Financial Counselor I - Bayfront Hospital - St. Petersburg, Florida

Financial Counselor I

Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital is a comprehensive tertiary care facility that has been serving St. Petersburg and the surrounding communities for more than 100 years. A teaching medical center, the 480-bed hospital's areas of expertise include heart and vascular, digestive health, orthopedics, surgical services, robotic surgery, rehabilitation, neurosciences, maternity care, emergency services and trauma care. The hospital's Level II Trauma Center is the only adult trauma center in Pinellas County. Home to the Center for Women and Babies, the hospital offers full obstetrical services, and, in partnership with Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, is one of Florida's 13 state-certified Level III Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Centers. A commitment to quality has earned the hospital recognition with a USA Today Top Workplaces award for 2025 and an "A" Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group.

Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital is part of the Orlando Health system of care, which includes award-winning hospitals and ERs, specialty institutes, urgent care centers, primary care practices and outpatient facilities that span Florida's east to west coasts, Central Alabama and Puerto Rico. Collectively, our dedicated team members honor our over 100-year legacy by providing professional and compassionate care to the patients, families and communities we serve.

The Financial Counselor assists patients and their families with a host of services to ensure that the process of collecting payments is fully explained and is as comfortable as possible.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Understands the importance Orlando Health places on providing exemplary customer service and performs job functions in a manner that helps meet the department customer service goals.
• Demonstrates a positive and professional approach and communicates effectively with customers and team members at all times.
• Efficiently and accurately gathers and inputs patient/guarantor demographic and financial information
• Contacts Primary Care or Admitting Physician to obtain authorizations, diagnosis, and procedure detail as necessary.
• Explains necessary forms and obtains signatures from patient/guarantor.
• Contacts appropriate payers, verifying benefits and obtaining necessary authorizations.
• Explains insurance benefits and collects co-pays, deductibles and self-pay portions due.
• Collects for related professional care when appropriate.
• Documents authorization and benefit information in registration system.
• Assembles patient record and obtains copies of relevant documents including insurance cards, photo identification cards and any advance directives.
• Demonstrates a basic knowledge of third party reimbursement requirements and regulations.
• Exhibits competency in the use of all registration systems, electronic verification tools and Web based resources.
• Follows Patient Financial Services self-pay policies including completion of Guarantor Financial Statement Application, explanation of payment options and collections of monies due.
• Follows Patient Financial Services policies related to cash handling.
• Performs basic individual cashiering functions.
• Collects and inventories patient valuables following policy guidelines.
• Maintains basic understanding of the medical necessity screening process and appropriate systems.
• Performs appropriate pre-registration functions including calling physician offices, insurance payers and the patient/guarantor, as necessary.
• Maintains departmental logs for statistical reporting.
• Consistently meets Quality Assurance standards set by Patient Access and the department.
• Meets departmental goals regarding collections, productivity and customer service.
• Maintains flexibility in work schedule availability that allows department to change/modify work schedule to meet departmental needs.
• Meets federal, state and hospital requirements related to compliance issues.
• Maintains reasonably regular, punctual attendance consistent with Orlando Health policies, the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards.
• Maintains compliance with all Orlando Health policies and procedures.
• Attends and participates in department staff meetings and attends other meetings as assigned.
• Responsible for reviewing and adhering to all Patient Financial Services and departmental education initiatives.
• Meets all corporate and Patient Financial Services annual recertification and education requirements.
• Assists his/her manager in planning and organizing department activities.

Qualifications

Education/Training

• High School or equivalent.
• Must complete Patient Financial Services Orientation program and annual educational requirements

Experience

• Two (2) years' experience in a financial, business office, or customer service environment required.
• Proficient in Windows Microsoft Office-based products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Typing proficiency.
• One (1) year PC/Windows experience.