Financial Counselor II - Chemotherapy

At Christus Health in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this full-time Financial Counselor II - Chemotherapy role supports patients and care teams by reviewing self-pay and limited or exhausted insurance accounts to determine voluntary free care and financial assistance eligibility. The position involves direct patient interviews and financial counseling before, during, and after admission, with a focus on accurate estimates, documentation, and coordinated payment planning.

What you’ll do

• Analyze and review self-pay accounts to determine eligibility for voluntary free care.
• Interview patients and provide financial counseling by estimating balances due and identifying payment opportunities.
• Work with patients, physicians, social workers, and other hospital staff to guide applications for available assistance.
• Secure payment or a contract for payment and establish financial arrangements before admission, upon admission, and at discharge.
• Complete daily review of pre-admits and in-house accounts identified as self-pay or limited insurance, including insured patients who owe deductibles, co-pays, or co-insurance.
• Review daily reports that identify self-pay patients and coordinate with inpatient teams to identify insured and under-insured patients for collections efforts.
• Initiate follow-up, investigate additional resources, and manage actions related to deposits, discharges, and transfers.
• Visit with patients and families to make payment arrangements and determine charity care and/or Medicaid eligibility.
• Assist patients with billing issues and questions about insurance coverage.
• Respond to inquiries from patients, physicians, and physician staff regarding estimated costs for diagnostic tests, surgical procedures, inpatient visits, and outpatient services.
• Maintain a file of estimated charges for inpatient, outpatient, and surgical procedures, updated with current charge information.
• Quote deposit amounts and consistently document payment arrangements previously agreed upon before services are required.
• Maintain completed and signed hospital service agreement forms in the designated office file.
• Document patient inquiries and requests for financial assistance approval and file them in the designated office file.
• Follow up to obtain supporting documentation required by Corporate Management Directives to substantiate eligibility for charity care or discounted care.
• Ensure required patient documentation is present, including insurance cards, hospital consent forms, and financial assistance forms.
• Use online tools to verify insurance benefits, run medical necessity, determine estimates, and process upfront collections.
• Answer the Medicare Secondary Payor Questionnaire.
• Cover cashier responsibilities and be available to register patients, verify insurance, and complete pre-cert/authorizations/notifications.

Registration, scheduling, and documentation

• Obtain and accurately input all required scheduling and registration data, including patient demographics, financial information, guarantor details, and relevant encounter notes.
• Prioritize and complete registrations/scheduling in a consistent, courteous, professional, accurate, and timely manner.
• Ensure each patient is assigned only one medical record number.
• Select the appropriate patient type based on department and services required.
• Communicate the purpose of required hospital documents and obtain patient or legal guardian signatures, including knowledge of documents such as:
  • Hospital care consent
  • Notice of Visit
  • Health Information Exchange (HIE)
  • Important Message from Medicare (IMM)
  • Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON)
  • Financial Assistance Application
  • Notice of Privacy Practices
  • Patient Rights
• Document in account notes and verify eligibility and obtain necessary authorizations for services rendered.
• Document all patient inquiries and requests for financial assistance approval, and complete associated follow-up.

Insurance verification and customer support

• Verify eligibility and obtain necessary authorizations for services rendered.
• Demonstrate accuracy in selecting insurance plans and reviewing notes on pre-admitted accounts.
• Review and explain previous accounts with patients in a courteous and professional manner.
• Contribute to and achieve collection initiatives while meeting customer needs and building productive relationships.
• Greet patients professionally, call patients by name, and ask if they may have special needs.

Daily accuracy and cash handling

• Review data and systems daily to ensure accuracy and request additional education information when necessary.
• Complete daily reconciliation and balance cash deposits, including reporting to the treasurer.

Location and schedule

• Location: Santa Fe, NM (onsite)
• Work schedule: 5 Days - 8 Hours
• Work type: Full Time

Minimum qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma
• Minimum experience: 3 years
• Additional experience noted: Three to five years Hospital Business Office or reimbursement/collections