HAPPI Chat: Meet Michelle Campbell, Helping Patients Navigate the Financial Side of Healthcare
- csoronen
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
At HAPPI Health, caring for patients goes beyond what happens in the exam room. For Michelle Campbell, a member of HAPPI Health’s Revenue Cycle Team, that means helping patients better understand their insurance, medical bills and options for making healthcare more affordable.
Michelle graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in business management before beginning a career in healthcare. While she knew the clinical side of medicine wasn’t the path for her, she still wanted a career that allowed her to help people.
She found that opportunity on the administrative side of healthcare.
“I really wanted to help people—not necessarily on the clinical side, but by helping them understand their insurance and their coverage,” Michelle said.
More Than 20 Years of Healthcare Experience
Michelle spent approximately 20 years as an office manager before moving into the IT department at Huntsville Hospital. Eventually, she decided she wanted to shift her focus toward billing and working more directly with patients.
That experience ultimately led her to HAPPI Health, where she found an organization whose mission aligned with what matters most to her: helping people access the care they need.
One of the things Michelle appreciates most about HAPPI is that patients can seek care regardless of whether they have insurance.
For many people, fear of the cost of healthcare can become a reason to delay or avoid seeking care altogether. A patient may know that a particular condition runs in their family or recognize that something isn't right but hesitate to schedule an appointment because they're worried about the bill.
Michelle wants patients to know they don't have to navigate those concerns alone.
Helping Patients Understand Their Insurance and Bills
Insurance can be confusing. Deductibles, denials, claims and patient balances can leave people unsure of what they owe or why they owe it.
That's where HAPPI Health's Revenue Cycle Team can help.
“We're available by telephone, email—any way you can get in contact with us,” Michelle said. “If patients have a problem with their insurance or their bill, we help them understand.”
The team works with insurance companies, processes claims and follows up when claims are denied. If an insurance company requests additional information, the Revenue Cycle Team can help patients understand what is needed and guide them through the next steps.
For Michelle, having that personal connection with patients is especially important.
“Being local, I like that we can speak directly to the patients and help them,” she said.
Making Healthcare More Affordable Through HHPAP
HAPPI Health also recognizes that having health insurance doesn't necessarily mean healthcare is affordable.
Patients with high deductibles or significant out-of-pocket expenses may still struggle with the cost of care. That's one reason HAPPI offers the HAPPI Health Payment Assistance Program (HHPAP).
Through HHPAP, eligible patients may be able to receive assistance that reduces the amount they are responsible for paying for their care.
“If the patient has a balance, we can ask them if they would like to fill out our HHPAP application and see if they qualify to reduce their rate,” Michelle explained. “Even if they have insurance and a high deductible, if they qualify for our program, we can see about getting that cost down.”
More information about HHPAP is coming soon. HAPPI Health will be sharing additional details about how the program works, eligibility and how patients can apply.
Care for Our Community
At the heart of Michelle's work is a simple belief: finances shouldn't prevent someone from seeking healthcare.
Whether a patient is insured, uninsured or struggling with a high deductible, Michelle and the Revenue Cycle Team want patients to know there are people at HAPPI who are willing to listen, answer questions and help them understand their options.
“We service no matter who you are, what background you come from, what disease you have or what problem you have,” Michelle said. “We're going to see you no matter what.”
That's what being HAPPI is all about—making quality healthcare accessible and helping our patients every step of the way.
Stay tuned for more HAPPI Chats as we introduce you to the people who make HAPPI Health special!
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