Patient Financial Advocate

Description

Riverland Community Health (RCH) is a Federally-Qualified Health Center in St. Paul, where patients receive community-based Family Practice medical care in addition to mental health, dentistry, social work and other integrated services. When joining RCH, you become part of a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming team who are dedicated to serving our patients and pursuing our mission to deliver excellent healthcare for all and training for the providers of tomorrow.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Patient Financial Services Representative will work to provide insurance and financial assistance to patients who lack access to healthcare and health insurance, or are underinsured, and provide enrollment and application assistance and build/strengthen enrollment collaborations with local partner organizations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide enrollment assistance (including but not limited to completing coverage applications, gathering required documentation and troubleshooting the enrollment process) for uninsured children and adults to access subsidized, low-cost and free health insurance programs through the health insurance marketplace, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
• Enroll eligible uninsured and underinsured patients in the RCH Sliding Fee Discount Program based on FPL and family size. Ensure applications are completed accurately, with all required documentation, and submitted in a fair, accurate and impartial manner. Audit SFS applications, both past and present, to ensure compliance and completeness in a fair and unbiased manner. 
• Review Sliding Fee Discount Program enrollee applications every six-months and facilitate the application renewal process. 
• Provide for scheduled appointments with patients and prospective patients at RCH related to insurance enrollment, Sliding Fee Discount Program enrollment, or re-enrollment into programs in a timely and professional manner. 
• Provide structured patient education on health coverage, engage in follow-up conversations and offer renewal assistance for enrolled individuals.
• Network with appropriate organizations to provide materials to patients, community members, partner organizations and businesses to build coverage option awareness. 
• Work closely with RCH Community Health Workers to ensure patients have access to the spectrum of resources avail and are using resources that are available to them. 
• Work with patients to develop a payment plan for past due amounts with RCH and understand patient responsibility for scheduled visits.
• Manage revenue cycle work queues related to uninsured patients as assigned and directed by manager. 
• Collaborate with various local organizations to build awareness of coverage options, spur enrollment and build referral linkages. 
• Attend and successfully complete all required training programs; participate in ongoing conference calls, webinars, and other professional development opportunities. 
• Accurately provide required reporting to track goal achievement and patient satisfaction.
• Assist in the development and implementation of organizational outreach and enrollment initiatives. 
• Maintain confidentiality of all employees, patient, and other privileged information regarding UFPHC business activities and according to HIPAA standards.
• Maintain the highest standards of ethics and integrity in the performance of job duties and responsibilities
• Perform other tasks as assigned.

Requirements

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Strong customer service skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to work independently or on a team.
• Skill in identifying problems, problem solving and resolution.
• Ability to analyze patient accounts.
• Knowledge of basic account principles.
• Knowledge of insurance requirements for third party payers, Medicare and Medicaid.
• Knowledge of federal, state and local sources of funding.
• Knowledge of regulations and laws regarding appropriate use of patient health information.
• Knowledge of medical terminology.
• Demonstrate sound judgement and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to prepare and maintain detailed records, files, reports and other correspondence.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication.
• Ability to perform the job in accordance with Riverland Community Health’s Standards of Business Conduct, which include compliance, ethics and integrity, confidentiality, protection of assets and avoidance of conflicts of interest and inappropriate business relationships. Specifically, work processes that involve billing/collections practices for avoiding activities that constitute fraud and abuse.