to our patients and community members. We believe that our collective efforts will shape a healthier future for the communities we serve. Our programs offer customized rehabilitation tailored to the specific needs of those recovering from a stroke, brain injury, neurological conditions, trauma, spinal cord injury, amputation or orthopedic injury.

How you'll contribute:

A Financial Counselor maintains, and processes all assigned patient accounts and counsels patients regarding the admitting and discharging processes and payment alternatives. Work is of a confidential nature.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Counsels patients (or responsible parties) to establish payment method.
• Contacts patients, in advance of admission, to obtain missing information, particularly patient's signature for accepting obligation to pay.
• Estimates and informs patient of portion of bill which must be paid directly.
• Establishes a payment for patients unable to pay the estimated portion of bill upon discharge. Identifies and reports to manager patients with whom payment difficulties arose in the past.
• Ensures completeness of pre-admission and admission information, following through as needed, to obtain and document missing information/signatures prior to patient's admission date.
• Checks for, and identifies patients with histories of payment problems, and informs supervisor of any found, prior to patient's admission date.
• Accurately interprets insurance policy provisions and calculates self-pay portion of patient's bill based on expected length of stay and services rendered, so that final accounting of self-pay amount is within a reasonable variance from estimate.
• Patiently, clearly, and accurately advises patient of self-pay obligations and estimate and ensures that patient signs acceptance of such obligation on the designated forms.
• Collects self-pay monies in advance, upon entry, or at discharge according to circumstances. In cases where patient is unable to pay self-pay portion due upon discharge, ensures that a mutually agreed upon payment agreement is documented and signed by all parties, in compliance with established guidelines and procedures.
• Selects and applies appropriate communications based on the age of the patient/customer.
• Maintains knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements related to state and federal agencies such as Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, Veterans
• Administration and other demonstrates this knowledge by the accurately obtaining information and updating records to remain in compliance.
• Collects and Controls cash receipts.
• Collects patient deductible, co-pays and non-covered patient charge amounts.
• Maintains and balances cash drawer.
• Prepares daily cash report and submits to Cashier with collected monies and copies of Relay
• Account Report/Daily Deposit Reconciliation.
• Determines the appropriate amount due from the patient through eligibility and insurance verification, by evidence of the insurance card, or in the event of no insurance, follow Self-pay processes/policies.
• Maintains control over cash payments, so that receipts balance to cash drawer.
• Accurately prepares deposit documentation and delivers deposits.
• Operates and maintains assigned equipment and maintains work area.
• Ensures that no damage or undue wear and tear occurs to assigned equipment due to failure to operate or maintain it in accordance with specifications.
• Has demonstrated adequate knowledge and proficiency in using the patient financial services accounts receivables system (Paragon) and other supporting software.
• Keeps assigned work areas neatly organized on a continuous basis.
• Participates in hospital and departmental support activities requiring stand‑by and re‑call at times.

What we offer:

Fundamental to providing great care is supporting and rewarding our team. In addition to your base compensation, this position also offers:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, plus flexible‑spending and health- savings accounts
• Competitive paid time off and extended illness bank package for full‑time employees
• Income‑protection programs, such as life, accident, critical‑injury insurance, short‑and long‑term disability, and identity theft coverage
• Tuition reimbursement, loan assistance, and 401(k) matching
• Employee assistance program including mental, physical, and financial wellness
• Professional development and growth opportunities

Qualifications and requirements:

High school diploma required; advanced education preferred.
Proficient in use of software programs.
Excellent customer service and telephone skills a must.
Minimum of one year of business or related experience including bookkeeping with use of calculating equipment and collection of monies is required.

EEOC Statement

Valley Springs Behavioral Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Valley Springs Behavioral Hospital is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity for all applicants and employees and complies with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination and harassment in employment.

Lifepoint Health is a leader in community-based care and driven by a mission of Making Communities Healthier. Our diversified healthcare delivery network spans 29 states and includes 63 community hospital campuses, 32 rehabilitation and behavioral health hospitals, and more than 170 additional sites of care across the healthcare continuum, such as acute rehabilitation units, outpatient centers and post-acute care facilities. We believe that success is achieved through talented people. We want to create places where employees want to work, with opportunities to pursue meaningful and satisfying careers that truly make a difference in communities across the country.