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The differences between medical records managers and reimbursement specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a medical records manager and a reimbursement specialist. Additionally, a medical records manager has an average salary of $75,232, which is higher than the $38,273 average annual salary of a reimbursement specialist.
The top three skills for a medical records manager include patients, HIPAA and patient care. The most important skills for a reimbursement specialist are patients, customer service, and appeals.
| Medical Records Manager | Reimbursement Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $75,232 | $38,273 |
| Hourly rate | $36.17 | $18.40 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 54,997 | 32,292 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
The main job of a medical records manager is to secure and maintain electronic and written data within a medical records department. Medical records managers retrieve patient records for medical personnel and physicians. They supervise the department's employees. It is their responsibility to document a patient's health information, which may include symptoms, histories, and exam results. They ensure that the confidentiality of patients will follow the proper record-keeping practices. Also, they manage electronic health records and computer software.
A reimbursement specialist is responsible for analyzing insurance documents, processing reimbursement claims, and releasing accurate billing statements for insurance claims. Reimbursement specialists must have excellent analytical skills, especially on performing clerical tasks to evaluate insurance cases, investigate cases, and update the account information of the clients on the database. They should also have impeccable communication skills and understanding of the insurance processes to be able to coordinate with the clients, explaining the procedures of their claims accurately, and coordinate with the insurance management to improve the claims processes.
Medical records managers and reimbursement specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Records Manager | Reimbursement Specialist | |
| Average salary | $75,232 | $38,273 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $111,000 | Between $29,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Lynchburg, VA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Virginia |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Novartis |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a medical records manager and a reimbursement specialist in terms of educational background:
| Medical Records Manager | Reimbursement Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Health Care Administration | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between medical records managers' and reimbursement specialists' demographics:
| Medical Records Manager | Reimbursement Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.1% Female, 78.9% | Male, 15.2% Female, 84.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 8.1% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 8.1% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |