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Medical billing and coding externship vs patient access representative

The differences between medical billing and coding externships 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 medical billing and coding externship, becoming a patient access representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a medical billing and coding externship has an average salary of $36,112, which is higher than the $33,603 average annual salary of a patient access representative.

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

Medical billing and coding externship vs patient access representative overview

Medical Billing And Coding ExternshipPatient Access Representative
Yearly salary$36,112$33,603
Hourly rate$17.36$16.16
Growth rate-3%-4%
Number of jobs98,089151,077
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeDiploma, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age4640
Years of experience24

Medical billing and coding externship vs patient access representative salary

Medical billing and coding externships and patient access representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical Billing And Coding ExternshipPatient Access Representative
Average salary$36,112$33,603
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $42,000Between $27,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City-Springfield, MA
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between medical billing and coding externship and patient access representative education

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

Medical Billing And Coding ExternshipPatient Access Representative
Most common degreeDiploma, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common majorHealth Care AdministrationBusiness
Most common collegeBoston UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Medical billing and coding externship vs patient access representative demographics

Here are the differences between medical billing and coding externships' and patient access representatives' demographics:

Medical Billing And Coding ExternshipPatient Access Representative
Average age4640
Gender ratioMale, 11.8% Female, 88.2%Male, 14.5% Female, 85.5%
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, 12.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between medical billing and coding externship and patient access representative 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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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.
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Medical billing and coding externship vs patient access representative 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 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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