UW Medicine’s mission is to improve the health of the public by advancing medical knowledge, providing outstanding primary and specialty care to the people of the region, and preparing tomorrow’s physicians, scientists and other health professionals. UW Medicine owns or operates Harborview Medical Center, Northwest Hospital & Medical Center, Valley Medical Center, and UW Medical Center, a network of UW Medicine Neighborhood Clinics that provide primary care, UW Physicians, UW School of Medicine, Airlift Northwest, and other owned, operated or affiliated entities as appropriate. In addition, UW Medicine shares in the ownership and governance of Children’s University Medical Group and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance a partnership among UW Medicine, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research, and Seattle Children’s.

UW Medicine Insurance Eligibility and Counseling Services Department (IECS): This position will be located at either Harborview Medical Center (HMC) or University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC) or other University of Washington Medicine (UWM) organization non-campus location within the IECS department.

The full time day shift FINANCIAL ACCESS SPECIALIST 1(FAS1) will, under direct supervision, act as patient advocate and independently review patient concerns for appropriate action and funding; provide financial screening and counseling for funding options; perform work that supports the patient financial services and patient relations goals of the hospital. This work includes but is not limited to performing the various functions associated with assisting patients to apply for appropriate funding/insurance; obtaining and verifying the insurance coverage and benefits for facility and professional services, which may include emergency services, inpatient hospitalization, transportation, rehab, therapies, nursing home placement, home health care/durable equipment, outpatient surgeries, clinical visits, and specialized procedures; also with application and verifying L&I, Crime Victims and other coverages. Position assesses and completes Financial Assistance and determines Financial Assistance; Affordable Care Act eligibility; triages for Medicaid and or completes DSHS Medicaid Applications and conducts all required follow-up activities; resolves complex billing issues, provides price estimates and formal quotes; collects payments and sets-up payment plans; recommends and implements appropriate solutions; acts as a liaison to the billing department, and conducts other duties associated with providing customer service within the facility. Position in this class are distinguished by the responsibility to independently review, investigate and resolve a wide variety of patient financial complaints; recommend and implement appropriate solutions.

Under direct Supervision the FAS1 will:

Interview patients and determine appropriate insurance opportunities

Complete applications which include Health Care Exchange; Medicaid, Medicaid Expansion and Medicare Part D

Manage and resolve a high volume of phone inquiries and referrals

Manage all aspects of the UW Medicine’s Financial Assistance application process

Appropriately access patient’s needs and potential funding

Obtain and verify insurance thru various web tools

Document progress of each case in Epic notes

Prepare price estimates

Collect payments

Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of patient privacy rights

Maintains confidentiality of all medical, financial, or other sensitive materials in printed, electronic or verbal form

Accesses and uses the minimum necessary patient identifiable information to perform job responsibilities and duties for authorized purposes only.

Interpret hospital’s policies, procedures and services to patients, patient representative, inter/intra-hospital departments and community facilities

Perform work that supports patient financial relations, resolution of billing problems and the financial assessment protocols of UW Medicine

Perform other related duties as required

Requirements: High School diploma or GED certificate plus one year of experience in a medical office setting; OR equivalent education/experience.

Desired: Experience in working with UW Medicine billing practices and resolving billing inquiries. Experience working in assessing Medicaid, Affordable Healthcare, Medicare Part D program eligibility. Knowledge of UW Medicine's patient care systems and medical terminology. Excellent customer service skills. Preferable: Certified In Person Assistant (IPA)