• Patient Financial Counselor

    Trinity Health (Ann Arbor, MI)


    Employment Type:

    Full time

    Shift:

    Day Shift

    Description:

    POSITION PURPOSE

    Under limited supervision, determines liability on patient accounts, and works with patients or their representatives to provide financial assistance or secure payment. Facilitates processing of Medicaid and other financial assistance application and initiates eligibility determination for Health System's charity care fund. Follows up on delinquent accounts until resolved.

    ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

    Estimates patient liability on accounts, evaluates credit histories and other resources.

     

    Counsels patient on cost of treatment, insurance benefits, resources for payment, and financial assistance. Secures and documents payment arrangements.

     

    Verifies and updates patient demographic information on registration and billing systems.

     

    Audits bills for accuracy.

     

    Collects deposits and payments.

     

    Assists potentially eligible patients in completing forms for Medicaid, Trinity Health charity care and other sources of financial assistance within required timeframes.

     

    Reviews delinquent accounts to ascertain previous collection action taken, status and extent of insurance coverage and potential collectibles.

     

    Contacts those who have not responded to payment requests. Monitors monthly payers.

     

    Re-bills, COBS, and original bills third parties to charges posted after the billing and transfer date.

     

    Answers inquiries and resolves complaints concerning account collection. Recommends bad debt accounts for write off.

     

    Processes adjustments to Accounts Receivable, include refunds.

     

    Prepares reports and maintains account activity logs.

     

    Acts as liaison with other Trinity Health service areas, family members, and physicians regarding billing requirements, and financial assistance, and coordinates activities to avoid reimbursement delays.

     

    Maintains good rapport and cooperative relationships. Approaches conflict in a constructive manner. Helps to identify problems, offer solutions, and participate in their resolution.

     

    Maintains the confidentiality of information acquired pertaining to patient, physicians, employees, and visitors to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. Discusses patient and hospital information only among appropriate personnel inappropriately private places

     

    Assumes responsibility for performance of job duties in the safest possible manner, to assure personal safety and that of coworkers, and to report all preventable hazards and unsafe practices immediately to management.

     

    Behaves in accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values of Trinity Health System.

    REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE

    Education:

    Requires high school diploma or equivalent and one year of specialized training.

    Experience:

    One to two years progressively more responsible related work experience

    REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

    Knowledge of basic accounting principles and patient billing procedures.

     

    Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate effectively with patients and families when determining financial status, establishing payment arrangements, and collecting accounts, as well as with insurance companies and other SJMH and Patient Financial Services department staff.

     

    Analytical skills necessary to calculate patient liability, income status and solve problems related to credit and collection matters.

     

    Demonstrated knowledge of SJMH patient accounting systems and accounts receivables.

     

    Our Commitment

     

    Rooted in our Mission and Core Values, we honor the dignity of every person and recognize the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each colleague brings. By finding common ground and embracing our differences, we grow stronger together and deliver more compassionate, person-centered care. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.

    Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

    Trinity Health is a family of 115,000 colleagues and nearly 26,000 physicians and clinicians across 25 states. Because we serve diverse populations, our colleagues are trained to recognize the cultural beliefs, values, traditions, language preferences, and health practices of the communities that we serve and to apply that knowledge to produce positive health outcomes. We also recognize that each of us has a different way of thinking and perceiving our world and that these differences often lead to innovative solutions.

     

    Our dedication to diversity includes a unified workforce (through training and education, recruitment, retention, and development), commitment and accountability, communication, community partnerships, and supplier diversity.

     

    EOE including disability/veteran