Patient Access Financial Counselor - FT - Day Shift

Erie County Medical Center Corporation; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 33,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Erie County Medical Center Corporation seeks a Patient Access Services Assistant to help self-pay patients obtain Medicaid or arrange payment plans for medical treatment. You will interview patients to verify income and documentation under NYS laws and hospital policies.

The role requires knowledge of health insurance, strong customer service and data entry skills, and CAC certification within 60 days of appointment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED and one year of clerical experience in collections, billing, third party insurance claims processing, financial counseling, medical billing including New York State Medicaid, insurance verification, patient registration, or patient scheduling.
• CAC certification training within sixty days of appointment and maintenance throughout duration of appointment.
• Knowledge of NY State Medicaid/Family Health Plus and Financial Assistance Programs.

Responsibilities

• Verifies patient demographic information.
• Verifies insurance, determines co-payments, collects co-payments and issues receipts.
• Identifies uninsured/under-insured patients to assess qualifications for government or charity care programs.
• Reviews hardship requests/inability to pay.
• Negotiates contractual payment plans and inputs information into computer system.
• Assists patients in completing NY Medicaid/Family Health Plus applications for medical coverage.
• Completes Financial Assistance Program applications to assess need for charity care.
• Refers patients to the on-site Medicaid Satellite Office for review and processing of completed NY Medicaid/Family Health Plus applications.
• Performs other related patient access services duties as assigned.

Skills

Health insurance

Customer service

Interviewing

Data entry

Math basics

Written communication

Relationship building

Software applications

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

HOURLY RANGE: $23.58 - $29.21

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: The work involves assisting self-pay patients in obtaining assistance from New York State Medicaid or making payment arrangements through self-pay contracts for medical treatment received at the Erie County Medical Center Corporation. The incumbent conducts interviews to verify patient income, identification and documentation in accordance with all New York State laws and regulations encompassing New York State Medicaid/Family Health Plus and Financial Assistance Programs per hospital policies. Work is performed under the direct supervision of the Patient Access Services Supervisor. Supervision is not a function of this position. Does related work as required.

Typical Work Activities

• Verifies patient demographic information;
• Verifies insurance, determines insurance co-payments, collects co-payments and issues receipts;
• Identifies and interviews uninsured/under-insured patients to assess qualifications for government or charity care programs;
• Reviews and processes hardship requests/inability to pay;
• Negotiates contractual payment plans and inputs information into computer system;
• Assists patients in completing New York State Medicaid/Family Health Plus applications in an effort to obtain medical coverage;
• Completes Financial Assistance Program applications to assess the patient’s need for charity care;
• Refers patients to the on-site Medicaid Satellite Office for review and processing of completed New York State Medicaid/Family Health plus applications;
• Performs other related patient access services duties as assigned.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Good knowledge of health insurance plans, eligibility, application processes and verification as applicable in New York State; good knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures and accreditation standards; strong customer service skills; good interviewing skills; ability to enter data in an alpha-numeric keyboard; ability to apply basic mathematical functions; ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse constituency; ability to utilize a variety of electronic software applications; sound professional judgment; capable of performing the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and one (1) year of clerical experience* in collections, billing, third party insurance claims processing, financial counseling, medical billing including New York State Medicaid, insurance verification, patient registration, or patient scheduling.

Special Requirements

Successful completion of Certified Application Counselor (CAC) certification training as administered by NY State of Health Marketplace within sixty (60) days of initial appointment and maintenance throughout duration of appointment.

• NOTE 1: Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor's Degree may be substituted for the required qualifying experience.

NOTE 2: Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting full-time experience requirements.

@Approved by Erie County