Purpose:

At Connect Health + Wellness, every position exists to advance our Mission?providing compassionate, high-quality care to uninsured and underinsured members of our community. As a Financial Counselor, your purpose is to reduce financial barriers and help patients access the care they need by offering guidance on payment options, insurance, and financial assistance. Every interaction you have should reflect our commitment to health equity, dignity, and service to others.

Position Summary :

The Financial Counselor serves as a key point of contact for patients at the Health Center and plays a critical role in ensuring a positive patient experience. This position requires a friendly and professional demeanor, along with the ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds. As a Financial Counselor, you will help manage the Health Center?s financial risk by identifying payors, securing payment for outstanding patient balances, verifying insurance benefits, and obtaining necessary authorizations. You will also help maintain the accuracy of financial and patient information systems. This role involves a range of financial counseling and administrative duties within a fast-paced healthcare environment. You will collaborate with patients, their families, medical providers, and other staff members to support smooth operations and high-quality service delivery. The ideal candidate is self-motivated, able to work independently, and capable of completing tasks with minimal supervision. This position requires strict adherence to confidentiality protocols and a high level of accuracy and efficiency in data entry and record keeping. As part of a Patient-Centered Medical Home team, you will contribute to a collaborative culture that values teamwork and is committed to delivering exceptional care.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION

Prepare for

Daily Operations:

Review and prepare patient accounts in advance of scheduled visits.

Maintain Accurate Patient Records:

Enter and update patient demographic and insurance information in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system with a high level of accuracy.

Verify Insurance Coverage:

Confirm insurance details at each visit, ensure documentation is complete, and scan insurance cards into the EMR. Assist patients with updating their Primary Care Provider (PCP) as reflected on their insurance cards when necessary.

Review Sliding Fee Applications:

Evaluate Sliding Fee Scale applications submitted outside of standard hours by Front Office staff.

Verify Sliding Scale Status:

Confirm sliding scale eligibility at each visit, notify patients when updates are required, and ensure the EMR reflects current financial documentation.

Manage Proof of Income Documentation:

Collect and upload proof of income (POI) into the EMR. Inform patients of any applicable co-pay amounts or sliding scale fees. Coordinate with

Front Office:

Print the daily schedule, identify patients who need to meet with a Financial Counselor, and communicate this information to the Front Office team.

Conduct Patient Financial Consultations:

Meet with patients upon arrival to review account status, collect co-pays and outstanding balances, discuss payment options, and establish payment plans with appropriate documentation.

Facilitate Financial Hardship Applications:

Provide and follow up on financial hardship applications as needed, ensuring timely completion and submission. Collaborate on

Hardship Determinations:

Work closely with the CFO and/or Billing Manager to assess and determine eligibility for financial hardship assistance.

Ensure Clear Communication:

Maintain effective communication with patients, internal staff, and insurance companies. Scan and route patient documents to providers as appropriate. Comply with

Policies and Procedures:

Follow all Connect Health + Wellness policies, procedures, and regulatory guidelines.

Demonstrate Strong Skill Sets:

Apply strong organizational, analytical, financial, and reasoning skills in daily tasks. Participate in ongoing

Training:

Engage in training and professional development opportunities, including cultural competency, effective communication, OSHA, HIPAA, and Electronic Health Record (EHR) system use.

Perform Additional Duties:

Fulfill other responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor that align with the Mission and purpose of Connect Health + Wellness.

Pay Range:

$16.00 to $18.00

Benefits:

Paid Holidays (8) Paid Time Off (160 hours) Simple IRA Plan (with company match) Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Life Insurance provided by employer Short-term and Long-term Disability coverage provided by employer Other voluntary plans available