Financial Counselor-Full Time-Days

Cape Fear Valley Health System; United States; On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Cape Fear Valley Health System in Fayetteville, NC, seeks a Patient Access / Financial Clearance Specialist to verify insurance, collect patient liabilities, and obtain authorizations for procedures. You will interview patients, confirm demographic data, and coordinate with payers to ensure accurate pre-registration.

This role requires strong communication, knowledge of medical terminology, and ability to work under pressure in a hospital setting.

Qualifications

• Associates degree in business or health care administration preferred.
• CPAS certification required within 1 year of employment.
• 1 year insurance/clerical experience in a hospital or medical office preferred.

Responsibilities

• Contacts and interviews patients, responsible parties and insurance companies to secure benefits.
• Performs insurance eligibility/benefit verification and documents in registration systems.
• Pre-registers patients for upcoming visits and validates demographic, financial, and insurance information.
• Obtains authorizations and follows up on denials and appeals as needed.

Skills

Communication

Customer service

English proficiency

Medical terminology

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Problem-solving

Education

Associates Degree in Business or Health Care Administration

CPAS certification

Computer Technology knowledge

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Facility Cape Fear Valley Medical Center Location Fayetteville, North Carolina Department PFS Financial Clearance Job Family Clerical Work Shift Rotating Shifts (United States of America)

Summary

Receives accounts and/or schedules for review and work-up regarding preadmission, admission, or add-on procedures, and services. Interviews patients for necessary account follow-up, to obtain accurate and detailed demographic, and financial information. Verifies insurance information, benefits, and initiates medical certification; reviews medical necessity, and assures that authorization is noted on file with supporting reference for the appropriate procedure, service, and/or patient status. Receives, reviews, and completes necessary follow-up for encounter denials. Notifies patients of financial responsibility; explains and reviews insurance coverage, and collects patient’s responsibility via phone, or at time of service, to include initiation of payment arrangements if needed, or as required.

Major Job Functions

The following is a summary of the major essential functions of this job. The incumbent may perform other duties, both major and minor, that are not mentioned below. In addition, specific functions may change from time to time: Contacts and interviews patients, responsible parties and insurance companies regarding hospital or ambulatory service to secure insurance benefits. Performs insurance eligibility/benefit verification, utilizing a variety of mechanisms (EDI transactions, web access and by calling payers) and documenting information within the appropriate registration system, supporting with reference number. Determines the need for appropriate service authorizations (pre-certifications, 3rd party authorizations, referrals) and contacts the payer, physician and/or case management/utilization review personnel, as necessary. Ensure authorization matches test(s) ordered Pre-registers the patient for upcoming visit(s) including validating/obtaining and entering demographic, financial, and insurance information. Validates medical necessity (LMRP/LCD review) of Medicare and Non-Medicare cases to ensure clinical and financial clearance. Contacts physicians/office staff for clarification, if cases require clarification of diagnosis and/or test(s)/procedure(s). Informs patient/guarantor of their liabilities and collects appropriate patient co-payments, co-insurances, deductibles, deposits and outstanding balances at the point of pre-registration. Calculates patient liabilities and provides financial education, referring the patient to resource counseling, as required. Documents payments/actions in the patient accounting system and provides the patient with a payment receipt. Assists patient with payment arrangements as needed for remaining balance. Properly screens appropriate patients for market insurance. Obtains signed physician orders for scheduled tests and procedures from physicians/offices for testing and procedures, and scans into electronic record. Completes appropriate follow-up on insurance denials and initiates appeal, retro-authorization, etc. as needed. Assists insurance companies, physician, and physician practices, and or hospital departments with patient information in accordance with HIPAA guidelines. Meets or exceeds accuracy standard goal determined by Patient Access Leadership; Ensures integrity of patient accounts by working error reports daily, entering accurate data, and documenting all attempts made to collect and or obtain missing documentation. Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Formal Training

• High school graduate or equivalent required
• Associates Degree in Business or Health Care Administration and/or Computer Technology preferred
• Patient Access Specialist certification (CPAS) required within 1 year of employment

Work Experience

• 1 year insurance/clerical experience within a hospital or medical office setting

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

• Proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking the English language
• Knowledge of insurance and collection of payments
• Knowledge of Medical Terminology
• Knowledge of Microsoft software
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, customer service skills and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to appropriately handle complexity and stress with the changing needs of the patients, families, visitors, and the Health System.
• May be required to periodically rotate shifts and regular days off
• All system employees must have the flexibility to meet the department hours of operation

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to communicate orally, see, and hear to collect information
• Must have dexterity to operate office equipment.
• Position operates in an office, call center environment
• The incumbent is subject to eyestrain due to the many hours spent looking at a CRT screen.
• The noise level is low to moderate.
• Bends, reaches, pushes and pulls file drawers to file records and reports.
• Regularly lift or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds.

Required Licenses and Certifications

• CPAS

Equal Opportunity Employer

Cape Fear Valley Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veteran/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

For exceptional healthcare come to Cape Fear Valley Health where caring employees are committed to integrity, patient-centeredness and excellence throughout the entire healthcare process. At Cape Fear Valley Health, our goal is to improve the quality of every life we touch. Our diverse team of doctors, nurses and staff work together to create a better experience for every patient, every time. Cape Fear Valley is a 950-bed, 8-hospital regional health system, the 8th largest in North Carolina, with more than 1 million inpatient and outpatients annually. A private not-for-profit organization with over 7,000 employees and 850 physicians. Our employees and physicians proudly serve a seven-county region of southeastern North Carolina, including Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Hope Mills, Raeford, Lumberton, Elizabethtown, Clinton, Lillington, Dunn and beyond. Our medical facilities include Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital, Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center, Behavioral Health Care, Bladen County Hospital, Hoke Hospital, Central Harnett Hospital, Betsy Johnson Hospital, as well as more than 60 medical offices and specialty care clinics spread throughout the Cape Fear region.