Patient Financial Counselor

Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Austin practice seeks a Patient Financial Counselor to provide financial counseling to patients, addressing pre-certification tasks, co-pays, deductibles, and coinsurance associated with surgeries.

The role includes collecting outstanding balances, coordinating with the Billing Department, and helping patients explore payment options and implement plans in accordance with APC guidelines.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; associate degree or related field or equivalent experience preferred.
• 1+ year of healthcare experience with customer service skills.
• Knowledge of billing cycle and basic accounting concepts; familiarity with CPT/ICD coding is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Identify and assist patients having difficulty meeting their financial obligations.
• Verify insurance coverage, deductibles, copays, and authorization requirements related to procedures.
• Assist patients in exploring payment options and establishing payment plans.
• Document patient communications and payment arrangements in the account system.
• Process payments and prepare deposits as needed.
• Communicate clearly with patients in writing and verbally.

Skills

Customer service

Problem solving

Billing concepts

EMR systems

Medical terminology

Verbal communication

Written communication

Telephone etiquette

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate degree or related field

Tools

EMR systems

Office software

Job description

Description

Job Summary

The Patient Financial Counselor works in providing financial counseling to patients, which includes handling face-to-face inquiries about pre-certification, insurance co-payments, coinsurance and deductibles associated with the cost of surgery. This position is also responsible for collecting outstanding patient due balances, communicating with the Billing Department on payments, and assisting patients in exploring options for meeting their financial responsibilities.

Qualifications

Education: High school diploma or GED required; Associate Degree in business, medical billing or related field or the equivalent in experience in knowledge is required. Completion of courses related to medical billing is a plus.

Experience: One or more years’ experience in a healthcare environment, applying customer service behaviors and communication skills required.

Knowledge, Skill and Abilities

• Ability to maintain a professional attitude under pressure
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of situations
• Knowledge of billing cycle and accounting concepts
• Knowledge of EMR systems and strong computer skills
• Familiarity with medical terminology and, ICD-9, ICD-10, and CPT coding
• Excellent customer service skills
• Displays proper telephone etiquette
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Identifies and contacts patients who may have difficulty meeting their financial responsibility and determines their ability to pay
2. Verifies insurance coverage, deductibles, copays, coinsurance , authorization requirements and other information relevant to surgeries
3. Serves as a resource to identify other payment options for patients without insurance or high patient responsibility
4. Collaborates with patients to establish payment plans in accordance with APC guidelines
5. Accesses various insurance websites and initiates phone contacts as needed to check eligibility and benefits for proposed services
6. Documents activity and patient communication on patients’ accounts
7. Communicates clearly and professionally with patients, both verbally and in writing
8. Processes payments and prepares deposit as needed
9. Scans appropriate documentation to patients’ accounts
10. Adhere to Advanced Pain Care policies and procedures
11. Has regular and predictable attendance
12. Perform other duties as assigned