Patient Financial Advocate

Position: Patient Financial Advocate I (40 hours/week)
** Description*
* Penn Medicine is dedicated to our tripartite mission of providing the highest level of care to patients, conducting innovative research, and educating future leaders in the field of medicine. Working for this leading academic medical center means collaboration with top clinical, technical and business professionals across all disciplines.

Today at Penn Medicine, someone will make a breakthrough. Someone will heal a heart, deliver hopeful news, and give comfort and reassurance. Our employees shape our future each day. Are you living your life's work?

Summary:

+ The Patient Financial Advocate I serves to assist all Penn Medicine patients prior to, during, or after receiving treatment, especially those who are underinsured or uninsured. The Patient Financial Advocate I provides basic financial guidance and support to patients, with a focus on determining patient eligibility including, but not limited to:
Medical Assistance, Financial Assistance, Pharmacy Assistance, Premium Assistance Programs, etc. The Patient Financial Advocate I maintains professionalism to ensure a positive patient experience across the care continuum. This position requires a high-level understanding of Revenue Cycle operations and the ability to facilitate patient collections.

Responsibilities:

+ Access system work queues and calendar multiples times throughout day to obtain referred cases/patients that require assistance Answers and resolves patient/guarantor inquiries (verbal and written) via telephone, in person (in-house and walk-ins) or e-mail Prior to service will conducts detailed discussion with patients, obtains insurance information and completes required tasks to determine patient's eligibility for Medicaid and other state, federal and local government programs.

Meets with patients on a one-on-one basis to discuss the cost of hospital services and current financial situations, obtaining all pertinent demographic information and financial data to ensure resolution of account

Assist patients in completing all applications required to receive external eligibility and internal financial assistance prior to servicefollows up with potential sources of aid until determination of approval or a denial is received, applications include but not limited to Federal Funded Applications, State Medicaid Applications, Financial Assistance applications, Co-Pay Assistance Program applications, etc. Work with patient to obtain documentation necessary for applications Uses patient information and hospital guidelines to calculate the amount of financial assistance patients ultimately receive

Calculate patient's remaining balances and then discusses and finalizes the method of resolving patient balances through point of service collections, payment plans or other arrangements, to be determined by date of service Request payments from patients at point of service, including during the pre-admission stage, at admission and after service but prior to patient discharge

Prior to service will calculate and estimate patient's charges, request payments from patients at point of service, review remaining balances, and discusses and finalizes the method of resolving patient balances through point of service collections, payment plans or other arrangements, to be determined by date of service

Facilitates financial communications between Patient Access Services, Physicians, and Hospital Departments when necessary and collaborates with Social Workers and Clinical Resource managers when needed Acts as financial intermediaries for patients and departments in order to provide the best solution for the patient while also securing the financial integrity of the organization

The Patient Financial Advocate team are responsible for obtaining program award amounts of over $3.5M annually

The Patient Financial Advocate team are responsible for maintaining an average 76.6% collection rate from Patient Assistance Programs

Credentials:

+ American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (Required)

+ AAHAM Revenue Cycle Certification or ability to obtain Certification within one year of hire

Education or Equivalent

Experience:

+ H.S. Diploma/GED (Required)

+ And 6+ years Hospital Revenue Cycle Experience

OR Associates Degree and 4+ years Hospital Revenue Cycle Experience

OR Bachelors degree and 2+ years Hospital Revenue Cycle Experience

+ Other

+ Certificate of Completion from ACCC Financial Advocacy Network Program, or ability to obtain within one year of hire

We believe that the best care for our patients starts with the best care for our employees. Our employee benefits programs help our employees get healthy and stay healthy. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits program that includes one of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region. Penn Medicine employees are actively engaged and committed to our mission.

Together we will continue to make medical advances that help people live longer, healthier lives.

Live Your Life's Work

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