Financial Advocate Specialist

Department:

10416 Enterprise Revenue Cycle - Patient Financial Counselors

Status:

Full time

Benefits Eligible:

Yes

Hours Per Week:

40

Schedule Details/Additional Information:

Pay Range

$22.50 - $33.75

Major Responsibilities

• Evaluates financial statements and other relevant documents sent from all referral sources to determine the patient's eligibility for assistance through a Medicaid program and/or Charity Care. Refers for state agency assistance when appropriate.
• Contacts physicians and/or other clinicians to discuss and/or establish the patient's long-term length of disability when required for adult Medicaid program assistance. Reviews and assesses the patient's medical record to validate the disability requirement based on Social Security Disability guidelines.
• Meets with patients/families to scrutinize the financial information for accuracy and to obtain other specific information needed to determine Medicaid eligibility.
• Assures that self-pay patients who are scheduled for services are financially and clinically evaluated as quickly as possible for Medicaid eligibility.
• Communicates with key individuals in the discharge planning arena to assure that Medicaid coverage has been discussed and/or executed for those patients' requiring placement at a lower level of care facility.
• Provides specific direction and guidance to patients or other individuals as it relates to the Medicaid application and Social Security Disability (SSD)/Supplemental Security Income (SSI) application processes. Identifies and resolves roadblocks related to excess reserve as quickly as possible to assure the patient's eligibility for the Medicaid Program and to maximize reimbursement opportunities for the medical center.
• Keeps current and follows specific Medicaid application guidelines and rules as outlined in the Federal Regulations, Medicaid Manual, Social Security regulations and general statutes for the various states whose residents we serve and refer for assistance.
• Completes Medicaid application when applicable and assures mailing to the Department of Social Services within the time frame which will assure coverage for the patient's medical bills incurred.
• Acts on patient's behalf when the required documents have been signed and are on file. Follows-up with the patient to assure that they have complied with instructions to apply for the appropriate program in the month requested.
• Assures that patients who apply for adult Medicaid programs also apply for Social Security (SSA) by setting up the initial SSA interview.
• Assures that documentation related to the Medicaid referral/application are scanned and thoroughly documented in the medical center's patient accounting system(s).
• Completes the Community Benefits eligibility process on patients found not to be eligible for Medicaid when appropriate.

Minimum Job Requirements

 High school diploma with two years as a Social Services Income Maintenance Caseworker or three years' experience in a clinic or hospital based Financial Counseling/Medicaid referral department/unit required.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

 Excellent oral, written, listening, and interpersonal communication skills Possesses strong interpretive communication and interviewing skills Ability to execute discretion, vital decision-making and independent judgment under stressful conditions Must have an applied and enhanced knowledge and understanding of medical diagnoses and prognoses Ability to read, interpret and execute written guidelines, rules and laws in the Medicaid Manual for applicable state and other states, Social Security Disability Guidelines and the Federal Code of Regulations when necessary Uses strong background and work experience with financial statements for the purpose of determining eligibility for Adult and Family Medicaid programs, state program assistance, Community Benefits or COBRA Ability to work independently in conjunction with strong organizational and time management skills Detail-oriented and possesses strong analytical and problem-solving skills Possesses strong mathematical and multi-tasking skills Flexible as it pertains to work location and hours when applicable and/or required

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Clean well-lit and comfortable climate Moderate to loud noise environment depending on work location Fast-paced environment Subject to many interruptions Occasional to frequent stress due to job subject matter PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Standing, Walking, Sitting, Bending, reaching with arms, Finger and hand dexterity, Talking, Hearing, Seeing Lifting, carrying, pushing and or pulling min 20 lbs. maximum 50 lbs.

Preferred Job Requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or human services preferred. 

Our Commitment To You:

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:

Compensation

• Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
• Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job
• Incentive pay for select positions
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits And More

• Paid Time Off programs
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program

About Advocate Health

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.