Patient Collections Manager

The Patient Collections Manager is responsible for supervising, supporting, and participating directly in the patient liability collection process across all Oceans Healthcare hospitals. This position will communicate directly with patients, family, and legal guardians regarding financial responsibility for healthcare services provided in accordance with their insurance benefits. The Manager, Patient Collections will work closely with financial intake, accounts receivable (AR) management, relevant hospital staff and designated financial counselors. This position is responsible for developing and tracking performance indicators. Ensures processes are according to Joint Commission, Federal and State Regulations, Oceans’ mission, policies and procedures, and Performance Improvement standards.

Essential Functions:

• Communicate directly with patients, family and legal guardians regarding financial responsibility and payment options.
• Provide frequent support and training to hospital financial counselors.
• Develop policies and procedures to improve cash collections while providing a patient centered approach to the collection process.
• Implement, track and report performance measures on collection goals and contacts made as well as other applicable metrics measuring success and productivity. Responsible for monthly review and reporting of relevant performance measures.
• Interface with financial intake, clinical intake and AR management as required.
• Develop and monitor internal controls over the collections of payments from patients, family or legal guardians.
• Stay current with changes to insurance plan benefits and applicable state and federal requirements regarding medical collections.
• Engage regularly with outsourced 3rd party vendors that may support Oceans patient collection process.
• Focus on continuous improvement within the patient collections area of influence and deliver the highest degree of quality service.
• Attends departmental meetings and others as needed.
• Assist in identification of new technologies that will improve departmental operations. Identity and communicate overall strategy for improvements to the revenue management cycle.
• Assist in assessing, designing, and responding to organization and customers’ needs with innovative programs to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Performs other duties and projects as assigned.
  
  

Requirements

Educational / Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited College or University or equivalent work experience.
• Must have extensive experience with the general hospital admissions processes, possess knowledge of medical insurance benefits / Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) and an understanding of copays, coinsurance and deductibles and denial codes.
• Prefer management experience in a healthcare environment.
  
  

Qualifications / Skills:

• Experience in Microsoft Office such as Microsoft Word and Excel.
• General understanding of all revenue cycle functions and interrelationships.
• Hands on experience and knowledge in medical insurance policy benefits, process improvement, AR management and systems development/implementation.
• Must be versatile, flexible and able to perform in stressful situations.
• Must have good time management and organization skills.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Must be able to organize and prioritize high volume workload.
• Extensive experience with data entry. Must analyze and utilize data and systems to provider individualized quality treatment in a cost-effective manner.
• Must be able to function with minimal supervision and complete understanding and respect of confidentiality.
• Interprets and works toward policy and procedure modification that are in accordance with State and Federal Laws, JCAHO, HCFA and other regulatory boards as required by state and federal laws as well as the mission statement.
  
  

Work Environment:

Subject to many interruptions. Occasional pressure due to multiple calls and inquiries. This position can be high paced and stressful; must be able to cope mentally and physically to atmosphere. Work require spending approximately 90% or more of the time inside a building that offers protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.