Financial Care Specialist I - Customer Service and Patient Relations in Healthcare

Join the Cedars-Sinai Team as a Financial Care Specialist I

Are you a motivated and compassionate individual looking to make a difference in the lives of patients and their families? Do you have a passion for delivering exceptional customer service and resolving complex financial issues? If so, we invite you to join our team at Cedars-Sinai as a Financial Care Specialist I. As a leading healthcare provider in Los Angeles, we are committed to excellence in patient care, and we are seeking a talented professional to join our Patient Financial Services team.

About Cedars-Sinai

Cedars-Sinai is a renowned healthcare organization that has been recognized for its excellence in patient care, research, and education. We have been awarded the National Research Corporation's Consumer Choice Award 19 years in a row for providing the highest-quality medical care in Los Angeles. Our commitment to excellence has also earned us the Advisory Board Company's Workplace of the Year award, which recognizes hospitals and health systems nationwide with high levels of employee engagement. At Cedars-Sinai, we pride ourselves on our culturally and ethnically diverse community, and we strive to create a dynamic, inclusive environment that fuels innovation.

Job Summary

As a Financial Care Specialist I, you will play a critical role in providing patient relations support to our Patient Financial Services team. You will work independently to identify, analyze, resolve, and respond to customer inquiries, concerns, and issues, and follow up on accounts to ensure payment and resolution. This position requires advanced knowledge in specialized functions and a full understanding of the revenue cycle. You will need to have strong customer service skills, be able to work well with patients, and deescalate issues quickly. You will also need to have strong analytic and prioritization skills, as well as the ability to understand, interpret, and explain payor contracts and CSMC billing and collections policy and practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide patient relations support to Patient Financial Services, performing duties which include identifying, analyzing, resolving, and responding to customer inquiries, concerns, and issues
• Follow up on accounts to ensure payment and resolution, and work independently with strong customer service skills
• Deescalate issues quickly, and be able to talk, think, and access the system to achieve maximum customer satisfaction
• Apply detailed knowledge of and follow all hospital and department policies, procedures (e.g., PHI, PFS employee handbook)
• Demonstrate detailed knowledge of Cedars-Sinai's core patient accounting systems and/or department-specific systems, and use them effectively and efficiently
• Monitor assigned work queues and workload, ensuring resolve of accounts in a timely and accurate manner
• Take initiative on issues and/or problems by advancing them to the supervisor
• Adhere to documentation standards of the department, and accurately use activity codes
• Complete all necessary research and account follow-up activities to resolve inquiries and/or customer complaints
• Respond to patient, insurance company, and other authorized third-party inquiries, including return of calls and research needed to bring account to final resolution
• Negotiate and document payment plans within established policies
• Achieve timely and accurate account collection for hospital and professional services
• Initiate collection calls to patients and insurance companies to collect on unresolved accounts
• Maintain A/R per department protocol, and refer uncollectible accounts to collection agency or attorney on a timely basis

Requirements and Qualifications

Essential Qualifications:

• High School Diploma/GED required
• Associate's degree in business administration or a related major or college-level courses in finance, business, or health insurance preferred
• A minimum of 1 year of hospital billing or professional billing and/or Collection experience with customer service and call center experience required

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a healthcare setting
• Knowledge of patient accounting systems and revenue cycle
• Certification in patient financial services or a related field

Skills and Competencies

To be successful in this role, you will need to possess the following skills and competencies:

• Strong customer service skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks effectively
• Strong analytic and problem-solving skills
• Ability to understand, interpret, and explain complex financial information
• Knowledge of patient accounting systems and revenue cycle
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet productivity standards

Career Growth Opportunities and Learning Benefits

At Cedars-Sinai, we are committed to the growth and development of our employees. We offer a range of career growth opportunities and learning benefits, including:

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Opportunities for professional development and advancement
• Comprehensive training programs
• Flexible work arrangements

Work Environment and Company Culture

Our work environment is dynamic and inclusive, with a strong focus on employee engagement and satisfaction. We offer a range of amenities and services to support our employees, including:

• State-of-the-art facilities
• On-site fitness center and wellness programs
• Diversity and inclusion initiatives
• Employee recognition and reward programs

Compensation, Perks, and Benefits

We offer a comprehensive compensation package that includes:

• Competitive salary range of $24.34 - $36.51 per hour
• Outstanding employee benefits, including health and dental insurance, vacation, and a 403(b)
• Opportunities for bonuses and other incentives

Conclusion

If you are a motivated and compassionate individual looking to make a difference in the lives of patients and their families, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity as a Financial Care Specialist I. With our commitment to excellence in patient care, comprehensive training programs, and competitive compensation package, we are confident that you will find this role rewarding and challenging. Apply now and take the first step towards a fulfilling career at Cedars-Sinai.

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