Billing representative vs patient care representative

The differences between billing representatives and patient care 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 billing representative, becoming a patient care representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a billing representative has an average salary of $35,002, which is higher than the $33,709 average annual salary of a patient care representative.

The top three skills for a billing representative include patients, customer service and data entry. The most important skills for a patient care representative are patients, patient care, and home health.

Billing representative vs patient care representative overview

	Billing Representative	Patient Care Representative
Yearly salary	$35,002	$33,709
Hourly rate	$16.83	$16.21
Growth rate	-3%	-4%
Number of jobs	95,425	133,317
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 30%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age	46	40
Years of experience	2	4

What does a billing representative do?

A billing representative assists with the overall operations of the organization's billing department. Billing representatives post payments timely on the database, update account statements, generate financial reports, release invoices, and resolve account discrepancies. They also perform client accounts reconciliation as needed, monitor account receivables, review overdated balance, and notify clients of payment updates to ensure accurate and timely billing. A billing representative must have strong analytical and communication skills to manage clients' accounts, as well as comprehensive knowledge on the accounting industry to explain the payment terms and policies of an organization to a client.

What does a patient care representative do?

PCRs (Patient Care Representatives) are given responsibilities like updating and verifying patient information after every visit, scheduling and reminding patients about appointments, and informing patients about delays and how long the estimated waiting times will be. They are also responsible for obtaining patients' personal information like their address, contact details, insurance information, and medical and surgical history. They must be able to communicate with patients, family members, and medical staff to give them all the information they need to treat the person looking for medical help.

Billing representative vs patient care representative salary

Billing representatives and patient care representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Billing Representative	Patient Care Representative
Average salary	$35,002	$33,709
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $42,000	Between $27,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City	Worcester, MA	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	Alaska
Best paying company	Relevante	Massachusetts General Hospital
Best paying industry	Technology	Technology

Differences between billing representative and patient care representative education

There are a few differences between a billing representative and a patient care representative in terms of educational background:

	Billing Representative	Patient Care Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 30%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	University of Pennsylvania

Billing representative vs patient care representative demographics

Here are the differences between billing representatives' and patient care representatives' demographics:

	Billing Representative	Patient Care Representative
Average age	46	40
Gender ratio	Male, 15.7% Female, 84.3%	Male, 17.1% Female, 82.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 7.3% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 6.3% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between billing representative and patient care representative duties and responsibilities

Billing representative example responsibilities.

Manage software programs for MSP accounts, monthly billing and EMC file transfers to Medicare.
Accept and process healthcare claims and confidential medical records; verify patient eligibility and manage the Medicare and Medicaid billing process.
Process orders in compliance with Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance verification guidelines; confirming customer's eligibility and insurance coverage.
Verify insurance eligibility for schedule appointments, and verify cash pricing for private pay patients who request cost by CPT code.
Submit and receive Medicare and Medicaid claims electronically on a daily basis.
Utilize extensive computer skills and coding knowledge to produce and submit physical therapy and occupational therapy claims through medicaid and medicare.

Patient care representative example responsibilities.

Manage cash and co-payments accurately and discharge patients providing them with proper medical notes and information before exiting.
Verify insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, register patients, and code proper ICD-9 and CPT codes on encounters.
Utilize medical terminology, CPT, HCPC and ICD-9 and patient information into new authorizations.
Interview patients to gather information pertinent to their Medicaid application.
Screen, identify, and enter ICD-9 coding from treatment record forms.
Maintain patient confidentiality and follow HIPAA rules.

Billing representative vs patient care representative skills

Common billing representative skills

Patients, 18%
Customer Service, 13%
Data Entry, 6%
Medical Billing, 5%
Medicaid, 5%
Patient Accounts, 4%

Common patient care representative skills

Patients, 25%
Patient Care, 13%
Home Health, 7%
Cash Management, 5%
Phone Calls, 4%
CPT, 3%

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Office and Administrative Industry
Billing Representative
Billing Representative vs Patient Care Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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