Financial Counselor-Cancer Center at Billings Clinic in Billings, Montana

Job Description:

The Financial Counselor is the main financial contact for cancer outpatients without adequate financial resources. The Financial Counselor looks after the financial interests of the organization by securing sponsorship for patients unable to pay and collecting from patients able to pay. The Financial Counselor interacts with patients prior to service through financial counseling at the time of pre-registration and pre- treatment, at the time of services and after services through tracking of Medicaid, SSI, MCP, charity applications and telephone collections.


Essential Job Functions


• Supports and models behaviors consistent with the mission and philosophy of Billings Clinic and department/service.
• Performs customer service as the primary point of contact by providing assistance to cancer patient inquiries including account information, insurance billing issues (including pre-authorization or pre-certification), and quality of care issues as appropriate. Coordinates with other departments as appropriate and advises patients about the outcome. Participates as needed, and within established guidelines, in negotiation of discounts with customers, including patients, attorney and collection agencies.
• Coordinates financial counseling efforts with entities of Billings Clinic, other physician's offices, other community health care providers and patients regarding insurance related information, procedures cost and charge estimates, insurance coverage issues, and options for patients without insurance.
• Performs financial counseling for self pay, commercial insurance, potential clinical research patients and all cancer patients as needed. Duties include interviews with patient and family members, identification of potential eligibility for SSI disability, Medicaid, MCP, charity, and promotion of bank note program. Secures financial informed consent when indicated.
• Coordinates with social workers, care navigators and case managers on an as needed basis regarding pre-certifications/authorizations and other financial aspects on the front end of the revenue cycle in order to impact discharge planning, Medicare denial and non-covered services letters, Medicare lifetime reserve election letters.
• Establishes and monitors payments plans per policy and procedures and renegotiates payment plan arrangements when new accounts are combined into the payment plan or patient's circumstances change.
• Works with patient financial services department to manage self-pay account balances for transfer to bad debt and assignment to outside collection agencies.
• Utilizes performance improvement principles to assess and improve quality.
• Identifies needs and sets goals for own growth and development; meets mandatory organizational and departmental requirements.
• Maintains competency in all organizational, departmental and outside agency environmental, employee or patient safety standards relevant to job performance.
• Performs other duties as assigned or needed to meet the needs of the department/organization.