Financial Information Counselor

The Health Care Authority for Baptist Health, An Affiliate of UAB Health System; United States; On-site; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Baptist Health, a leading healthcare system in central Alabama, seeks a Financial Information Counselor to verify insurance benefits, explain costs, and complete financial counseling for patients. The role involves communicating financial responsibility, collecting payments, and initiating assistance applications.

The counselor will work with providers and staff to secure prior authorizations, manage pre-certifications, and identify alternative payment sources to support patient care in a busy

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate's degree in healthcare or business preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish desirable.
• 2+ years in medical business office, patient access, billing, or collections.

Responsibilities

• Verify and discuss patient insurance benefits and treatment costs.
• Complete financial counseling for all patients.
• Advise patients of financial responsibility and collect payments.
• Initiate financial assistance applications as needed.
• Assist with securing prior authorizations and communicate pre-certifications to departments.
• Identify alternative payment sources and arrange payment schedules.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Public relations

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Time management

Education

High school diploma

Associate's degree preferred

Tools

Medicare/Medicaid eligibility systems

Hospital billing software

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Job description

Baptist Health is the largest healthcare system serving central Alabama, providing comprehensive hospital-based and outpatient services to nearly 60 percent of the residents in Montgomery, Autauga and Elmore counties. To learn more about Baptist Health, visit us at https://www.baptistfirst.org.

Highlights: Summary:

The Financial Information Counselor shall be responsible for verification and discussion of patient's insurance benefits, treatment costs estimates, and other business forms as needed for treatment and imaging services. The Counselor shall complete financial counseling services for all patients. The Counselor will advise patients of their financial responsibility, collect payments, and initiate any financial assistance applications and forms as needed. Those Financial Information Counselors at MCC will also work with providers and other clinical staff to secure prior authorizations of services, and maintaining the process for authorizations ensuring that finalized pre-certifications and authorizations are communicated appropriately to all departments in a timely manner. This individual will be responsible to identify alternative sources of payment, arrange payment schedules for medical services, identify returning patients with accounts in bad debt and collect point of service payments as appropriate from insured patients. This position may have additional duties assigned that are within scope of the role.

Education / Experience:

High school graduate or equivalent required. Associate's degree in healthcare or business related field preferred. Bilingual capability (English/Spanish) desirable. Previous experience with use of Medicare, Medicaid, Commercial, and HMO payers eligibility systems required. Previous hospital insurance billing and collecting experience preferred. MCC requires at least 2 years experience in a medical business office, patient access, medical billing, or collections department.

License / Certification:

None

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal/public relations skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of customers in a diverse environment.
• Ability to perform basic analytical problem solving.
• Ability to perform basic math skills.
• Ability to function easily in a variety of hospital systems (patient registration, accounting and billing).
• Proficiency with PC applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, GroupWise).
• Knowledge of organizational structure, workflow, and operating procedures.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, organization and time management skills.
• Ability to follow directions and establish priorities effectively.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:

Position requires sitting for 60% of the workday and mobility 40% of the workday. There is occasional stooping, bending, kneeling, and crouching. There is frequent reaching, use of hands and repetitive action. Requires occasional lifting or carrying up to 10 pounds, pushing/pulling up to 50 pounds. There is a continuous need for speaking with clear diction and hearing sensitivity in conversation either by phone or in person. Continuous visual acuity at close and distant range. Inside protected from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes. Minimal noise levels. Much exposure to computer work. Occasional exposure to risk of electrical shock. Some exposure to infectious disease while performing job-related tasks. Some exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Primary Location:

Corporate Job: Financial Information Counselor Financial Information Counselor Job Type: Regular-Full time Shift: First Shift (United States of America) Baptist Health is recognized by Forbes as one of America’s best employers in the state of Alabama.