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Patient access representative vs patient care representative

The differences between patient access representatives and patient care representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a patient access representative and a patient care representative. Additionally, a patient care representative has an average salary of $33,709, which is higher than the $33,603 average annual salary of a patient access representative.

The top three skills for a patient access representative include patients, customer service and medical terminology. The most important skills for a patient care representative are patients, patient care, and home health.

Patient access representative vs patient care representative overview

Patient Access RepresentativePatient Care Representative
Yearly salary$33,603$33,709
Hourly rate$16.16$16.21
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs151,077133,317
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age4040
Years of experience44

What does a patient access representative do?

A Patient Access Representative is the first point of contact of a patient in a hospital facility. Among the duties include the checking-in and out of a patient, gathering a patient's information for the Doctors and Nurses to use, communicates with the patient's family or caregivers, and processes insurance billing. Most of the time, A Patient Access Representative encounters the critically ill or injured which is why one must possess great communication skills and compassion.

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.

Patient access representative vs patient care representative salary

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

Patient Access RepresentativePatient Care Representative
Average salary$33,603$33,709
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $41,000Between $27,000 And $41,000
Highest paying CitySpringfield, MABoston, MA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsAlaska
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyMassachusetts General Hospital
Best paying industryHealth CareTechnology

Differences between patient access representative and patient care representative education

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

Patient Access RepresentativePatient Care Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Patient access representative vs patient care representative demographics

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

Patient Access RepresentativePatient Care Representative
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 14.5% Female, 85.5%Male, 17.1% Female, 82.9%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 Percentage7%7%

Differences between patient access representative and patient care representative duties and responsibilities

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.
    • Show more

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.
    • Show more

Patient access representative vs patient care representative skills

Common patient access representative skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Medical Terminology, 9%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • Patient Registration, 5%
  • Insurance Verification, 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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Updated January 8, 2025

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