Cheri McCormick
Evergreen Park,IL
Summary
Professional advocate with a strong background in patient financial services and collections. Skilled in providing clients with coverage programs, charity care and assist them in planning and managing their financial responsibility. Reputation for fostering collaboration and driving results within dynamic teams. Adaptable to changing needs and consistently reliable in achieving objectives, with focus on compliance and customer service excellence.
Seeking an opportunity to expand, learn and grow within a thriving organization and contribute to the company's success.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Patient Financial Advocate
SRCO Revenue Cycle Financial Assistance
06.2019 - Current
- Calculates and provides patients with personalized estimates of their financial responsibility based on their insurance coverage prior to service.
- Communicates patient liability clearly and accurately while adequately explaining concepts such as deductibles, coinsurance, and/or copayments and how they may affect the cost of care. Explains how non-covered and out-of-network services factor into the out-of-pocket cost.
- Requests upfront payment toward self-pay amounts,including estimated out-of-pocket costs and outstanding previous balances. Establishes payment arrangements in advance of scheduled services when applicable, communicating due dates and the amount of each installment.
- Interviews uninsured patients to assess for qualifying financial needs. Identifies available assistance programs and coordinates with patient to complete paperwork and applications for any potential coverage(s). Continues follow-up efforts to obtain a funding source for patient's health services.
- Initiates credit scoring to determine each patient's eligibility for Medicaid, hospital-sponsored charity care, and other programs through a comprehensive patient interview.
- Works in conjunction with state social worker and/or outside eligibility vendor to assist in the appropriate completion of Medicaid applications, ensuring this funding source is maximized based on patients' eligibility.
- Demonstrates working knowledge of insurance benefits, insurance companies, and Marketplace insurance options, and stays informed of other payer sources entering the markets.
- Educates physician office/patient on the organization's applicable policies such as Financial Assistance Policy, Patient Financial Responsibility, Non-Covered Services and Deferral of Care. Coordinates with provider office to determine scheduling options based on the need to secure funding and clarify patient's financial responsibility.
- Stays current on regulations and eligibility requirements for government funding, especially Medicare and Medicaid. Understands and complies with all internal charity care policies and processes. Understands, complies with, and can articulate federal regulations around 501R. Performs in a HIPAA-compliant manner with all pertinent patient interviews, including management of demographic data, topics discussed,and actions taken.
- Collaborates with peers in the operational flow for uninsured patients or patients that are concerned about costs for upcoming services. Serves consumers in various settings, including virtual,bedside, Emergency Department room, clinic exam room, Urgent Care, consult space, or a Financial Resource Specialist office.
- Contributed to the continuous improvement of departmental processes by identifying areas for enhancement and implementing appropriate changes that positively impacted patient experiences and hospital revenue.
- Developed tailored payment plans for individuals facing financial hardships.
Patient Access Representative
Advocate Christ Medical Center
12.1997 - 06.2019
- Responsible for performing all job duties in a way that conforms to Advocates customer service philosophy and consistent with their "AIDET" standards.
- When creating new registrations for walk-in patients, responsible for the identifying insurance coverage, the benefits available, patient out-of-pocket expenses, and collecting co-insurance and co-payment
- Responsible for security authorization and precertification of inpatient and outpatient services
- Responsible the pre-registration and registration accuracy.
- Participates in departmental team building activities and in services and other miscellaneous duties as assigned by leader.
- Managed challenging situations effectively by remaining calm under pressure while resolving conflicts or addressing dissatisfied patients professionally.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Medical Insurance Coding
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Park, ILHigh School Diploma -
Riley High School
South Bend, IN05.1985
Skills
- Financial Counseling
- Patient Registration
- Medical Collection
- Medical Billing knowledge
- Insurance Verification
Affiliations
Member, Unit Council, Patient Satisfaction Committee,Associate Satisfaction Committee & Holiday Committee(1997-present)Member, Task Force Committee (2016-present)Member, Patient Engagement Committee (2016-present)
Certification
- Certified Marketplace Application Counselor, Advocate Aurora Health - 10/10/2023-11/1/2024
Tools
Epic, Genesys Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Outlook, On Base, Microsoft Teams, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Word & Excel, ID Tech, One Source, Availity and Citrix Gateway.
Timeline
Patient Financial Advocate
SRCO Revenue Cycle Financial Assistance
06.2019 - Current
Patient Access Representative
Advocate Christ Medical Center
12.1997 - 06.2019
Some College (No Degree) - Medical Insurance Coding
Moraine Valley Community College
High School Diploma -
Riley High School
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