Authorized representative vs patient coordinator

The differences between authorized representatives and patient coordinators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an authorized representative and a patient coordinator. Additionally, an authorized representative has an average salary of $38,897, which is higher than the $32,954 average annual salary of a patient coordinator.

The top three skills for an authorized representative include patients, medical terminology and insurance verification. The most important skills for a patient coordinator are patients, customer service, and patient care.

Authorized representative vs patient coordinator overview

	Authorized Representative	Patient Coordinator
Yearly salary	$38,897	$32,954
Hourly rate	$18.70	$15.84
Growth rate	-4%	-4%
Number of jobs	64,806	97,878
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 39%	Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	4	4

What does an authorized representative do?

An authorized representative's primary role is to represent an individual or company in different official transactions. They have the authority to communicate, liaise, negotiate, and make decisions according to goals and project requirements. Although most authorized representatives have varying responsibilities depending on their company of employment, it usually includes understanding project needs, liaising with internal and external parties, preparing and processing documents, organizing files, handling calls and correspondence, and monitoring the transactions' progress. Moreover, as an authorized representative, it is essential to be proactive at dealing with issues, resolving them promptly and professionally.

What does a patient coordinator do?

A patient coordinator functions as the primary point of contact between health care professionals and patients in a medical facility. They mostly perform administrative tasks such as greeting visitors, answering calls, responding to inquiries, managing schedules, arranging appointments, processing payments, gathering information, and keeping records. Moreover, they assist in filling out forms, escorting patients to different rooms or offices, and setting treatment plans. Most importantly, they discuss and share necessary information with patients and families regarding medications, procedures, and proceeding care according to a physician's assessment.

Authorized representative vs patient coordinator salary

Authorized representatives and patient coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Authorized Representative	Patient Coordinator
Average salary	$38,897	$32,954
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $50,000	Between $25,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City	Elmira, NY	Brockton, MA
Highest paying state	New York	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Hill International	University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry	Insurance	Health Care

Differences between authorized representative and patient coordinator education

There are a few differences between an authorized representative and a patient coordinator in terms of educational background:

	Authorized Representative	Patient Coordinator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 39%	Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	University of Pennsylvania

Authorized representative vs patient coordinator demographics

Here are the differences between authorized representatives' and patient coordinators' demographics:

	Authorized Representative	Patient Coordinator
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 29.6% Female, 70.4%	Male, 11.2% Female, 88.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 6.6% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 25.4% Asian, 6.2% White, 51.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between authorized representative and patient coordinator duties and responsibilities

Authorized representative example responsibilities.

Coach, evaluate and performance manage MSRs to ensure timely and accurate service to clients.
Audit requests to ensure that proper ICD-9 and CPT coding are applied.
Research coordinator and referral coordinator, obtain insurance authorization and provide information to insurance carriers or patients regarding patient accounts.
Verify (CCS), CHDP, HMO, PPO authorizations.
Adhere strictly to HIPAA privacy guidelines.
Scan Medicaid coverage in to patient's electronic file.

Patient coordinator example responsibilities.

Comply with HIPAA regulations by discreetly and professionally handling all patients private medical information.
Gather personal plus insurance information and perform thorough insurance breakdowns for patients.
Communicate directly with patients to obtain initial patient information and respond to inquiries.
Process and update HIPAA relate paperwork and other require institutional forms as necessary.
Obtain all necessary documentation prior to surgery such as proof of identification, copy of insurance and require insurance referrals.
Respond in writing to all grievances in accordance with CMS and DNV guidelines.

Authorized representative vs patient coordinator skills

Common authorized representative skills

Patients, 24%
Medical Terminology, 11%
Insurance Verification, 7%
CPT, 5%
Insurance Authorizations, 5%
Data Entry, 4%

Common patient coordinator skills

Patients, 30%
Customer Service, 11%
Patient Care, 6%
Patient Flow, 5%
Excellent Organizational, 4%
Check-In, 3%

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Authorized Representative
Authorized Representative vs Patient Coordinator

Updated January 8, 2025

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