<p>POSITION OVERVIEW: The Financial Counselor at RCA is part of the multidisciplinary team focusing on insurance coverage, benefit eligibility, and financial responsibility for treatment. The Financial Counselor educates and assists patients with making informed decisions about payment options and financial arrangements regarding their healthcare services. Determines and verifies patient insurance coverage and eligibility for financial assistance programs. It is also the role of the Financial Counselor to help patients improve their financial health and stability which ultimately impacts the social determinants of health. The Financial Counselor is responsible for patients in RCA's inpatient and outpatient programs.</p> <p>KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:</p> <p>Support enterprise revenue and EBITDA targets through managing collection of patient financial responsibility (PFR) and enrollment of patients onto payment plans. Meet with all new patients within 72 hours of admission to review benefit details including estimated financial responsibility. Attend daily flash meeting to notify the multidisciplinary team about any financial issues, concerns, and/or outcomes related to all patient cases. Works closely with the multidisciplinary team daily regarding patient status changes in coverage for treatment services. Ensure all relevant financial forms are completed, signed, and documented according to all RCA policies and procedures. Provide education to patients and families about payment options and financial assistance to cover treatment. Determine and collect payments for financial responsibility including setting up a payment plan when necessary. Accurately document how financial responsibility will be collected. Support and assist in collection of co-pay for outpatient treatment services. Ensure all relevant patient financial information is entered into the electronic system. Ensure financial registration is accurately set up and documented in the electronic health record for patients who are Private Pay. Secure payment for all Private Pay patients including but not limited to treatment services, private room, and Recovery Housing. Secure self-pay for those patients/families who wish to continue treatment but are denied additional time due to not meeting the insurance company's medical necessity criteria. Consistently works to develop new and innovative systems to help maximize patient days. Manage all eligibility processes and patient follow up related to policy changes and policy terminations. Assist patients to reinstate health care benefits when insurance policy has terminated. Coordinate with employers, human resource departments, and insurance companies who provide benefits to determine steps to reinstate health insurance coverage. Identify eligibility for medical and financial assistance programs and assist in completion of the application process when warranted. Stay informed with changes in State and Federal laws and regulations regarding insurance/third party administrators. Manage RCA's Daily Collection Reconciliation processes including accurate reporting of collections and depositing payments according to protocols. Maintains complete documentation of activities performed on account while in-house. Appropriately report and document all interactions with patients, families, employers, etc. Collect fees for professional services provided. Collaborate closely facility leadership and various departments at the Enterprise Support Center (ESC) including the Mission Center, Patient Financial Engagement Specialists (PFES), and the Finance and Operations teams. Participates in data gathering for financial reporting. Conduct face to face discharge meetings with patients, including any account reconciliation and payment arrangement to bring account to a zero balance. Participate in the discharge planning process, including keeping relevant management and treatment staff up to date on progress. Assist with the resolution of authorized days and outcomes related to uncovered days requiring payment and financing. Assist with pharmacy related workflows to ensure pharmacy has banking information for co-pays for all patients.</p> <p>SKILLS AND EDUCATION:</p> <p>High school diploma or GED required Six months previous hospital registration, billing and collections, financial counseling, and/or customer service experience required. Understanding health insurance and benefit details required. Medical terminology knowledge required. Excellent verbal and written communication skills required. Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize workload and meet deadlines required. Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands. Proficiency in MS Office software. Experience operating in electronic health records. Experience working in a substance abuse facility, Crisis Center, Emergency Room, or Triage unit preferred. Experience (professionally or personally) in the treatment of addiction or mental health preferred. Knowledge of CPT/ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding preferred Excellent interpersonal skills Strong problem solving, decision-making, and time management skills Ability to plan well and prioritize work Ability to work independently and within a team Ability to work under pressure Ability to negotiate or overcome barriers Proficient documentation skills Demonstrate the ability to understand and react effectively to the changing needs of families and clients Ability to multi-task and appropriately prioritize responsibilities in a fast-paced environment, with strong focus on attention to detail, and excellent communication skills Accurate and fast computer skills</p> <p>COMPETENCIES:</p> <p>Leadership: Effective at building support and promoting success in a team-centered environment which functions using a shared vision. Customer Service: Demonstrates concern for meeting internal and external customers' needs in a manner that provides satisfaction for the customer within the resources that can be made available. Job Knowledge: Understands duties and responsibilities, has necessary job knowledge, has necessary technical skills, understands company mission/values, keeps job knowledge current, and is in command of critical issues. Integrity: Upholds personal and professional ethics and values, considering the values of the organization and respecting the culture, beliefs, and abilities of individuals. Ability to deal with difficult people: The ability to respond to difficult customer behavior with diplomacy and tact, including diffusing anger, creating rapport and influencing behavior. Resilience: Must be able to cope with stressful and adverse situations, rebound quickly, and then learn from experience.</p> <p>WORK ENVIRONMENT: May work in a variety of environments including professional offices, clinics, hospitals, or outpatient facilities. They spend much of their time on their feet, actively working with patients.</p> <p>PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Ability to administer at least 2 consecutive minutes of quality CPR.</p> <p>TRAVEL: Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-the-area and overnight travel may be expected</p>