Financial Counselor

At Mahaska Health the primary role of the Financial Counselor is to serve as a link between our patients and their funding options by providing patients with options for meeting their financial responsibility for payment of their hospital bills, including but not limited to Medical Assistance.

Essential Job Functions

Collections specific:

• Runs statements and notices according to schedule.
• Makes collection efforts by phone or mail.
• Accurately processes all payment arrangements and monitors for delinquent accounts.
• Processes all Charity Care Program applications and submits them to the department director for approval.
• Sends out Charity Care applications to help determine the patient’s ability to pay.
• Maintains, monitors, and submits payroll deductions to Human Resources for processing.
• Review daily IP, ER, Surgery, and OP admissions that are Private Pay. Conduct interviews with patients and/or family members to obtain cash payment or determine eligibility for governmental programs available.
• Assists patients with completion of Medical Assistance forms/ presumptive Medicaid, Charity Care, if they express that help is needed.
• Work closely with Registration, and IP Utilization Review team daily regarding patient status change and potential patient responsibility balance.
• Records and maintains complete documentation in Centriq of activities performed on account.
• Knowledgeable of medical insurance including coverage and general billing requirements (Medicare, HMOs, MCOs, PPOs, commercial), EMTALA regulations, hospital billing, and collection process, and policies.
• Accesses various insurance websites and initiates phone contacts regarding eligibility and benefits for proposed services.
• Calculate and collect cash payments appropriately for all patients and/or set up payment arrangements / monthly installment plans for patients to pay off their balance within MHP guidelines.
• Advises self-paid patients of medical options (public health, free health events) available in the community for future follow-up care.
• Queues reminders and processes them in a timely manner, within 10 days of being generated.
• Researches and completes refunds as per policy.
• Monitor private pay balance daily and help to maintain balance with desirable levels.
• Coordinate and prepare billing for all Mahaska County jail services.
• Routinely follows the process to file liens against estates.
  
  

Pre-Registration Specific

• Pre-register all scheduled patients.
• Estimates charges in advance for procedures.
• Verifies insurance benefits for the deductible/co-insurance during the pre-registration process.
• Contact patients by phone and mail for Up Front Collections (UFC).
• Prepares UFC forms to ensure good communication between pre-registration, registration, and the customer.
• Maintains documentation of Up-Front Collections (UFC) for the department director and administration to review.
  
  

Bad Debt Specific

• Timely and accurate files assignment papers for small claims accounts.
• Discharges all recurring patients who are not discharged in the clinical system.
• Runs reports to check for patients who are not discharged.
  
  

Essential Job Functions - All Areas

• Works with the Billing Specialist on delinquent accounts in need of insurance follow-up.
• Coordinate and prepare billing for all Mahaska County jail services.
• Maintains accurate, daily petty cash balances.
• Maintains current knowledge of Business Office policies and procedures to assist patients and staff.
• Maintains accuracy, neatness, and timeliness in job performance.
• Able to answer incoming calls to assist patients and staff.
• Must be able to use and operate office equipment.
• Conduct self in accordance with Mahaska Health Partnership's confidentiality policy; ensuring to follow all MHP training guidelines in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
• Maintain a cooperative working relationship with employees, visitors, medical staff, and patients, keeping in mind the person’s unique needs within their age category (refer to Mahaska Health’s Age Specific Standards of Care Policy).
• Ability to deal with confidential information.
• Must be able to perform the physical demands of the job.
• Maintains regular and reliable attendance. Attend meetings, as requested.
• All other duties as assigned or requested.
  
  

Job Requirements

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• PC proficiency and experience with IP and OP hospital insurance claim filing and reimbursement principles desired.
• Ability to manage multiple and simultaneous responsibilities and prioritize your work.
• Ability to work independently, exercise creativity, be attentive to detail, and maintain a positive attitude.
• Must have excellent customer service and communication skills with the ability to effectively calm patients and be able to deal with distressed and/or agitated patients and their families.