International Financial Coordinator - Medical Center

Fluency in Spanish(written and spoken) is highly preferred.

Location: 6560 Fannin St Houston TX 77030 (Scurlock Tower)

At Houston Methodist the International Finance Coordinator (IFC) position is responsible for performing the daily tasks of the Finance Office for Global Health Care Services. This position assists in notifying patients of their financial responsibility payment options and collecting payments. The IFC ensures the operation of an efficient and effective billing and collections office that supports the departments mission and business development plan.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental Scope of Service and Provision of Care plans as applicable for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional ethical physical and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth dignity and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET Managing Up Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees experiential journeys to ensure strong communication ease of access to information and a seamless experience

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Actively supports the organizations vision fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serves as the liaison for department management through effective communication and accurate reporting while balancing the role of a collector while demonstrating compassion for patients financial and health conditions.

• Clearly and professionally communicates information during all patient communication. Work output is documented clearly so that various departments involved in resolution can review the account. Follow established customer service guidelines and strive to meet all reasonable patient requests. Reliably routes patient to appropriate destination.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Record and maintain daily payment status information by guarantor including related information per department protocol and present information to Management upon request

• Provide consistent quality work that ensures the accuracy and efficiency of the International Finance Services Department that enhances the international patient experience at Houston Methodist Hospital

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Transfer knowledge to Global department staff patients and partners and provides procedures for accurate billing collection and accounting procedures.

• Organize daily activities of the International Finance Services Department and provides prompt internal and external problem resolution.

• Identifies denials trends and notifies department management to prevent future denials and further delay in payments. Makes recommendations for resolution. Pursues appeals when available. Initiates communication with coding team and clinical staff when coding related and medical necessity appeals are warranted.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Manage multiple work queues for missing registration information billing & follow-up by engaging with payor websites and initiate calls to ensure prompt authorization approvals and secure payment of medical claims for both hospital billing and physician billing.

• Consistently and accurately utilizes medical acceptance criteria to screen and schedule appointments for patients in a way to ensure optimal efficiency in clinic operations for both hospital and physician billing.

• Collects complete and accurate financial and consent data during intake and registration process when appropriate including payors and treatment team.

• Provides financial information to patients obtained during verification process by financial clearance staff to include cost estimates payment plans discounts and supplemental financial assistance and verification of benefits.

• Consolidate bills in a timely manner according to departmental guidelines and including all pertinent documents required by guarantor

• Maintain consistent and regular communication with guarantors through varying methods to follow up on receipt of claims and bills and to resolve outstanding account balances.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participate in development and implementation of goals and objectives for the Finance Office and leads the implementation of work plans and policies and procedures.

• Proactively seek understanding on how service and revenue cycle lines work within Houston Methodist Hospital. Lead initiatives when needed to assume alternating roles and responsibilities within the Finance Office.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Bachelors Degree in Business Accounting Health Care or related field

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Five years accounts receivable experience and hospital billing and collections or patient access in a healthcare setting preferably in a hospital

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• N/A

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job determined through on-going skills competency assessments and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking reading and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients physicians family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Fluency in Spanish

• Analytical thinking and complex problem solving.

• Strong customer service and communication skills.

• Epic and Hospital experience

• ICD10 Billing/Coding

• Timely responses to patient account inquires.

• Confidentiality practices of reporting information

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs No
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster Severe Weather Events etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* Yes

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area No
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Houston Methodist (HM) is one of the nations leading health systems and academic medical centers. HM consists of eight hospitals: Houston Methodist Hospital its flagship academic hospital in the heart of the Texas Medical Center and seven community hospitals throughout the greater Houston metropolitan area. HM also includes an academic institute a comprehensive residency program a global business division numerous physician practices and several free-standing emergency rooms and outpatient facilities. Overall HM employs over 25000 employees. Houston Methodist is supported by a wide variety of business functions that operate at the system level to help enable clinical departments to provide the best patient care and service in a spiritual environment.

In 2019 Houston Methodist and its physicians treat more than 6333 international patients from more than 76 countries. Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services consulting and education divisions also provide advisory services and training and development to health care organizations around the world.