Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Current Knowledge of Regulations

·         To understand the laws, regulations and guidelines regarding Overseas Visitors, keeping up to date with all changes from the DHSC. Abide by and apply Trust Overseas Visitors’ Policy.

·         To act as a point of contact for Trust staff members and advise them on the application of the DHSC guidelines regarding Overseas Visitors.

·         To act with a considerable degree of autonomy in applying the DHSC guidelines and Trust Policy and applying them accurately to Trust Overseas Visitors.

·         To ensure that the Overseas Visitors Office has a high profile throughout the Trust, to support accurate patient identification and billing.

·         To assist with the development and updating of procedures, documents and hand-outs for staff to follow in the identification of Overseas Visitors. 

Patient Identification Processes

·         To run checks daily on hospital computer systems and hospital departments to identify potential overseas visitors, including monitoring outpatient referral letters for potential overseas visitors.

·         To review GP referral letters for outpatient appointments, sending patient letters to check on their status and checking referrals to A&E from any outpatient clinic.

·         To ensure that patients who are not “ordinarily resident” in the UK are identified in accordance with the DHSC Overseas Visitors Regulations.

·         To interview patients and determine if patients who are not “ordinarily resident” are exempt or liable to charges for their treatment

·         To review documents and visa status liaising with external agencies (eg: Home Office) regarding the status of patients, as necessary.

·         To keep precise and meticulous records of interviews and documents obtained to confirm status.

·         To maintain comprehensive computerised and manual records of transactions processed including all relevant correspondence and patient data.

Finance

·         Following interview and determination of eligibility, to provide appropriate advice to patients and relatives regarding their status and costs of treatment.

·         To liaise with Insurance Companies concerning patient details, obtaining a letter of guarantee and providing medical reports as required.

·         To raise estimated costs of treatment and invoices in conjunction with clinical team input and clinical coding advice and deliver to patients and/or their relatives.

·         Secure deposits/payments for treatment before Overseas Visitors are discharged

·         To ensure that the necessary detailed information is obtained for accurate billing. To ensure that bills are raised in a timely fashion and that due income is collected as rapidly as possible.

·         To regularly handle and process cash, cheques and money transfers in line with the Trust’s policies and procedures.

·         To support the Accounts Receivable Team to ensure overseas debt is recovered in a timely manner, providing advice on case history when required and arranging and attending meetings to resolve outstanding debts.

Key working relationships

·         Overseas Visitors Manager

·         Overseas Visitors Officers

·         Trust Clinical Teams & Front Line Staff

·         Trust Corporate Teams – eg. Finance, Accounts, Clinical Coding, Medical Records, Private Patients, etc.

·         External Agencies – eg. Home Office, DHSC, NHSBA, Insurance Companies, etc.