Financial Advocate

Illinois CancerCare is seeking a full-time Financial Advocate to join our team! The primary purpose of the Financial Advocate is to assist patients in accessing financial resources to help them pay for medical services with offering a wide variety of options.

Pay Range: $17.00 - $25.00 per hour

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, etc. As of the date of this posting, in addition to your salary, Illinois CancerCare offers the following benefits for this position, subject to eligibility requirements: Health, dental, and vision plans; wellness program; health savings account; flexible spending accounts; 401(k) retirement plan; life insurance, short-term disability insurance; long-term disability insurance, Employee Assistance Program; PTO, holiday pay, travel stipend (if applicable), and employee paid critical illness and accident insurance.

• Verify and obtain insurance coverage benefits for patients and ensure all demographics are current.
• Perform financial counseling with patients prior to treatment, which includes explaining all financial obligations, billing process, and establishing payment arrangements with documentation in EMR and billing systems.
• Assist patients in obtaining financial assistance, outside assistance and assist patients in filling out necessary forms relative to financial liability.
• Communicate to the treatment team and Business office regarding any anticipated issues with coverage that may impact patient treatment timelines.
• Communicate with internal and external Navigators to coordinate assistance and support initiatives of the practice.
• Communicate with pharmaceutical companies and other resources to obtain grants and financial aid.
• Follow up with delinquent patient accounts by contacting patients and/or patient family and arrange payment plans to ensure full payment of medical services.
• Maintain knowledge of current reimbursement trends and developments in billing as it relates to the operations of the practice.
• Ensure strict confidentiality of financial and medical records.
• Respond to inquiries from providers and patients about patient intake, registration, fees, reimbursements, and denials.
• Maintain indigent drug process for hardship patients.
• Attend coding conferences, workshops, and in-house sessions to receive updated coding changes and/or regulations as well as software of the Business Office and/or ILCC EMR.
• Communicate with outside facilities in a courteous, helpful manner.
• Communicate with co-workers in a courteous helpful manner.
• Work additional hours when requested.
• Other duties as assigned.

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS/TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work may require sitting for long periods of time, also stooping, bending and stretching for files and supplies.
• Occasionally lifting files or paper weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Requires manual dexterity sufficient to operate keyboard, typewriter, calculator, telephone, copier and other such office equipment as necessary.
• Vision must be correctable to 20/20 and hearing must be in the normal range for telephone contacts. It is necessary to view and type on computer screens for long periods of time.
• Requires the ability to work under stressful situations with high concentration/energy level.
• Work is performed in an office environment and involves frequent contact with physicians, staff, patients and the general public.
• Workload may be large volumes at times and stressful. Contact may involve dealing with emotional and upset patients and/or family members.
• The employee may be exposed to communicable diseases and other constitutions common to the clinical environment.
• Safety policies and good health practices are expected to be understood and observed.

High school diploma or GED.

Previous medical billing experience and knowledge of medical terminology.