Financial Counselor | Oncology

UPMC; Erie (Erie County); On-site; USD 42,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Erie, PA is seeking a Financial Counselor to support the patient financial experience. You will verify insurance benefits, secure authorizations, and explore financial assistance options while supporting front office operations—intake, triage, and scheduling.

Strong preference for experience in obtaining insurance authorizations and understanding insurance plans. The role emphasizes teamwork, initiative, and confidentiality, ensuring patients receive care from first

Qualifications

• Verify insurance benefits for patients and determine eligibility.
• Obtain initial and subsequent prior authorizations/referrals as required by payers.
• Assist with financial assessment and explore financial assistance options.
• Handle intake of consults, manage phone triage, and help schedule patient appointments.

Responsibilities

• Obtain initial and subsequent prior authorizations/referrals as required by payers.
• Verify insurance benefits prior to visits and treatments.
• Initiate Financial Assessment Application for uninsured or underinsured patients.
• Collaborate with billing to resolve open insurance claims for walk-in patients.
• Assist with other office functions and work in a team environment.
• Evaluate self-pay patients for eligibility for financial assistance programs.
• Maintain patient confidentiality per HIPAA during all processes.
• Complete the financial counseling process prior to treatment and discuss billing with patients.
• Meet with patients and family members to discuss billing issues.
• Utilize reimbursement forms and obtain required approvals before services.

Skills

Insurance verification

Prior authorization

Financial counseling

Phone triage

Scheduling appointments

Teamwork

HIPAA compliance

Problem solving

Job description

Join our team as a Financial Counselor in Medical Oncology!

Position: Financial Counselor with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Erie, PA

Status: Regular, Full-Time 40 hours/week

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. No evenings, weekends, or holidays!

We have an exciting opportunity for a Financial Counselorwho will play a crucial role in ensuring patients receive the care they need.

As a Financial Counselor, you’ll be at the heart of the patient experience. In addition to verifying insurance benefits, securing authorizations, and exploring financial assistance options, this role also supports key front office operations. You’ll assist with the intake of consults, manage phone triage, and help schedule patient appointments, making you a vital link between patients, providers, and the care team.

Your expertise, attention to detail, self-motivated approach, and collaborative mindset will help create a smooth, supportive experience for patients from their first call through their visit. Candidates with experience obtaining insurance authorizations, supporting medication and infusion workflows, and a basic understanding of insurance plans are strongly preferred. If you enjoy variety, taking initiative, working as part of a team, and making a meaningful impact each day, this role offers the opportunity to truly make a difference.

Ready for the challenge?

Responsibilities:

• Obtain initial and subsequent prior authorization/referrals as required by specific payers.
• Secure verification of insurance benefits prior to office visits and required treatments.
• Initiate Financial Assessment Application for those patients who do not have adequate insurance coverage.
• Work in collaboration with billing department to resolve open insurance claims as presented by walk-in patients.
• Assists with other office functions as required.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Evaluate all self pay patients, as well as those patients who are being prescribed drugs that are not reimbursable, to determine eligibility for financial assistance through drug reimbursement programs, off label drug policy, medical assistance and/or all other applicable programs as made available.
• Demonstrate the ability to solve problems through effective communication.
• Demonstrate an understanding of patient confidentiality with regards to HIPAA Regulations in order to protect both the patient and the UPMC Cancer Centers.
• Complete the financial counseling process for all patients prior to treatment, including evaluation of patient financial obligations.
• Meet with patients and designated family members to discuss billing issues.
• Utilize the Summary of Patient Reimbursement and Liability Form and obtain appropriate approvals, as required, prior to services being rendered.