Patient Financial Specialist

Catholic Charities of Central Washington; Yakima (WA); On-site; USD 29,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Retirement 403(b) Plan

Education Assistance

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

Catholic Charities of Central Washington is seeking a Patient Financial Specialist to educate patients on financial responsibilities and options, helping to coordinate insurance verification and billing workflows. This role emphasizes clear communication and advocacy for patients and families within a supportive team environment.

The ideal candidate will work closely with clinical and billing staff to verify coverage, explain policies, and assist clients in navigating payment options.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma required; Associates degree preferred.
• Knowledge of health insurance payers or billing required.
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet and Outlook.
• Ability to set priorities and use good judgment in difficult situations.
• Excellent written, oral communication and customer service skills.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

• Pre admission/admission insurance verification, pre-certification, screening for financial counseling and eligibility determination
• Assists in obtaining or validating pre-certification, referrals, and authorization
• Calculates and collects patient liability according to verification of insurance benefits and expected reimbursement
• Explains and provides financial policies and available resources for alternative payment arrangements to patients and their families
• Demonstrates proactive interpersonal communications skills while dealing with patient concerns through telephone calls, emails and in-person conversations
• Optimizes patient flow by using effective customer service/communication skills with internal and external customers, care team, and management
• Cross-trained to support multiple patient and payer types (ABA/OP, Commercial/MCO)
• Back up for posting for Yakima and Tri-Cities billing
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

Health insurance payer knowledge

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Internet

Outlook

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

High School Diploma

Associates Degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Internet

Outlook

Job description

Position Summary

The Patient Financial Specialist coordinates a smooth patient flow process by educating patients on their financial responsibility and options. The Patient Financial Specialist must be able to multi-task and reprioritize in response to fluctuations in volume. This position requires being self-directed, well organized and exhibiting team oriented skills with the ability and desire to educate and advocate for patients and their families. The Patient Financial Specialist will have the ability to build rapport with a wide variety of individuals including clinical staff in order to meet the patient's needs.

Responsibilities

• Pre admission/admission insurance verification, pre-certification, screening for financial counseling and eligibility determination
• Assists in obtaining or validating pre-certification, referrals, and authorization
• Calculates and collects patient liability according to verification of insurance benefits and expected reimbursement
• Explains and provides financial policies and available resources for alternative payment arrangements to patients and their families
• Demonstrates proactive interpersonal communications skills while dealing with patient concerns through telephone calls, emails and in-person conversations
• Optimizes patient flow by using effective customer service/communication skills by communicating to internal and external customers, care team, and management
• Cross-trained to support multiple patient and payer types. (ABA/OP, Commercial/MCO)
• Back up for posting for Yakima and Tri-Cities billing
• Perform other duties as assigned

Job Requirements

The following requirements are those that are normally required for the performance of this position. Any disabled applicant who does not meet one or more of the requirements, but who can perform the essential functions of the job (with or without reasonable accommodations) shall be deemed to meet

Physical Requirements

This position normally requires the physical demands of standing, walking, bending, lifting, or performing other work requiring low physical exertion, talking, and hearing on a regular basis to perform the job requirements. These physical demands are required up to 90% of the time.

Education

• High School Diploma, Required
• Associates Degree, preferred

Experience

• Hospital or Business office experience or patients accounts, required

Special Skills

• Knowledge of health insurance payers or billing, Required
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet and Outlook
• Ability to set priorities and use of proper judgment in difficult situations and be flexible
• Excellent written, oral communication, interpersonal and customer service skills
• Ability to work independently and self-starter
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred
• Excellent investigative, critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Ability to adapt to various programs and systems
• Demonstrated proficiency in understanding registration work queues that affect workflo

Employment is conditional upon

Being cleared by criminal background check and fingerprinting when required

Work Schedule

Mon- Fri 8:00am- 5:00pm

Wage Range

$21.00-$25.75 per hour

Benefits

• 13 paid holidays, 12 days of vacation, 12 days of sick leave per year
• Health insurance including medical & prescription coverage, with optional dental and vision insurance plans. Majority of premiums paid by Catholic Charities
• Retirement 403(b) Plan: employee contributions commence upon employment; Catholic Charities contributes 2% of monthly income and matches up to 4% of employee contributions following 6 months of employment
• Basic Life Insurance paid 100% by Catholic Charities
• Flexible Spending Account eligibility following 6 months of employment
• Education Assistance Program reimbursing up to $5,250 per year for approved continuing education after 6 months of employment
• Additional voluntary insurances including supplemental life, accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D), critical illness, long term disability, accident, and ID theft
• Employee Assistance Program includes 3 counseling sessions per year, legal consultations, financial coaching, and other wellbeing tools
• Annual longevity awards begin at 5 years of employment

It is the practice of Catholic Charities to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, citizenship status, marital status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, sexual orientation, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Applicants from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We gladly offer reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities to support participation in the hiring process and employment.