Healthcare Financial Advocate (Financial Counseling & Insurance Navigation)
Role Type: Full-Time, Regular Employee (Permanent placement on company payroll, not contract/temp)
Shift: Day Job (Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM)
Work Arrangement: Hybrid Remote (On-site 2 days per week for collaboration, remaining days work from home following completion of initial training)
Location: Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (Oakland Area)
New Hire Starting Salary Range: $20.20 – $24.50 per hour base wage (After hire, pay increases can be earned, see below).
About the Opportunity
This is a permanent, full-time career opportunity for a compassionate, detail-oriented financial professional within a centralized Patient Advocacy and Revenue Cycle division. If selected, you will be hired directly as a regular employee of the organization we represent, placing you on their direct payroll and making you eligible for full corporate benefits from day one. This is not a temporary, contract, or "temp-to-hire" role. Operating under a desirable hybrid structure, this position offers an exceptional work-life balance while allowing you to make a direct, life-changing impact on patients navigating complex healthcare healthcare costs.
Purpose
The Healthcare Financial Advocate is responsible for providing timely, accurate, and empathetic financial counseling and medical insurance education to uninsured or underinsured patients. Serving as an essential navigator within the patient advocacy framework, this professional reviews accounts, assesses financial vulnerabilities, and directly assists individuals in applying for state and internal support programs. This role bridges the gap between clinical care and financial security by securing appropriate healthcare coverage, managing complex account queues, and eliminating systemic barriers to care.
Responsibilities
- Financial Counseling & Patient Education: Provide clear benefit education and financial counseling regarding potential out-of-pocket expenses to patients during on-site clinic appointments and subsequent phone assessments.
- Insurance Coverage Enrollment: Guide uninsured and underinsured patients through the complete application process for the Pennsylvania Medical Assistance program and the Health Insurance Exchange Marketplace.
- Financial Assistance Program Management: Evaluate patient eligibility and assist with applications for internal corporate Financial Assistance programs, ensuring all legal, regulatory, and strict compliance parameters are achieved.
- Presumptive Eligibility Processing: Submit formal Medical Assistance Presumptive Eligibility applications within a mandatory, time-sensitive 5-day state window.
- Queue & Work List Monitoring: Actively monitor specialized financial work lists and system queues to ensure all files receive appropriate, timely administrative follow-up.
- Complex Dispute Resolution: Conduct deep-dive daily reviews and account analyses for flags requiring intervention, resolving complex outstanding patient issues or complaints.
- Front-Facing Walk-In Support: Address, research, and troubleshoot billing inquiries and issues from walk-in patients in close coordination with Patient Financial Services.
- Metrics & Quality Compliance: Maintain strict departmental productivity benchmarks and internal quality assurance standards to ensure fluid, network-wide revenue cycle flow.
- Core Values Representation: Deliver care, advice, and service in a manner that champions dignity, active listening, compliance integrity, and absolute professional accountability in every consumer interaction.
Minimum Essential Requirements
- Education & Experience Pathways:
- High School Diploma or GED equivalent combined with a minimum of four (4) years of progressive healthcare experience OR
- A completed Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration, Finance, Business, Social Work, or a related field.
- Patient Advocacy Background: Proven experience directly interacting with and supporting patients or clients within a complex healthcare network or clinical setting.
- Technical Program Familiarity: Prior knowledge or operational familiarity with Pennsylvania Medical Assistance guidelines and institutional financial aid structures is highly preferred.
- Required Certification: Must demonstrate the aptitude and ability to successfully complete and pass the formal Certified Application Counselor (CAC) training program within the first four (4) weeks of employment.
- Technical Skills: Strong personal computer skills and familiarity with practice management software, electronic health databases, or Microsoft Office suites.
- Interpersonal Excellence: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, outstanding customer service, and strong time-management capabilities to prioritize heavy, shifting caseloads. Must possess natural leadership attributes and a dependable, professional demeanor.
Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances
- Certified Application Counselor (CAC) training completion required within 30 days of hire.
Performance-Based Earning Potential
This position features an established compensation scale designed to reward medical insurance specialization, case management speed, and patient advocacy excellence. Through sustained performance, mastery of shifting state-wide health exchange rules, and positive annual reviews over time, employees have the structural opportunity to progress up to $32.01 per hour within the corporate pay scale.
Premier Benefits
- Exceptional Retirement Package: Secure your future with retirement savings accounts featuring competitive company matching structures (up to 8% total contribution framework).
- Comprehensive Healthcare: Direct access to top-tier health, dental, and vision networks with comprehensive medical coverage options for you and your family.
- Generous Paid Time Off: Enjoy an exceptional PTO accrual structure along with 7 paid holidays per calendar year to support your work-life harmony.
- Tuition Assistance: Maximize your career growth with up to $6,000 per academic year in tuition reimbursement, plus exclusive tuition discounts at over 30 partner colleges and universities.