PATIENT FINANCIAL COUNSELOR

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; Edinburg (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley seeks a Patient Financial Counselor to guide patients through financial responsibilities, review insurance benefits, and navigate payment options. The role includes counseling, collecting balances, and helping with charity applications within a hospital setting.

The position supports the School of Medicine / Ambulatory Operations, with potential for travel within the Rio Grande Valley region.

Qualifications

• Two (2) years of related experience, or applicable education can be substituted on a one-on-one basis.
• Preferred: bilingual, Spanish speaking.
• High School Diploma or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Counsels and screens patients on out-of-pocket responsibilities and initiates collections on outstanding balances, deductibles, pre-pays, copays, coinsurances, out-of-pocket maximums, and other self-pay balances.
• Calculates patients' charges for office visits and collects payments when necessary.
• Advises patients about financial and charity programs and screens for eligibility.
• Establishes payment and pre-payment plans for covered and non-covered services.

Skills

Financial counseling

Billing

Patient communication

Cost estimation

Education

High school diploma

Bilingual Spanish

Job description

PATIENT FINANCIAL COUNSELOR

Posting Number

SRGV9209

Number of Vacancies

1

Location

Rio Grande Valley, Texas

Department

School of Medicine / Ambulatory Operations

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Scope of Job

To provide a positive financial counseling experience to patientsto navigate theirfinancial responsibility, understandtheirinsurance benefits, resolve accounts, bad debts, and educatepatients on available third-party options to ensure payment forservices rendered.

Description of Duties

• Serves as the source of knowledge for all financial assistancerelated questions.
• Counsels and screens patient on out-of-pocket responsibilitiesand initiates collections on outstanding balances, deductibles,pre-pays, copays, coinsurances, out of pocket maximums, and otherself-pay balances.
• Calculates patients' charges for office visits and collectspayments when necessary.
• Correctly identifies and advises patient on options to resolvebad debt balances.
• Establishes payment and pre-payment plans for covered andnon-covered services.
• Provides combined cost estimates for facility and professionalservices, for both elective and non-elective surgical services, inoffice visits, in office procedures, imaging, radiology, lab, andother services as required.
• Accurately utilizes cost estimate technology to createestimates for services and communicates estimated costs to patientsand other affected parties.
• Responsible for reviewing patient accounts for accuracy withregard to billing, claims details and collections to resolvepatient concerns and/or provide education.
• Advises patient about financial and special entitlementprograms (such as charity programs, drug assistance programs, andother patient assistance options), and screens patients forpotential eligibility.
• Obtains necessary documentation and verifies required patientinformation needed for charity programs.
• Initiates and completes charity applications and maintainsfollow-up procedures on pending applications.
• Determines potential reimbursement sources available topatient, directs them to these sources, and assists whenneeded.
• Follows policies and procedures in regard to financialscreening, third-party eligibility, and financialarrangements.
• Obtains patient demographic information not captured duringscheduling process, that is necessary for claims processing.
• Displays effective communication skills, active listeningskills, empathy and exemplary customer service skills to resolveall outstanding balances and bad debt accounts.
• Adheres to internal controls established for thedepartment.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Supervision Received

General supervision from assigned supervisor.

Supervision Given

Direct supervision of assigned staff.

Required Education

High School Diploma or equivalent.

Preferred Education

N/A

Licenses/Certifications

None.

Required Experience

Two (2) years of related experience, or applicable education can besubstituted on a one-on-one basis.

Preferred Experience

Bilingual, Spanish speaking

Equipment

Use of standard office equipment.

Working Conditions

Needs to be able to successfully perform all required duties.Office Environment; some travel and weekend work is required.Exerting up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligibleamount of force constantly to move objects. May be exposed toairborne illnesses when coming in contact with patients.

Other

Tact, diplomacy, discretion, and confidentiality of medicalinformation required in all matters.

Physical Capabilities

N/A

Employment Category

Full-Time

Minimum Salary

Commensurate with Experience

Posted Salary

Commensurate with Experience

Position Available Date

11/01/2026

Grant Funded Position

No

EEO Statement

It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley topromote and ensure equal employment opportunities for allindividuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex,age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity orexpression, genetic information or protected veteran status. Inaccordance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil RightsAct of 1964, the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americanswith Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University iscommitted to comply with all government requirements and ensuresnon-discrimination in its education programs and activities,including employment. We encourage women, minorities anddifferently abled persons to apply for employment positions ofinterest.

Additional Information

UTRGV is a distributed location institution and working location issubject to change based on need.

All UTRGV employees are required to have a criminal backgroundcheck (CBC). Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Substitutions to the above requirements must have prior approvalfrom the VP of Human Resources.