Patient Advocate

New England Cancer Specialists (NECS) is seeking a full-time Monday-Friday 40 hr/week Patient Financial Advocate to join our clinic team in Topsham, ME. NECS’s The Patient Advocate is responsible for promptly meeting patients, identifying care problems, and assisting patients with obtaining resources for care at New England Cancer Specialists (NECS). Assist with understanding their insurance coverage and navigating insurance coverage issues, provide clear and accurate financial information/options, and create payment arrangements related to care. Estimate the cost of complex therapies and provide counseling to patients and their families regarding covered services and various other financial needs. Serve as support of registration and general insurance verification coverage functions.

NECS is a private medical practice composed of 18 oncologists and hematologists serving the region from 4 different locations in Maine and New Hampshire. Our mission is to make life better for people with cancer and blood disorders. Kindness, compassion, and respect are part of everything that we do - from our phone operators to our physicians, every person on our team is important, and everyone makes a difference. We are proud to be an adult oncology member of the Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative, striving to provide the highest quality care and unmatched, holistic support for every patient, every day.

Job Duties:

• Reviews all insurance and financial information for assigned patients.
• Estimate patient’s out-of-pocket responsibility and communicate to all assigned patients per NECS guidelines.
• Complete applications for drug replacement programs and process renewals as needed.
• Track and balance free drug received monthly.
• Screen patients for food insecurity and provide aid if eligible as well as track assistance.
• Acts as a liaison between the patient or a family member and various general assistance representatives to complete required paperwork for assistance approval.
• Work with nurses and physicians to estimate the cost of patient care plans and communicate to patients and families. Determine the patients' ability to pay.
• Research assistance programs and assists patients and family members with the completion of all paperwork required to obtain assistance.
• Establish payment plans and coordinate with the billing office.
• Collaborate with billing office on outstanding patient balances, working the monthly patient balance report, and performing collection activities.
• Assist the billing office in the claims appeal process when necessary.
• Ensure and maintain confidentiality, privacy, and compliance of patients’ rights per HIPPA regulations and practice policies.
• Adhere to all Company policies and procedures
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Travel: This position is a hybrid remote/onsite position in Topsham, ME. Infrequent travel to other clinic locations may be needed for coverage and meeting purposes.

• High School Diploma or equivalent, Associates or Bachelors degree preferred.
• Knowledge of medical terminology required; oncology experience desired.
• Minimum of 2years of financial experience in a healthcare setting.
• Able to demonstrate full knowledge of insurance financial terms (i.e. copay, co-insurance, stop loss, etc.)
• Able to interpret patients’ insurance benefits and estimate patients’ out-of-pocket responsibilities.
• Must be comfortable discussing with patients his/her out-of-pocket expenses and asking for full payment or deposit.
• Strong problem-solving skills including the ability to think creatively.
• Robust organizational skills and be able to manage multiple tasks at the same time
• Ability to operate with a sense of urgency to meet deadlines to ensure patient treatment
• Ability to remain calm during high-pressure, high-emotional situations
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently as well as part of a team, with strong customer service and communication skills, both written and verbal

New England Cancer Specialists offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package to our employees. Our benefits include medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurances. Company-paid Life Insurance, Short Term, and Long-Term disability insurances. Other benefits include a retirement program, voluntary benefits, and a generous Paid Time Off in addition to 10 Company-paid holidays. NECS will pay for national certification and society memberships.