Medical Biller Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a medical biller. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a medical biller.
Who Is a Medical Biller?
A medical biller is responsible for calculating and collecting payments for medical services. His responsibilities include managing, regulating, and updating patient information, generating invoices, and monitoring and recording payments.
Fundamentally, a medical biller is responsible for the timely filing of technical and medical claims with insurance companies. The position can be located in a doctor’s office, hospital, nursing home, or any other health facility.
If you are a person that is interested in medical billing as a profession, we have enumerated the common items in the job description for the position below. If you are updating or writing a job description for the position, you can use the following elements and modify them according to your installation. If you are also interested in the salary expectations of a doctor’s bill, don’t worry, we will explain everything in detail in this article.
Medical Biller Job Description
Below are the medical biller job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a job description for your employee. Employers can use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The primary responsibilities of a medical biller include:
- File medical services with insurance providers
- Issue bills to patients, and track all payments
- Prepare and transmit invoices using billing software
- Check invoices for correctness and completeness and obtain missing information
- Verify eligibility for treatment with insurance companies
- Follow up on unpaid invoices
- Research and appeal of rejected invoice claims
- Process postal and telephone inquiries from patients
- Manage patients and billing information
- Carry out the accounting expenses and the termination of claims to payers on time
- Convert doses to billable units
- Send billing information to insurance providers
- Work out claims and claims denial to ensure maximum reimbursement for services rendered
- Conduct Medicare / Medi-Cal reviews and audits
- Implement, maintain and report on the programs initiated by the practice
Qualifications
The amount of education and experience an employer requires will vary depending on the complexity of the job and the need. While minimal work experience is often preferred, if you’ve received the proper training to fulfill all potential assignments, don’t let a lack of experience keep you from applying.
The basic requirements that are typically listed include:
- A high school diploma or GED
- Knowledge of business and accounting processes that are typically gained from an associate degree, with a degree in Business Administration, Accounting, or Health Care Administration preferred.
- Minimum years of experience should be between one to three years in the medical field
- Associate Degree required (Bachelor of Business or related field is valued)
- Competence with electronic medical records (EMR)
Essential Skills
A potential employer will want to see the medical biller demonstrate knowledge, skills, and abilities in various areas. He/she will likely be asked about these in an interview, and the prospective employer will ask him/her the skills that they have used in previous jobs as a medical biller.
Competition is preferred in the following areas:
- Knowledge of insurance guidelines, including HMO / PPO, Medicare, Medicaid, and other requirements and systems for the payer.
- Proficient use of computer systems, software, and 10 key calculators.
- Familiarity with CPT and ICD-10 coding.
- Effective communication skills for telephone contacts with insurance payers to resolve problems.
- Ability to work well in a team environment. Being able to rank priorities, delegate tasks if necessary, and handle conflicts reasonably.
- Must possess problem-solving skills to be able to investigate and resolve discrepancies, denials, appeals, collections.
- A calm and patient way of working with patients or insurers during this process.
- Knowledge of accounting and bookkeeping procedures.
- Multitasking ability.
How to Become a Medical Biller
A career as a medical billing specialist is ideal for anyone with a strong interest in the health sector who does not wish to work directly with patients. To become a medical billing specialist, it is best to enter an accredited program and earn an associate’s degree in medical billing. Although the degree is not required, a medical billing specialist must have extensive knowledge of all medical procedures to properly code billing documents sent to insurance companies. Some billing specialists learn on the job, but an educational institution background gives the worker an understanding of the functions of the entire medical profession and not just the billing office.
Educational programs for those wishing to become a medical biller include courses in anatomy, physiology, statistics, medical data coding, computer science, and medical law, along with general education. For a better chance of getting admission to this type of program, it’s a good idea to take science, health, and math classes in high school. Most medical offices look for employees with previous experience in a medical setting, so getting a part-time job in a medical office or hospital while looking to do a good job right after graduating from school is a must.
Certification is offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), but they are required to complete a two-year degree at a school accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Information and Information Management Education is required, and the qualifying mark in the AHIMA test. Those who are trained on the job or at an unaccredited school to become medical billing specialists are not allowed to take the test to obtain the RHIT credential.
Once general training is completed and experience is gained, medical billing specialists also have the option of specialization. The demand for billing specialists in cancer has led to the certification programs overseen by the National Cancer Registrar’s Association (NCRA). These specialized certificate programs are usually two years long, but the payoff is higher for those with specializations.
Another great opportunity and one of the reasons some want to become a medical billing specialist is the chance to virtually work from home. Most of the work is done via computers, and since billing specialists do not deal directly with patients, many tasks can be completed outside the office.
Where to Work as a Medical Biller
The healthcare industry is constantly evolving and changing, and one of the lesser-known occupations is medical billing. This profession didn’t even exist a few decades ago, but it is now one of the important professions in the healthcare industry whose importance cannot be overemphasized. The opportunities are constantly increasing.
According to Business Wire, the global medical billing market size should reach USD 25.3 billion by 2028. Knowing this is good, but you may have more questions, such as, “Where do medical billers work?”
Although hospitals and clinics may be your first hypothesis, the working environment of medical billers and other health information professionals may be broader than you think. Let’s explore some options.
The list underneath isn’t thorough but it does provide different examples of places that a medical biller might work.
- Insurance companies
- Healthcare management firms
- Healthcare billing services
- Medical laboratories
- Medical Offices
- Health insurance and compensation schemes
- Nursing homes
- Dental Laboratories and Offices
- Rehab clinics
Apart from this, a medical biller also can work from home. Medical billers who have experience in the healthcare industry have a better chance of landing this role.
Having a strong network with people in the medical field can create opportunities. This is also the case for medical coders who completed medical coding courses, as the school often connects its graduates with doctors and other medical professionals for employment opportunities.
Here are 14 companies that offer opportunities for medical billers to work from home
- R1
This is an income cycle service provider and medical advisory services based in Chicago, Illinois. This company has openings for medical billing and coding jobs regularly. Go to the job board and filter the “location” section by clicking “remote”.
Jobs come with all benefits, matching 401k, with paid and vacation days off.
- CHANGE HEALTHCARE
Formerly known as Altegra Health, this healthcare IT company is involved in the development of medical software, analytics, and other technology services.
The medical billers hired here often specialize in a certain field, such as radiology.
- AVIACODE
This company provides medical auditing and billing services to medical professionals such as dentists, physicians, and hospitals.
It has a comprehensive application process, but Aviacode always has both part-time and full-time openings.
- M * MODAL
With over 40 years of transcription and encoding services, M * Modal is a company that has 10,000 encoders in five countries. Joining as a medical biller or coder means you get a competitive salary, 7 annual paid leave, 3 weeks of paid time off, and career growth opportunities.
- IMAGINATION SOLUTIONS
The medical billing jobs from home offered by this healthcare information management company are called “coding specialists”, but they have the exact description of the medical billing job.
Applicants must live in Los Angeles, San Diego, Charlotte, San Francisco, Detroit, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, or Dallas, but work can be done remotely.
- CONIFEROUS HEALTH SOLUTIONS
As a representative of the patient’s account, a medical biller can perform medical billing tasks at Coniferous Health Solutions on his/her own time.
While the company offers 401 (k) jobs from home, paid vacations, and time off and allowance, it is important that the medical biller applicant have three (or more) years of medical billing experience to get the job.
- CSI COMPANIES
The CSI Companies has been staffing highly qualified staff to clients since 1994.
Medical billing is one of your top job openings and is available in several locations (including remote positions).
- THE CODING NETWORK
If there is one company that should target as a medical biller, The Coding Network should be that one.
Established in 1995, the company has been providing medical coding and quality control services to healthcare providers in various medical specialties.
The applicant will need 3-5 years of medical billing experience to qualify for any of the available positions.
- IMEDX
For part-time and full-time medical billing job opportunities, the medical biller applicant can consult the iMedX portal to see the available spaces for his/her transcription department.
Applicants with at least 3 years of medical billing and certification experience are the ones qualified for a job in this firm.
- MAYO CLINIC
This is another gold standard for anyone looking for medical billing jobs from home.
Mayo Clinic hires only experienced killers and coders, but they can work in-home full time after one year of training at one of Mayo Clinic’s locations.
- GEBBS
This Health Information Management (HIM) company regularly seeks certified medical billers from the US, India, and the Philippines. Most of the positions are clerical.
- MAXIM HEALTHCARE SERVICES
Maxim Healthcare Services provides its clients with medical coding, auditing, and documentation.
General requirements include at least 3 years of medical billing and certification experience. To search for work-from-home jobs, the applicant can enter “remote medical billing” in the keyword space.
- NTHRIVE
This healthcare outsourcing company hires healthcare professionals to work from home, including medical accountants, billers, and accountants (among others).
Applicants must have at least 2 years of relevant experience and active certification to apply.
- OPTUM (UNITEDHEALTH GROUP)
This large healthcare group brings remote medical billing options to the right people with experience in medical coding and certification.
Medical Biller Salary Scale
A medical biller can expect to earn a salary ranging from $ 25,000 to more than $ 60,000 per year. The average annual salary is around $ 25,000 per year. Salary depends on several variables, such as location, facility size, hours, incentives, education, experience, and other factors.
The job outlook for a medical biller is excellent. The growth rate of this career is expected to be close to 30% in the next 10 years due to the continued growth in the healthcare industry.
Many people considering a career in medical billing may be interested in starting a home-based business one day. However, if the medical biller works for anyone as a contractor who charges an hourly rate, then the employer will be responsible for the self-employment taxes.
Being self-employed in this field offers much more freedom and autonomy, however, to earn a consistent income, the medical biller will also need to build a customer base. As a result of this, It is exceptionally critical to weigh the dangers and benefits and develop a business plan.