Patient Financial Advocate
INTEGRIS Health, Oklahoma’s largest not-for-profit health system has a great opportunity for a Patient Financial Advocate in Oklahoma City, OK.
In this position, you’ll work with our Access Center team providing exceptional care to those who have entrusted INTEGRIS Health with their healthcare needs.
If our mission of partnering with people to live healthier lives speaks to you, apply today and learn more about our recently enhanced benefits package for all eligible caregivers such as, front loaded PTO, 100% INTEGRIS Health paid short term disability, increased retirement match, and paid family leave.
We invite you to join us as we strive to be The Most Trusted Partner for Health.
The Patient Financial Advocate is responsible for the resolution of funding issues for insured or underinsured hospital patients, assisting with the timely screening and processing of potential recipients of financial assistance programs in order to minimize non-resourced accounts, and for the provision of routine patient access activity for ancillary, diagnostic, surgical and emergency services as assigned to facilitate efficient operations, expeditious reimbursement and optimal customer satisfaction and employee satisfaction.
Provides information regarding the patients coverage eligibility and benefits, patients financial liability, INTEGRIS Health's billing practices and policies.
Assists patients in understanding coverage benefits and coverage terminology. All applicants will receive consideration regardless of membership in any protected status as defined by applicable state or federal law, including protected veteran or disability status.
INTEGRIS Health is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.
The Patient Financial Advocate responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following :
- Performs patient access transactions including coverage eligibility, insurance verification, discount eligibility, patient portion calculation and authorization requirement activity utilizing available systems and resources according to assigned protocol
- Performs financial counseling activity including screening for government programs and financial assistance, payment options and arrangements, processing point of service payments, verifying patient demographic information, obtaining signatures for required paperwork, document imaging and following documentation standards to facilitate efficient patient access according to assigned protocol
- Possesses the ability to use analytical thinking, independent judgment, and clinical knowledge to adjust service area schedules and accommodate special requests from internal and external customers
- Accepts inbound phone calls from patients, physician offices, insurance carriers, etc. with the intent to resolve the concern immediately.
- Collects patient payments and follows levels of authority to ensure financial clearance
- Documents all patient accounts activities concisely, including authorization and patient liability requirements
- Performs filing, data entry, and other duties as assigned.
- Responds promptly to patient inquiries regarding pre-care services, policies, coverage, benefits and financial liability
- Utilizes multiple resources to resolve patient or payor inquiries while on the phone or preparing / reviewing patient accounts or prior authorization requirements
- Understands different payer regulations and can communicate effectively with patients regarding their coverage benefits and financial liability
- Interprets and maintains compliance with performance standards, federal and state regulations including EMTALA and HIPAA, policies, procedures, guidelines, and third-party contracts
- Resolves patient issues and assists with questions on hospital treatment costs and reimbursement
- Handles all communication effectively, including telephone, email, and verbally with all departments and caregivers within the health system
- Participates in team-oriented process improvement initiatives for the department and organization
- Participates in continuous quality improvement efforts, establishes goals with supervisors and tracks progress
- Follows all safety rules while on the job, reports accidents promptly and corrects minor safety hazards Reports to assigned supervisor.
This position may have additional or varied physical demand and / or respiratory fit test requirements. Please consult the Physical Demands Project SharePoint site or contact Risk Management / Employee Health for additional information.
Normal office conditions.
- 1 year of Patient Access operations activities (scheduling / registration / insurance) or related experience (billing, collections, accounts receivables)
- Previous experience in one of the following : scheduling, registration, insurance, billing, collections, and customer service in either a hospital or physicians office setting
- May consider successful completion of 1100+ related Career Tech program or one year of college coursework in a related field in lieu of experience
- College coursework in related field or Healthcare Certification (AAHAM CRCS, HFMA CRCR, NAHAM CHAA) preferred
- Previous experience should include utilizing standard office equipment and PC software
- Previous experience with medical terminology, basic ICD 10 and CPT coding preferred
- Must be able to communicate effectively with others in English (verbal / written)