Financial Counselor, Patient Access

UnitedHealth Group - Bangor, ME

Full-time - Entry Level

Onsite - Bangor, ME

Insurance Carriers and Related Activities

About the position

The Financial Counselor (Patient Access) plays a crucial role in ensuring a steady cash flow for the healthcare system by maximizing revenue collections and minimizing accounts receivable losses. This position involves screening patients for financial assistance opportunities, counseling them on their financial responsibilities, and acting as a liaison between various departments to facilitate financial options for patients. The role requires a combination of customer service skills and financial acumen to support patients effectively while maintaining compliance with healthcare policies.

Responsibilities

• Screens appropriate patients for possible healthcare coverage or financial assistance opportunities to determine eligibility, coverage levels, and billing requirements.
• Counsels patients regarding financial responsibility while assessing suitability for in-house programs of Free Care, Discounted Care, and Payment Plans.
• Performs a daily check of all qualifying patients and assesses/offers financial assistance.
• Functions as the liaison with various departments for determining financial options and financial counseling for scheduled procedures and price-shopping.
• Records and prepares statistics for outreach of financial assistance programs offered.
• Maximizes revenue collections.
• Minimizes accounts receivable losses (bad debt) by using workflows, technology, and tools provided.
• Maintains a safe environment complying with NLH policies and procedures; reports and directly addresses environmental hazards and violations of patient safety policy and/or protocol when involved or observed.
• Identifies outstanding balances from patients' previous visits and attempts to collect any amount due.
• Functions as a Superuser for primary computer systems.
• Proactively identifies process improvement opportunities.
• Works on Special Projects as needed.
• Performs the duties of a Financial Counselor (Patient Access).
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of specific admission, registration, and pre-registration requirements for all areas.

Requirements

• High School Diploma / GED (or higher)
• 2+ years of Customer Service experience in a hospital, office setting, customer service setting, OR phone support setting
• Intermediate level of proficiency in Windows, Excel, and Microsoft Office, including the ability to type at the speed of 35+ WPM (words per minute)
• Must be 18 years old or older
• Ability to work remotely with occasional onsite as needed
• Ability to train onsite for 3 months OR longer at Northern Light Health & Medical Center, 489 State Street in Bangor, ME
• Ability to work any shift between the hours of 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM EST from Monday - Friday including the flexibility to work occasional overtime and weekends based on business need
• Influenza vaccination for the current flu season (typically August-May) or commitment to receive the influenza vaccination when available for the upcoming flu season.

Nice-to-haves

• 1+ years of electronic health record experience
• 1+ years of experience in a Hospital Patient Registration OR Patient Account Services

Benefits

• 1-3 months of paid onsite training
• Flexible hybrid-remote work options after training
• Opportunities for professional development and growth
• Compassionate work culture
• Meaningful benefits that support employees' well-being