K

Kaiser Permanente

Integrated healthcare provider and payer platform

Patient Financial Advisor

Full-Time
No salary listed
Mid, Senior
Hillsboro, OR, USA
In Person
Medical, Clinical & VeterinaryClinical Support & Patient Administration

About the job

Requirements
  • Two years of work experience including twelve months of hospital, preauthorization, financial counseling, insurance company, or billing experience, or completion of a 12- to 18-month health vocational program.
  • Three years of experience dealing with the public in a customer service role.
  • A high school diploma or General Education Development (GED).
  • One year of post-high-school business or college coursework.
  • A Healthcare Access Associate Certificate from the National Association of Healthcare Access Management within six months of hire.
  • Basic Life Support certification at hire.
  • Medical Terminology Certification.
  • Hospital patient registration experience.
  • Basic knowledge and use of computers and computer keyboards.
  • Ability to pass a personal-computer skills assessment and keyboarding test requiring 6,000 keystrokes per hour.
  • Proficiency in medical terminology.
  • Ability to pass the Kaiser Permanente standardized test and fee-and-benefit test.
  • Ability to apply benefit circumstances to fee-schedule quotations to determine member or patient cost-share obligations.
  • Ability to make decisions and work independently under limited supervision while maintaining an in-depth understanding of job duties and operational changes.
  • Knowledge of admitting and registration processes and requirements.
  • Knowledge of the impact of Utilization Review, Discharge Planning, Admissions, and related departments on reimbursement.
  • Ability to understand and interpret benefit coverage information, including Kaiser Permanente plans, Medicaid, Medicare, commercial coverage, and other insurance plans.
  • Cash-handling experience.
  • Computer experience and training in Windows and Microsoft Word.
  • Ability to take initiative, accept responsibility, and work effectively amid constant change.
Responsibilities
  • Review patient information and meet with patients or family members to complete insurance and financial records, or refer them to designated vendors.
  • Validate insurance eligibility and benefits for emergency, outpatient, and inpatient encounters before, during, and after services, including monitoring eligibility and authorizations on active accounts.
  • Gather and analyze patient information concerning financial resources and circumstances.
  • Identify commercial, self-pay, and underinsured account coverage; request payments; negotiate payment plans; and initiate Medicaid or financial-assistance applications when needed.
  • Notify insurance carriers of intent to admit and initiate authorization for payment of the stay.
  • Advise and educate patients about financial care responsibilities related to current services.
  • Complete accurate patient admissions and registrations according to organizational policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
  • Identify and process referrals for patients at financial risk or requiring assistance with payment for current, pending, or prior medical services.
  • Interview patients regarding workers' compensation coverage, Coordination of Benefits, and third-party liability.
  • Determine patients' ability to pay from assessments of assets and liabilities and negotiate and approve payment arrangements according to policy.
  • Provide patient-liability information and collect copayments, deductibles, coinsurance, deposits, and outstanding prior balances.
  • Use medical terminology, diagnostic-related groupings, diagnosis codes, and procedure codes to determine benefits and estimate service costs.
  • Apply federal and state healthcare regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requirements, and The Joint Commission requirements.
  • Analyze patients' financial information and provide financial-screening advice about payment options and scheduling or location alternatives.
  • Help patients understand their benefits when a cost share is owed.
  • Complete Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regulatory forms with patients or representatives based on admission status, including IMM, MOON, and Code 44 forms.
  • Deliver bill summaries and explain ongoing financial obligations when an account changes from covered-payor to self-pay status.
  • Consult with Care Management personnel and physicians regarding admission status and insurance requirements.
  • Collaborate with Patient Financial Services, Health Information Management, and Clinical Information Systems regarding patient information, service outcomes, and account status.
  • Assist financial-assistance vendors or departments with required paperwork for payment from payors, workers' compensation, or third-party-liability sources, or assist patients directly when no vendor is designated.
  • Follow up with patients to resolve difficulties and complete required paperwork.
  • Research and resolve complex problem accounts at the time of service, including intensive follow-up before discharge when necessary.
  • Document patient-account activity in the Kaiser Permanente electronic medical record system, KP HealthConnect.
  • Review electronic reports for incomplete accounts and ensure required insurance-verification, reporting, and claims-submission data are complete to support clean billing.
  • Audit the accuracy and completeness of patient-account data collected at the time of service.
  • Maintain patient information and communications confidentially and treat patients with dignity.
  • Collect statistical data and prepare reports as needed.
  • Maintain records during system downtime and assist with recovery processes.
  • Perform duties assigned by department management and supervisor.
  • Collaborate with hospital, clinic, emergency department, and Member Services personnel to create a customer-friendly environment.
  • Accommodate work schedules and shift flexibility according to department needs.
  • Maintain working knowledge of fair-debt-collection laws and state and federal rules for billing Medicaid, Medicare, and CHAMPUS.
  • Perform other assigned duties.
Desired Qualifications
  • Three years as a Patient Access Representative II or Pre-Registration Representative, or equivalent experience, in a 24/7 hospital environment.
  • Two years of higher education.

About the company

Kaiser Permanente runs an integrated healthcare platform that lets members manage and pay medical, premium, and pharmacy bills online. It serves Medicare Advantage, Individual and Family, and non-employer plans, offering options to pay as a guest or set up payment plans. The platform works by presenting a centralized online portal where users can view bills, choose how to pay, and handle multiple types of charges in one place. Revenue comes from premiums and medical services fees, while the service aims to reduce administrative work for both providers and patients and encourage on-time payments. What sets Kaiser Permanente apart is its combination of healthcare services with a single billing experience across multiple plan types, focusing on a user-friendly, centralized payment process rather than handling billing through separate systems. Its goal is to provide a straightforward, reliable way for members to manage and pay their bills, improving convenience and payment timeliness.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$7.5M

Headquarters

Oakland, California

Founded

1945

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Kaiser opens Everett urgent care in 2027, extending access after its 2025 expansion.
  • West Los Angeles College launched an LVN program backed by Kaiser grants in 2023 and 2025.
  • Kaiser added five Everett primary care doctors in 2026, strengthening local member retention.

What critics are saying

  • On September 21, 2026, Kaiser filed 147 California layoffs, effective November 20.
  • Colorado union local sued on September 30, 2026 over admissions jobs moving to Georgia.
  • Northern California mental health clinicians still lack a new contract after 34 bargaining sessions.

What makes Kaiser Permanente unique

  • Kaiser Permanente combines insurance, hospitals, and physician groups inside one delivery system.
  • Its integrated model anchors billing, care coordination, and pharmacy payment across one member experience.
  • Massive California footprint and 180,000 workers give Kaiser unmatched local provider density.

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Benefits

Professional Development Budget

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

2%

1 year growth

3%

2 year growth

3%
DistilInfo
Oct 8th, 2026
Texas launches UnitedHealth Group investigation over denials.

Texas launches UnitedHealth Group investigation over denials. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened a UnitedHealth Group investigation into allegations that the company used deceptive and unlawful practices that denied Texans medically necessary care, according to his office's Oct. 5 announcement. The office said it has issued Civil Investigative Demands to the company. The probe adds state-level legal exposure for the country's largest health insurer at a time when it is replacing several senior executives. For providers, the inquiry centers on issues they deal with directly: coverage decisions, authorization practices and the role of insurers in care decisions. [TABLE OF CONTENTS] What the UnitedHealth Group investigation covers. Paxton's office said the demands seek evidence of potential violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and other state laws. The investigation follows reports about how the company administers health benefits and makes coverage decisions, according to the announcement. Among the allegations the office cited are reports that the company gave nursing homes financial incentives to avoid or delay transferring patients to hospitals. The office is also examining whether the company's practices could amount to the unlawful corporate practice of medicine, KLBJ-AM in Austin reported. "Alarming reports keep piling up about how United treats Texas consumers," Paxton said in a statement. Paxton is also a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. The allegations have not been proven, and the investigation does not establish that the company violated the law. UnitedHealth told Austin television station KXAN it did not have a response to share. Related Texas probe and pending litigation. The inquiry is the second Paxton has announced against a major insurer in recent weeks. His office earlier opened an investigation into Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and its parent, Health Care Service Corp., over procedures for denying and delaying urgent and medically necessary care and over prior authorization requirements, according to the attorney general's news releases. UnitedHealthcare also faces new private litigation. A proposed class action filed Sept. 30 in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut alleges the insurer's copay accumulator policy unlawfully stopped crediting drug manufacturer assistance toward a member's deductible and out-of-pocket limit, according to the complaint. Leadership changes at the insurer. The investigation arrives after a series of executive moves at the company in September, most of them announced by the executives on LinkedIn: * Bobby Hunter, previously CEO of government programs at UnitedHealthcare, became president of UnitedHealthcare, he said Sept. 28. * Dan Kueter, who led UnitedHealthcare's commercial business, became chief commercial officer of UnitedHealth Group. * Brandon Cuevas returned from Kaiser Permanente after three years to become CEO of UnitedHealthcare's commercial business, he said Sept. 22. * Jodee Kozlak was named the company's first chief administrative officer, effective Sept. 28, according to published reports. Hunter wrote that he will focus on accelerating the insurer's "modernization agenda" to make health care more connected and easier to navigate. Tim Noel remains CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the company told Reuters, according to Healthcare Brew. The appointments draw largely on company veterans. Hunter joined UnitedHealth Group in 2011 and held a series of Medicare roles before leading government programs, according to published reports. Cuevas spent 14 years at UnitedHealthcare before leaving for Kaiser Permanente, where he was executive vice president for its national health plan. Kueter wrote on LinkedIn that his new role involves working across UnitedHealthcare and Optum to coordinate product development and innovation. What comes next. Civil Investigative Demands are an evidence-gathering step, and the attorney general's office has not announced a lawsuit or a timeline. The company's response to the demands, and any findings from the parallel inquiry into Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, will indicate how far the state intends to take its review of insurer coverage practices. The outcome of the UnitedHealth Group investigation will fall to a leadership team that has been in place for only a few weeks.

PR Newswire
Sep 30th, 2026
Dr Taejoon Ahn named CEO of Washington Permanente Medical Group, overseeing 1,200 clinicians

Washington Permanente Medical Group has appointed Taejoon Ahn, MD, MPH, as its new CEO and executive medical director, effective 30 September. Dr Ahn will lead the multispeciality medical group, which comprises over 1,200 clinicians caring for more than 550,000 Kaiser Permanente members across Washington state. Dr Ahn brings over 15 years of physician executive experience. He most recently served for 12 years as president of John Muir Medical Group. He succeeds Dorian Reid, MD, who served in an interim capacity since September 2025. WPMG is the independent, physician-owned medical group that provides care exclusively for Kaiser Permanente members in Washington. Dr Ahn will partner with regional president Cynthia Dold to continue delivering integrated care across the state.

Yahoo Finance
Sep 29th, 2026
Kaiser cuts 147 admin jobs across California offices

Kaiser Permanente is laying off 147 business and administrative employees across California in November. The cuts affect 16 locations in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside and Alameda counties, with the largest reductions being 72 positions in San Diego and 20 in Pasadena. The Oakland-based non-profit said the layoffs do not include direct patient care staff and will not affect care quality. Kaiser stated it continually evaluates how it organises work to ensure high-quality care remains affordable and accessible. Affected employees will receive support to explore other opportunities within Kaiser, and where appropriate, severance packages and outplacement services. Kaiser employs approximately 180,000 people in California.

HR Trends
Sep 29th, 2026
Major players in the health, wellness and luxury spaces bring on new HR talent in September.

Major players in the health, wellness and luxury spaces bring on new HR talent in September. Healthcare and related industries remain a core driver for hiring this year, and company news releases show that extends to HR as well. Kaiser Permanente. Healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente named Shaun Smith executive vice president and chief people officer on Sept. 9, according to a news release. Smith will lead the organization's HR strategy and operations as well as lead a multiyear effort to strengthen its culture. He joins Kaiser Permanente from NewYork-Presbyterian, where he was a group senior vice president and chief people and culture officer. He will begin in the role on Oct. 12. Lyra Health. Mental healthcare benefits provider Lyra Health named Leslie Riggs CPO effective Sept. 14, the company announced Sept. 2. Riggs is especially well-suited to the role due to "her experience scaling global HR operations, her deep understanding of the connection between organizational performance and workforce wellbeing, and her commitment to our mission," Jennifer Schulz, CEO of Lyra Health, said in a news release. Riggs joined the company from Sketchers, where she led global HR. Halff. Leigh Hollis has been promoted to CPO, infrastructure consulting firm Halff announced Sept. 2. She will support the HR function in her new role while leading Halff's continued focus on project delivery and quality. She joined the firm at the Fort Worth, Texas, office in 2005 and most recently served as senior VP and an operational leader for Halff's Dallas, Frisco and Richardson offices in Texas. Ascensus. Financial services company Ascensus brought Edward Greene on board as chief human resources officer effective Sept. 14, the company announced. He will serve on the executive leadership team and lead the company's human capital strategy, talent development, organizational effectiveness and culture initiatives, Ascensus said. He previously held roles as advisor to the CEO and CHRO at Iron Mountain. He has also held past roles at Surfside Capital Advisors, Voya Financial and Fidelity Investments. Pride Industries. Pride Industries - a nonprofit organization that partners with businesses to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities - has appointed Kim Mayes senior VP and CPO, the organization announced Sept. 16. She joins from Intel Corp., where she was most recently VP of HR. Mayes brings "a deep commitment to building engaged workplaces," Craig Levra, CEO of Pride, said in a news release. She will focus on driving growth, employee engagement and organizational performance. Exemplar Luxury Group. Gretchen Koback Pursel is CPO for Exemplar Luxury Group - a luxury collective that includes the brands Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman - effective Monday, according to a news release from the group. She brings a background in the luxury retail, beauty and wellness industries, previously holding CPO roles at Tiffany & Co., The Wella Co. and, most recently, Equinox. Koback Pursel will develop and lead a people strategy that "fosters a culture of performance," according to Exemplar.

KRON4
Sep 28th, 2026
Kaiser layoffs to impact nearly 150 workers across California.

Kaiser layoffs to impact nearly 150 workers across California. Posted: Sep 28, 2026 / 02:49 PM PDT Updated: Sep 28, 2026 / 04:26 PM PDT (KRON) - Kaiser has announced plans to cut nearly 150 jobs across the state of California. The layoffs, according to a filing with the Employment Development Department, will result in 147 people losing their jobs. Among those layoffs are 34 Bay Area job cuts. The healthcare giant will be cutting 11 jobs at its headquarters in Oakland and another job at a separate facility in Oakland on Harrison Street. In Pleasanton, Kaiser plans to cut 22 jobs. The majority of the layoffs are spread across the rest of the state with employees in Pasadena, Irvine, Corona, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Folsom and San Diego all set to lose their jobs. The job cuts, which were announced late last week take effect on Nov. 20, according to state filings. All of the layoffs are described as permanent. "Kaiser Permanente continually evaluates how we organize our work and deploy resources to help ensure high-quality care remains affordable and accessible for our members and patients," a company spokesperson told KRON4. "We recently notified 147 employees in a number of business and administrative functions that their positions will be eliminated. These positions do not provide direct patient care." Kaiser said it would be supporting affected employees as they pursued other opportunities within the company and where appropriate, providing severance, career support and outplacement services.