Authorized representative vs patient service specialist

The differences between authorized representatives and patient service specialists 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 service specialist. Additionally, an authorized representative has an average salary of $38,897, which is higher than the $33,563 average annual salary of a patient service specialist.

The top three skills for an authorized representative include patients, medical terminology and insurance verification. The most important skills for a patient service specialist are patients, patient service, and physical therapy.

Authorized representative vs patient service specialist overview

	Authorized Representative	Patient Service Specialist
Yearly salary	$38,897	$33,563
Hourly rate	$18.70	$16.14
Growth rate	-4%	-4%
Number of jobs	64,806	105,915
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 39%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
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 service specialist do?

A patient service representative serves as a patient's primary point of contact in a hospital or clinic, ensuring accuracy and customer satisfaction. They are mainly responsible for gathering a patient's information and medical history, verifying insurance forms, managing accounts, and processing payments, arranging appointments, and even performing reminder calls and correspondence. There are also instances when a patient service representative must discuss situations to patients and their families, and even alert the doctors when a patient displays strange or unlikely behavior.

Authorized representative vs patient service specialist salary

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

	Authorized Representative	Patient Service Specialist
Average salary	$38,897	$33,563
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $50,000	Between $27,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	Elmira, NY	Springfield, MA
Highest paying state	New York	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Hill International	Virginia Eye Institute
Best paying industry	Insurance	Health Care

Differences between authorized representative and patient service specialist education

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

	Authorized Representative	Patient Service Specialist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 39%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	University of Pennsylvania

Authorized representative vs patient service specialist demographics

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

	Authorized Representative	Patient Service Specialist
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 29.6% Female, 70.4%	Male, 12.5% Female, 87.5%
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, 12.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.9% Asian, 6.4% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between authorized representative and patient service specialist 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 service specialist example responsibilities.

Benefit coverage eligibility or concerns for patients will be complete timely to achieve identify outcomes or solutions.
Greet patients and visitors with warmth, compassion, and demonstrate commitment to exceptional service.
Provide customer service to patients via registration, co-pay and co-insurance payment collection, appointment scheduling and telephone service
Obtain patient demographic, billing, insurance, and other necessary intake information for patients seeking rehabilitation services.
Screen, triage, register and verify a high volume of client eligibility and demographic data.
Direct callers to appropriate personnel, and initiate a triage slip for response by medical personnel.

Authorized representative vs patient service specialist skills

Common authorized representative skills

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

Common patient service specialist skills

Patients, 20%
Patient Service, 9%
Physical Therapy, 8%
Rehabilitation, 8%
Patient Appointments, 8%
Front Desk, 7%

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Authorized Representative
Authorized Representative vs Patient Service Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

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