State of Maryland

A Financial Agent Supervisor I is a supervisory level of work investigating and determining the ability of patients or their legally responsible relatives to pay for the care and treatment received from a Maryland Department of Health facility.  Employees in this classification oversee a small or medium region of reimbursement offices in various facilities and centers. Employees in this classification supervise lower-level Financial Agents.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from the Financial Agent Operations Chief or another higher-level administrator.  Employees may be required to conduct investigations at any location within the State.

Position allocation to the Financial Agent Supervisor series is determined on the basis of relative job evaluation among similarly functioning positions using a modified factor comparison method.  The factors are: (1) amount of money collected, (2) number of patients in the assigned region, (3) size of staff, and (4) number of program administrations served.

 The Financial Agent Supervisor I is differentiated from Financial Agent IV in that the Financial Agent Supervisor I has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Financial Agents and responsibility for the supervision of a small or medium region of field offices while the Financial Agent IV either supervises a field office or supervises a cost recovery operation for a specific, State-operated service.  The Financial Agent Supervisor I is differentiated from the Financial Agent Supervisor II in that the Financial Agent Supervisor II has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Financial Agents and responsibility for the supervision of a large region of field offices.

Develops, implements and revises procedures for the collection and reimbursement of funds due the State of Maryland from patients, their relatives, or guardians or from political subdivisions;

Develops, implements, and monitors standards of performance for all field personnel;

Evaluates agents in charge of facility reimbursement offices;

Advises staff on legislative amendments and departmental policies affecting the reimbursement program of the Maryland Department of Health;

Assists regional Financial Agents with the more difficult and technically involved reimbursement cases;

Reviews recommendations of Financial Agents when requested, regarding ability of patients, legally responsible relatives or estates to pay for support and maintenance;

Insures that the State’s claim is paid or filed before distribution or settlement of a deceased patients’ estate;

Conducts formal and informal hearings on rates and claims of hardship;

Prepares and submits budget requests and special and annual reports;

Interprets State laws, rules and regulations affecting the central reimbursement program of the Maryland Department of Health;

Prepares and updates the Reimbursement Policy and Procedure Manual and the training manual;

Recommends rules and regulations for the reimbursement program, subject to the approval of the Attorney General;

May serve on the Appeal Board reviewing final appeals from rate determinations affecting the liability of individuals for reimbursements;

May appear as a witness in Court on behalf of the State;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the procedures and operating practices of the Reimbursement program of the Maryland Department of Health;

Knowledge of rules, regulations and State laws governing the reimbursement program;

Knowledge of investigative methods and procedures for billing and collecting debts and judgments;

Knowledge of the benefits available to hospital patients from various sources, such as insurance companies, Department of Human Services, Federal Insurance Contribution Act, Veterans Administration, Civil Service annuities, pension plans for retirement and for disability, and federal programs involved with patients in State hospitals;

Knowledge of training, supervisory and administrative theory and practices;

Ability to direct, plan and coordinate a regional reimbursement program of the Maryland Department of Health;

Ability to explain and interpret State laws, rules and regulations relating to the reimbursement of funds for the care and maintenance of patients;

Ability to supervise and direct a staff of Financial Agents;

Ability to deal effectively with public and private officials and personal representatives of patients;

Ability to analyze and evaluate financial statements and investigation reports on individuals;

Ability to prepare and present clear and accurate reports;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with representatives of such agencies as the Office of the Attorney General, Department of Human Services, Social Security Administration and Veterans Administration.

Education:   A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Five years of experience in health care financing work or the life/health insurance fields in the investigation and/or adjustment of claims. One year of this experience must have involved the supervision of other workers performing health care financing work.

Note: Candidates may substitute additional experience, at the rate of one year for 30 credit hours, for up to 60 credit hours of the required education.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit as indicated by the designation of S (supervisor), M (manager), T (agency head), U (Board or Commission member), W (student), X (Used by agency or excluded by executive order),  or Z (confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and therefore, all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.