Financial Assessor Patient Accounting

Company Description

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

Job Description

 The Financial Assessor Patient Accounting reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

Responsibilities:

• Consistently meet the current productivity and quality standards in timely resolution of all claim edits, reporting of candidates for bill, outbound compliant claim submission, clinical documentation requirements and any other communication required (verbal or written) regarding claims ensuring timely filing of claims and clean, complete and accurate claims.
• Consistently meet or exceed productivity standards, targets, error ratios, and reporting requirements assigned by the Patient Accounting Lead Financial Assessor and Operations Coordinator.
• Timely follow-up and collection of third party payer receivables. Denials and Appeals follow-up including root cause analysis to reduce/prevent future denials while working to overturn denials for payment resolution.
• Compliant follow-up correspondence to third party payers regarding outstanding accounts receivables (i.e. Statements, letters, e-mails, faxes, portal mail, etc.).
• Support the operations related to optimum third party accounts receivables (i.e. Managed Care, Commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, Replacement plans, Workers Compensations, Corporate Accounts, Research, and Specialty AR Accounts).
• Perform daily, systematic reviews of work lists to ensure all accounts already to be worked are completed.
• Utilize Government, Commercial, and regulatory guidelines for collection of outstanding accounts. Recommend accounts for contractual or administrative write-off and provide appropriate justification and documentation.
• Practice HIPAA privacy standards and ensure compliance with patient health information privacy practices. Provide individual contribution to the overall team effort of achieving the department accounts receivable goals.
• Identify opportunities for customer, system and process improvement and submit to management.
• Follow the NMHC general Policy and Procedures, the Departmental Policy and Procedures, and any Emergency Preparedness Procedures.  Follow Joint Commission and outside regulatory agencies mandated rules and procedures.
• Utilize assigned menus and pathways in the hospital mainframe system and report software application problems to the appropriate supervisor.
• Utilize assigned menus and pathways in external software applications and report software application problems to the appropriate supervisor.
• Utilize assigned computer hardware and report hardware problems to the appropriate supervisor.
• Participate in the testing for assigned software applications, including verification of field integrity.
• Assist the Patient Accounting Operational Coordinator and Patient Accounting Team Lead Financial Assessor with special projects and other duties as assigned, as necessary.
• Attend training and seminars as assigned and approved by the Patient Accounting Operations Coordinator.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate excellent customer service through oral and written communication in providing assistance/expertise to patients, authorized guarantors, and other external and internal contacts.
• Demonstrate proficient use of systems and execution of processes in all areas of responsibilities.
• Working knowledge of physician and facility billing and follow-up including understanding of insurance rules and regulations especially Medicare and Medicaid. Knowledge of HIPAA standards.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations.
• Excellent communication skills when dealing with patients, families, public, co-workers, and professional offices. Basic knowledge of medical terminology and billing practices

Qualifications

Required:

• High School diploma
• One year related work experience or college degree
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology and billing practices
• Extensive experience and knowledge of PC applications, including Microsoft Office and Excel
• Learn quickly and meet continuous timelines
• Exhibit behaviors consistent with principles of excellent service.

Preferred:

• Two or more years’ college or college degree.
• Call center, telephone work experience or cash collections experience.
• Knowledge of Epic Systems.
• Two (2) years progressive work experience in a hospital/ physician billing or SBO environment.
• Detail-oriented, good organizational skills, and ability to be self-directed.
• Strong time management skills, managing multiple priorities and a heavy workload in a high-stress atmosphere.
• Flexibility to perform other tasks as needed in an active work environment with changing work needs.
• High-level problem solving, analytical, and investigational skills.
• Excellent internal/external customer service skills.

Additional Information

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check.  Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. 

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.

Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.