Medical billing clerk vs medical clerk

The differences between medical billing clerks and medical clerks 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 clerk and a medical clerk. Additionally, a medical billing clerk has an average salary of $33,566, which is higher than the $32,439 average annual salary of a medical clerk.

The top three skills for a medical billing clerk include patients, medical billing and healthcare. The most important skills for a medical clerk are patients, medical terminology, and data entry.

Medical billing clerk vs medical clerk overview

	Medical Billing Clerk	Medical Clerk
Yearly salary	$33,566	$32,439
Hourly rate	$16.14	$15.60
Growth rate	-3%	-8%
Number of jobs	164,870	166,322
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 30%	Bachelor's Degree, 26%
Average age	46	49
Years of experience	2	2

What does a medical billing clerk do?

A medical billing clerk is primarily in charge of processing payments and creating billing arrangements in clinics and hospitals. Among their responsibilities include gathering and verifying patient identification, handling insurance information, coding, updating databases, and maintaining records. It is also their responsibility to assist patients by filling out forms, answering their inquiries, and referring them to other services. Moreover, a medical billing clerk must monitor patient accounts and follow-up on delinquent patient accounts, coordinating with collection agencies as needed.

What does a medical clerk do?

A medical clerk works in the administrative area of a medical facility or hospital. The medical clerk collects all patient information and medical records. The clerk also does all the clinic or hospital paperwork and generates reports of all transactions that transpired in a day's work. The medical clerk also processes admission and discharge papers, medical charts, properly file and safeguard all patient records and secure them from unauthorized access. The medical clerk is expected to be highly organized, capable of handling pressure, and has good communication skills.

Medical billing clerk vs medical clerk salary

Medical billing clerks and medical clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Medical Billing Clerk	Medical Clerk
Average salary	$33,566	$32,439
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $40,000	Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	San Leandro, CA	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	Washington	Minnesota
Best paying company	iCare	Brinks Gilson
Best paying industry	Health Care	Government

Differences between medical billing clerk and medical clerk education

There are a few differences between a medical billing clerk and a medical clerk in terms of educational background:

	Medical Billing Clerk	Medical Clerk
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 30%	Bachelor's Degree, 26%
Most common major	Health Care Administration	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	-

Medical billing clerk vs medical clerk demographics

Here are the differences between medical billing clerks' and medical clerks' demographics:

	Medical Billing Clerk	Medical Clerk
Average age	46	49
Gender ratio	Male, 11.3% Female, 88.7%	Male, 15.5% Female, 84.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.9% Asian, 6.8% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 3.8% White, 70.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	7%	9%

Differences between medical billing clerk and medical clerk duties and responsibilities

Medical billing clerk example responsibilities.

Accept and process healthcare claims and confidential medical records; verify patient eligibility and manage the Medicare and Medicaid billing process.
Interact with patients as part of the quality assurance process (follow-up, EHR confirmation, billing confirmation).
Reconcile insurance and patient payments while researching and resolving incorrect payments, EOB rejections, and assort issues with outstanding accounts.
Utilize medical terminology and follow HIPAA guidelines.
Bill Magellan through Nextgen system.
Double checked CMS-1500 form before posting it out to the insurance companies.

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Medical clerk example responsibilities.

Evaluate all EOB's to insure accurate payment is received and when necessary will file appeals to achieve optimal payments.
Follow HIPPA patient confidentiality guidelines making patients or facility have filled proper forms to release records.
File results of laboratory tests, x-rays, EKG's, etc., in patients records.
Respond and resolve patient inquiries with compassion and patience.
Prepare request for EKG tests, eye examinations, audio and dental records.
Enter deficiencies into MediTech program.

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Medical billing clerk vs medical clerk skills

Common medical billing clerk skills

Patients, 18%
Medical Billing, 10%
Healthcare, 7%
Data Entry, 7%
Customer Service, 6%
Medicaid, 5%

Common medical clerk skills

Patients, 32%
Medical Terminology, 6%
Data Entry, 6%
Phone Calls, 5%
Patient Care, 4%
Telephone Calls, 3%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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