Biller vs patient access representative

The differences between billers and patient access representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a biller, becoming a patient access representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a biller has an average salary of $38,333, which is higher than the $33,603 average annual salary of a patient access representative.

The top three skills for a biller include patients, customer service and data entry. The most important skills for a patient access representative are patients, customer service, and medical terminology.

Biller vs patient access representative overview

	Biller	Patient Access Representative
Yearly salary	$38,333	$33,603
Hourly rate	$18.43	$16.16
Growth rate	-3%	-4%
Number of jobs	35,740	151,077
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 28%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age	46	40
Years of experience	2	4

What does a biller do?

Billers are medical professionals who are responsible for translating health care services into medical claims to be submitted to insurance companies. These billers are required to obtain patient medical records and interpret them to determine the billable units and services. They must manage all aspects of the medical billing process and make necessary contacts with insurance payers or patients to ensure maximum reimbursements. Billers must also provide services that are associated with internal and external customer billing and payment processing operations.

What does a patient access representative do?

A Patient Access Representative is the first point of contact of a patient in a hospital facility. Among the duties include the checking-in and out of a patient, gathering a patient's information for the Doctors and Nurses to use, communicates with the patient's family or caregivers, and processes insurance billing. Most of the time, A Patient Access Representative encounters the critically ill or injured which is why one must possess great communication skills and compassion.

Biller vs patient access representative salary

Billers and patient access representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Biller	Patient Access Representative
Average salary	$38,333	$33,603
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $49,000	Between $27,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	Springfield, MA
Highest paying state	Washington	Massachusetts
Best paying company	UC Merced	University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Health Care

Differences between biller and patient access representative education

There are a few differences between a biller and a patient access representative in terms of educational background:

	Biller	Patient Access Representative
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 28%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common major	Health Care Administration	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	University of Pennsylvania

Biller vs patient access representative demographics

Here are the differences between billers' and patient access representatives' demographics:

	Biller	Patient Access Representative
Average age	46	40
Gender ratio	Male, 11.6% Female, 88.4%	Male, 14.5% Female, 85.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.8% Asian, 6.8% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between biller and patient access representative duties and responsibilities

Biller example responsibilities.

Manage payer requirements, regulatory compliance requirements, HIPAA privacy and security requirements, medical terminology and general revenue cycle procedures.
Ensure all ICD-9 and CPT coding are correct and forward any errors to the appropriate departments to correct.
Prepare forms for CPT-4 and ICD-9 coding.
Acquire a working knowledge of revenue codes and HCPCS codes.
Answer phones, review, verifying insurance and ICD-9 coding of service reports.
Maintain confidentiality of all pertinent client information in compliance with HIPAA laws and regulations.

Patient access representative example responsibilities.

Use EMR software to manage patient records and files; reinforce and uphold patient confidentiality as required by HIPPA and clinic.
Conduct intensive screening of all Medicare, Medicaid and manage care patients for provider service eligibility.
Educate eligible applicants about Medicaid manage care and how to access benefits in a manage care environment.
Run internal reports to ensure ICD 9 and CPT procedure codes are accurate for billing for Medicare and Medicaid patients.
Deliver quality customer service and compassion while obtaining demographic and financial data from patients seeking emergency medical services.
Operate front desk check-in, preparation of charts, receive payments and balance books at the end of the day.

Biller vs patient access representative skills

Common biller skills

Patients, 18%
Customer Service, 10%
Data Entry, 6%
CPT, 5%
Medicaid, 4%
Patient Accounts, 4%

Common patient access representative skills

Patients, 20%
Customer Service, 13%
Medical Terminology, 9%
Patient Care, 5%
Patient Registration, 5%
Insurance Verification, 4%

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Biller vs Patient Access Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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