JOB SUMMARY

The VP, AR Operations serves as the AR leader for a specific client. This role is accountable for the client’s overall performance against SLAs and continued performance improvement against critical operational metrics while ensuring compliance to the allocated budget.
Responsibilities include serving as the liaison between AR operations, the Conifer Client Executive team, and the client executive team, providing strategic leadership to the national and regional client service leaders, ensuring SLAs and performance expectations are met and ensuring key projects and initiatives are on track. The VP, AR Operations has relationships with National, Regional/Market or Independent client leadership, Conifer Client Executives and other Operations Partners. This role serves as one of the primary contacts for Conifer Client Executives assisting with presenting client performance opportunities and action plans to improve performance deficiencies across relevant sub-functional areas.
This is a key leadership role, with high visibility and impact on the client, internal stakeholders and the overall operational performance of the organization. This executive-level influencer role is key to ensuring that Conifer Health Solutions achieves operational excellence evidenced by employee engagement markers, client service level agreements and industry key performance indicators.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Requires an understanding of systems and processes that impact revenue cycle performance and capabilities.
• Able to build trusting relationships with Client Executives at all levels.
• Possesses analytical ability sufficient to work in a data-heavy environment and to identify trends in the data.
• Possess business acumen with an emphasis on: effective communication (i.e., listening, written and verbal), negotiation, influencing decision makers, business planning, strategy, problem solving, decision making and time management skills.
• Understanding of the market, trends, competition, and key pain points for hospital executives.
• Intermediate MS Office required (Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).
• Ability to act effectively in consultant role, with an ability to manage a team of consultants
• Advanced knowledge of Revenue Cycle especially AR Management Revenue Cycle procedures, practices, and ability to provide value added subject matter expertise
• Advanced knowledge of hospital financial accounting processes and systems
• Ability to act as communication liaison and develop multiple consecutive projects between varying constituents
• Strong presentation and communication skills, with the ability to communicate to a wide range of audiences from senior executives to front-line employees
• Knowledge of AR management technology tools being utilized to deliver on key performance metrics and improve cost/EBITA (claims clearinghouses, advanced AR management workflow tools, advanced call center technology, disputed claims management)
• Extensive knowledge of revenue cycle metrics and drivers, particularly in billing and collections (AR days, cash goals, aging, compliance metrics)
• Knowledge of healthcare regulatory rules and how they apply to revenue cycle operations and outsourcing service providers.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

Include minimum education, technical training, and/or experience preferred to perform the job.

• Demonstrated experience of the entire acute care hospital revenue cycle processes is required;
• Successful executive level experience leading in matrixed environment;
• Understanding of the market, trends, competition, and key pain points for hospital executives;
• Proven success in project management roles to include developing and implementing business initiatives, change management, and bringing together disparate team members to successfully deliver client solutions;
• 4 year college degree in business administration, finance or health administration or equivalent experience
• 8 – 10 years experience and excellent working knowledge of patient financial service operations with specific focus on Inpatient and Outpatient Managed Care and Commercial payers

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Include the following. Others may be assigned.

• Develops strategy, objectives, goals, and performance metrics for AR Operations business units (Billing, AR Follow-up, Technical Denials, Payor Escalations, etc.) and ensures budget compliance for specific client. Partners with other operations leaders to align goals and ensure a connected revenue cycle exists from front-to-back
• Leads and manages the following sub-functions – Billing, AR Follow-up, Technical Denials, Customer Support, Cash Posting / Credit Balance, Payor Escalations, Terms & Conditions / Zero Balance, Strategy & Client Performance – to ensure client’s strategic objectives, performance metrics (PSLs, SLAs and OSLs)
• Develops strategy, objectives, goals, and performance metrics for AR Operations business units (Billing, AR Follow-up, Technical Denials, Payor Escalations, etc.) and ensures budget compliance for specific client. Partners with other operations leaders to align goals and ensure a connected revenue cycle exists from front-to-back
• Strategizes with leadership and Conifer Client Executives to proactively assist in improved performance and problem avoidance, including the deployment of necessary Conifer resources and comprehensive updates to Conifer leadership on service delivery risks
• Works collaboratively with Conifer Client Executives to provide value to customers (both internal and external) through business/industry insight and innovation
• Responsible for success of auditing processes (including interfacing directly primary contract owners and cleint’s internal auditing firm to review and validate SOX controls)
• Ensures seamless delivery of Conifer’s solutions and services; monitors and ensures projects meet process metrics and client satisfaction; oversees success of performance degradation issues resolution
• Oversees client deliverables in partnership with both internal and external business relationships. Consults with appropriate key stakeholders when critical/enterprise arise, develops and communicates action plans and provides ongoing updates to executive/C-suite; interacts with C-suite for large health system (NPSR between $5-$15 billion)
• Oversees fully resourced team responsible for performance improvement initiatives for specific low performing/complex markets (e.g., Detroit)
• Oversees management of new Change Control Notices for specified clients.
• Works to identify new technology, tools and key initiatives in AR Management that will reduce cost or improve yield across the revenue cycle

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

If direct report positions are listed below, the following responsibilities will be performed in accordance with guidelines, policies and procedures and applicable laws. Supervisory responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

• Direct Reports (titles) Sr. Director (7-8)
• Indirect Reports (titles) TBD

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Requires an understanding of systems and processes that impact revenue cycle performance and capabilities.
• Able to build trusting relationships with Client Executives at all levels.
• Possesses analytical ability sufficient to work in a data-heavy environment and to identify trends in the data.
• Possess business acumen with an emphasis on: effective communication (i.e., listening, written and verbal), negotiation, influencing decision makers, business planning, strategy, problem solving, decision making and time management skills.
• Understanding of the market, trends, competition, and key pain points for hospital executives.
• Intermediate MS Office required (Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).
• Ability to act effectively in consultant role, with an ability to manage a team of consultants
• Advanced knowledge of Revenue Cycle especially AR Management Revenue Cycle procedures, practices, and ability to provide value added subject matter expertise
• Advanced knowledge of hospital financial accounting processes and systems
• Ability to act as communication liaison and develop multiple consecutive projects between varying constituents
• Strong presentation and communication skills, with the ability to communicate to a wide range of audiences from senior executives to front-line employees
• Knowledge of AR management technology tools being utilized to deliver on key performance metrics and improve cost/EBITA (claims clearinghouses, advanced AR management workflow tools, advanced call center technology, disputed claims management)
• Extensive knowledge of revenue cycle metrics and drivers, particularly in billing and collections (AR days, cash goals, aging, compliance metrics)
• Knowledge of healthcare regulatory rules and how they apply to revenue cycle operations and outsourcing service providers

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to work in sitting position, use computer and answer telephone
• Ability to travel
• Includes ability to walk through hospital-based departments across broad campus settings, including Emergency Department environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Office Work Environment
• Hospital Work Environmen