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Medical billing and coding externship vs billing specialist

The differences between medical billing and coding externships and billing specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a medical billing and coding externship and a billing specialist. Additionally, a medical billing and coding externship has an average salary of $36,112, which is higher than the $35,624 average annual salary of a billing specialist.

The top three skills for a medical billing and coding externship include patients, insurance eligibility and data entry. The most important skills for a billing specialist are patients, customer service, and data entry.

Medical billing and coding externship vs billing specialist overview

Medical Billing And Coding ExternshipBilling Specialist
Yearly salary$36,112$35,624
Hourly rate$17.36$17.13
Growth rate-3%-3%
Number of jobs98,08955,205
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeDiploma, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Average age4646
Years of experience22

Medical billing and coding externship vs billing specialist salary

Medical billing and coding externships and billing specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical Billing And Coding ExternshipBilling Specialist
Average salary$36,112$35,624
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $42,000Between $27,000 And $45,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Delaware
Best paying company-TIBCO Software
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between medical billing and coding externship and billing specialist education

There are a few differences between a medical billing and coding externship and a billing specialist in terms of educational background:

Medical Billing And Coding ExternshipBilling Specialist
Most common degreeDiploma, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Most common majorHealth Care AdministrationBusiness
Most common collegeBoston UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Medical billing and coding externship vs billing specialist demographics

Here are the differences between medical billing and coding externships' and billing specialists' demographics:

Medical Billing And Coding ExternshipBilling Specialist
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 11.8% Female, 88.2%Male, 12.7% Female, 87.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.8% Asian, 6.8% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 7.4% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between medical billing and coding externship and billing specialist duties and responsibilities

Medical billing and coding externship example responsibilities.

  • Manage chart completion (ICD-9-CM and CPT coding/abstracting), chart assembly and analysis, patient admission and patient information privacy/security.
  • Verify correct ICD-10 and CPT codes for a variety of specialties.
  • Review physicians' appointment notes to determine appropriate ICD-9 and HCPCS code for the medical service render.
  • Identify and code the principal diagnosis and procedures using ICD-9-CM and CPT-4 codes to each patient's medical records
  • Perform billing and collection procedures, utilize CPT-4 and ICD-9 coding, insurance claim preparation, processing and follow-ups.
  • Resolve and research of insurance denials, rejections, providing correction of claims, involving CPT and HCPCS codes.
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Billing specialist example responsibilities.

  • Use of QuickBooks to manage vendors' accounts, set up filing system to maintain files and supporting billing documents.
  • Manage the daily correspondence with keeping doctor/patient confidentiality under consideration along with HIPPA regulations.
  • Use independent judgment, manage and impart confidential information appropriately per HIPAA regulations and company requirements.
  • Accept and process healthcare claims and confidential medical records; verify patient eligibility and manage the Medicare and Medicaid billing process.
  • Provide additional information/clarification for insurance claims using knowledge of CPT, ICD-9, and HCPCS codes, as well as modifiers.
  • Assist staff with proper billing for patients, ensure proper coding using ICD-10, ICD-9 and CPT-4 coding.
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Medical billing and coding externship vs billing specialist skills

Common medical billing and coding externship skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Insurance Eligibility, 6%
  • Data Entry, 5%
  • EOB, 5%
  • Insurance Verification, 4%
  • CPT-4, 3%
Common billing specialist skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Data Entry, 9%
  • Medical Billing, 7%
  • Medicaid, 6%
  • CPT, 3%

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