Patient Financial Counselor

Lackey Memorial Hosptial; Forest (MS); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health, dental, and vis​

Retirement savings plan

Paid time off and holiday pay

Job summary

Lackey Memorial Hospital is seeking a Patient Financial Counselor – Pre-Service Financial Clearance to ensure a smooth pre-service experience for outpatient surgeries and procedures. You will verify insurance, prepare estimates, collect deposits, and guide patients to financial resources.

Collaborating with patient access, scheduling, and the business office, you will explain payment options, document interactions, and support accuracy in financial clearance before service dates.

Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in business, healthcare administration, finance, accounting, or related field.
• One to three years of experience in healthcare revenue cycle, insurance verification, patient access, medical billing, collections, account resolution, or financial counseling.
• Experience with electronic health records, patient accounting, eligibility, payer portal, billing, or estimation systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook and routine office technology.
• Ability to protect confidential patient, insurance, and financial information.

Responsibilities

• Verify insurance eligibility, benefits, network status, deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and remaining out-of-pocket amounts.
• Review available prior authorization information and identify discrepancies involving scheduled services, procedure codes, providers, dates, or coverage.
• Prepare accurate pre-service estimates using approved eligibility, contract, chargemaster, and estimation resources.
• Provide required Good Faith Estimates to uninsured or self-pay patients according to organizational procedures.
• Contact patients before service to explain estimated responsibility and available payment options in clear, compassionate language.
• Collect required deposits, establish payment arrangements within approved guidelines, and document receipts or payments.
• Explain financial assistance, charity-care, and third-party financing options and assist with appropriate referrals or applications.
• Document contact attempts, estimates, payment discussions, arrangements, unresolved barriers, and financial clearance status.
• Track pending accounts through resolution and elevate unresolved authorization, payment, estimate, or patient-contact issues.
• Collaborate with patient access, provider offices, scheduling, and revenue cycle teams
• Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with hospital policies, HIPAA, collection standards, and applicable estimate requirements.

Skills

Healthcare revenue cycle

Insurance verification

Patient access

Medical billing

Collections

Account resolution

Financial counseling

Education

Associate or bachelor’s degree in business, healthcare administration, finance, accounting, or related field

Tools

Electronic Health Records

Payer portal

Billing systems

Estimation systems

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Position Summary

The Patient Financial Counselor – Pre-Service Financial Clearance supports scheduled outpatient surgeries, procedures, and other designated services before the date of service. This role verifies insurance coverage, prepares patient estimates, communicates expected financial responsibility, collects deposits, establishes approved payment arrangements, and connects eligible patients with financial assistance resources. The position works closely with patients, provider offices, scheduling, patient access, and the business office to support a smooth and transparent pre-service experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Verify insurance eligibility, benefits, network status, deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and remaining out-of-pocket amounts.
• Review available prior authorization information and identify discrepancies involving scheduled services, procedure codes, providers, dates, or coverage.
• Prepare accurate pre-service estimates using approved eligibility, contract, chargemaster, and estimation resources.
• Provide required Good Faith Estimates to uninsured or self-pay patients according to organizational procedures.
• Contact patients before service to explain estimated responsibility and available payment options in clear, compassionate language.
• Collect required deposits, establish payment arrangements within approved guidelines, and document receipts or payments.
• Explain financial assistance, charity-care, and third-party financing options and assist with appropriate referrals or applications.
• Document contact attempts, estimates, payment discussions, arrangements, unresolved barriers, and financial clearance status.
• Track pending accounts through resolution and elevate unresolved authorization, payment, estimate, or patient-contact issues.
• Collaborate with patient access, provider offices, scheduling, and revenue cycle teams
• Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with hospital policies, HIPAA, collection standards, and applicable estimate requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in business, healthcare administration, finance, accounting, or related field.
• One to three years of experience in healthcare revenue cycle, insurance verification, patient access, medical billing, collections, account resolution, or financial counseling.
• Ability to accurately calculate deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, deposits, and account balances.
• Experience with electronic health records, patient accounting, eligibility, payer portal, billing, or estimation systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and routine office technology.
• Ability to protect confidential patient, insurance, and financial information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with outpatient surgery, procedural scheduling, or pre-service financial clearance.
• Knowledge of commercial insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, medical terminology, CPT, HCPCS, and ICD-10 terminology.
• Experience with patient estimation tools, financial assistance programs, payment plans, or third-party financing platforms.

What Success Looks Like

• Clear, compassionate, and confident financial conversations with patients.
• Accurate estimates, calculations, data entry, and documentation.
• Timely outreach and consistent follow-through before the date of service.
• Sound judgment, appropriate escalation, and respect for approval limits.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, teamwork, and customer service.

Benefits

1. • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
   • Retirement savings plan
   • Paid time off and holiday pay

Lackey Memorial Hospital is an equ al opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.