Financial Counselor

• Salary Range: $24 - $28.80 per hour based on relevant years of experience
• Location: Larimer County, CO 
• Status: Full-time, 40/hrs. week

The salary range for this position is SummitStone’s good faith belief and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation for this position at the time of the posting. SummitStone may ultimately offer more or less than the posted range. The compensation offered to the successful applicant may vary based on factors including the applicant’s education, training, skills, experiences, and other job-related information and how relevant those are to SummitStone’s needs, aspirations, organizational priorities, and the evolving needs and delivery of services to the community that it serves. 

Role Overview: 

Responsible for providing financial assistance and financial clearance support for clients receiving behavioral health services who are uninsured or underinsured, ensuring timely access to care. The Financial Counselor conducts comprehensive financial and benefits screenings, collects and reviews required documentation and determines eligibility for available payer sources and financial assistance programs, including Medicaid, the Discounted Fee Scale/charity care, and other applicable programs or grant funding. This role collaborates closely with inpatient and outpatient teams to verify coverage prior to service delivery, identify barriers to care, and support re-verification and renewal activities to prevent interruptions in coverage. The Financial Counselor provides individualized education and advocacy to help clients understand expected costs, billing processes, and their rights and responsibilities, while maintaining accurate, confidential documentation and required reporting. This position is trained and maintains competency as a Certified Application Assistant to directly support clients navigating the Medicaid application process and related state requirements. 

Essential duties:

• Conduct financial screenings for uninsured or underinsured clients, including gathering, reviewing, and validating required documentation.
• Determine eligibility and identify appropriate coverage and assistance options (e.g., Medicaid, Discounted Fee Scale/charity care, other applicable programs, and grant funding) to support timely access to behavioral health services. 
• For inpatient services, meet with uninsured or underinsured clients after admission to verify coverage, assess Medicaid application appropriateness, and identify available funding options.
• For outpatient services, complete financial clearance activities prior to service delivery by confirming coverage status, program requirements, and covered services; identify limitations or barriers that may delay access to care. 
• Coordinate next steps with Clinical, Medical, Operations, and administrative teams by communicating coverage determinations, benefit limitations, and required follow-up in a manner that supports care coordination.
• Meet with clients via appointment (in person, on a unit or by phone) at point of entry to services and when circumstances change to complete re-verification, renewal, and ongoing eligibility activities to prevent interruptions in coverage. 
• Educate and advocate for clients regarding expected costs, billing processes, and rights and responsibilities, ensuring understanding of any client liabilities associated with services
• As a Certified Application Assistant, provide direct support to clients navigating the Medicaid application process and related state requirements; maintain required certification/competency.
• Maintain accurate, confidential documentation in the client record, including applications, verification documents, determinations (acceptance/denial), and all actions taken; create detailed notes to support continuity and compliance.
• Contribute to required data gathering, tracking, and reporting for financial assistance and departmental reporting needs
• Support staff understanding of applicable billing and financial assistance workflows through guidance and education to administrative support staff and clinicians.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

• Detail oriented, with high-level problem solving, analytical, and investigational skills 
• Ability to work well independently, as well as in a team setting.  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Problem-solving and organizational skills 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and Power Point)
• Knowledge of CPT and ICD-10 codes, medical terminologies, billing software, and electronic medical records
• Understanding of industry-specific policies, such as HIPAA regulations for health care

Minimum Qualifications: 

• High school diploma or completion of G.E.D required 
• More than two years of experience in healthcare billing practices or healthcare/medical insurance environment required 

Preferred:  

• Associate’s degree or two-year college certificate in business administration, medical billing or related field preferredExperience working with Colorado Medicaid will be an advantage.
• Mental health experience preferred 
• Bilingual/bi-cultural preferred. 

SummitStone will take into consideration a combination of an applicant’s education, training, skills, experiences, and other job-related information and how relevant those are to SummitStone’s needs, aspirations, organizational priorities, and the evolving needs and delivery of services to the community that it serves. The position posting describes the minimum and preferred qualifications for position and, beyond those, the candidate is responsible for making a compelling case in support of their application.At SummitStone Health Partners, we strive to foster trust, empower recovery, and inspire hope to strengthen and enrich our Northern Colorado community. 

At SummitStone Health Partners, we strive to foster trust, empower recovery, and inspire hope to strengthen and enrich our Northern Colorado community. 

We need your help to make this vision a reality.  

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can be their authentic self. We actively seek team members with a variety of backgrounds, identities, and experiences, and we honor the whole self—embracing differences in race, ethnicity, ability, age, gender, sexual orientation, spiritual beliefs, socioeconomic status, language, and the many intersections of identity. We invite everyone to be part of our journey and proudly serve as an equal opportunity employer.

Please visit summitstone.org for more information about who we are. 

Total Rewards

At SummitStone Health Partners, we are proud to offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support the well-being of our team members. Eligibility and pro-rated benefit levels are based on FTE (full-time equivalent) status.

Below are some of the benefits we offer:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage — including options for eligible dependents
• Mental health and wellness resources
• Short-term and long-term disability insurances
• Paid time off (PTO): Accrued vacation and personal leave based on FTE status and length of service
• Paid Sick Leave: Provided in accordance with the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA)
• A range of voluntary benefits available to all employees
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching contributions

Reach Out

SummitStone will provide persons with disabilities with reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or selection process, please let your recruiter know.

Questions?  Please email us at hiring@summitstonehealth.org. 

 This position will be open for a minimum of three days and/or until a top candidate is identified.