GENERAL SUMMARY OF DUTIES: The Financial Counselor serves as the primary contact for patients for resolution of issues related to registration, benefit verification and payor pre-authorization. Integrates the functions of registration, benefit verification and payor pre-authorization, as well as payment arrangements and cash collection with ambulatory services utilization in order to achieve optimal reimbursement. REQUIREMENTS: • High School Diploma or equivalent • Minimum of 5 years’ experience in registration, physician or hospital billing, third party reimbursement, benefits verification and pre-authorization processing required management experience is required in a hospital setting • Expertise in interviewing patients and/or family members is required • Knowledge of medical terminology and ICD-9/CPT-4 coding required • Previous experience with computer-based billing systems • Ten-key skills and ability to type 30 wpm • Demonstrated skills in customer service, collection of patient demographic and insurance/payor information and cash collection • Requires excellent interpersonal skills encompassing strong oral and written communication techniques • Ability to multi-task ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: • Integrates the functions of registration, benefit verification and payor pre-authorization as well as payment arrangements and cash collection with services rendered to achieve optimal reimbursement • Facilitates cash collection for identified services • Meets with patients and/or family members to review payment and collection guidelines. • Works with outside agencies to obtain payment for services rendered for patients who do not hold current medical coverage • Resolves patient billing issues in a timely fashion • Demonstrates competency working in Signature and/or Invision Systems • Exhibits willingness and responsiveness to supervisor’s requests. Fulfills additional responsibilities within the expertise of the individual’s job scope, which is appropriate to his/her practice • Contributes to the daily functioning of department members in generating and implementing ideas to enhance productivity • Participates with other department members in generating and implementing ideas to enhance productivity • Able to establish priorities, assess workload and determine order of importance daily with minimal guidance required • Is punctual in arriving on duty and can be relied on to be on duty as scheduled • On a regular basis, finishes and leaves work on time, unless deemed necessary by supervisor to stay • Attire and personal cleanliness meet department standards • Performs other functionally related duties as assigned PHYSICAL DEMANDS: • The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. • While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently required to sit, converse, and listen; use hands to touch, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; and to reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. • The employee must be able to lift and/or carry 15 pounds on an occasional basis and be able to push/pull 5 pounds on an occasional basis. • The employee must be able to stand and/or walk at least five hours per day WORK ENVIRONMENT: • The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.