Prior authorization specialist vs scheduling specialist

The differences between prior authorization specialists and scheduling specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a prior authorization specialist, becoming a scheduling specialist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a scheduling specialist has an average salary of $37,269, which is higher than the $36,120 average annual salary of a prior authorization specialist.

The top three skills for a prior authorization specialist include patients, customer service and medical necessity. The most important skills for a scheduling specialist are patients, medical terminology, and home health.

Prior authorization specialist vs scheduling specialist overview

	Prior Authorization Specialist	Scheduling Specialist
Yearly salary	$36,120	$37,269
Hourly rate	$17.37	$17.92
Growth rate	-4%	-8%
Number of jobs	69,667	73,381
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 32%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age	40	49
Years of experience	4	2

What does a prior authorization specialist do?

Prior Authorization Specialists are individuals responsible for the entire process of prior authorization for a client. They manage communication between stakeholders of clients, healthcare providers, and insurance companies to request for prior authorizations. Their duties include ensuring complete and updated patient and claim documentation, performing daily billings, auditing accounts for accurate submissions claim, and making sure patient treatment reimbursements are processed effectively. Prior Authorization Specialists also review outstanding accounts and handle reimbursement or billing issues to ensure clean billing claims.

What does a scheduling specialist do?

A scheduling specialist is responsible for managing the department's meeting, conference, and event schedules, as well as negotiating with suppliers and third-party vendors for appointment and program needs. Scheduling specialists may also perform administrative and clerical duties as needed, especially on communicating with clients and informing them of meetings, and responding to their concerns and inquiries. A scheduling specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as knowledge of the data processing procedures to maintain the organization's database, updating clients' information, and tracking business transactions.

Prior authorization specialist vs scheduling specialist salary

Prior authorization specialists and scheduling specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Prior Authorization Specialist	Scheduling Specialist
Average salary	$36,120	$37,269
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $46,000	Between $27,000 And $51,000
Highest paying City	Framingham, MA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	New York
Best paying company	Washington State University	Bristol-Myers Squibb
Best paying industry	Health Care	Transportation

Differences between prior authorization specialist and scheduling specialist education

There are a few differences between a prior authorization specialist and a scheduling specialist in terms of educational background:

	Prior Authorization Specialist	Scheduling Specialist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 32%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common major	Nursing	Business
Most common college	University of Southern California	-

Prior authorization specialist vs scheduling specialist demographics

Here are the differences between prior authorization specialists' and scheduling specialists' demographics:

	Prior Authorization Specialist	Scheduling Specialist
Average age	40	49
Gender ratio	Male, 18.4% Female, 81.6%	Male, 23.9% Female, 76.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 23.0% Asian, 6.9% White, 54.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	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 prior authorization specialist and scheduling specialist duties and responsibilities

Prior authorization specialist example responsibilities.

Utilize CMS and InterQual criteria to establish authorizations for members requiring medical services for a Medicare advantage insurance company.
Manage quality communication, patient support and service representation with patients and providers to establish equipment/procedures statuses and expedite orders.
Work with staff to ensure proper CPT codes are submit on authorization request.
Demonstrate compassion while obtaining patient demographics and personal health information.
Register patients into the emergency department or outpatients for surgery or procedures.
Register patients' demographics and insurance information; execute daily outpatient and surgery reports.

Scheduling specialist example responsibilities.

Manage clinic visit schedules, rehabilitation conferences, medical exams, trial appearances, depositions, etc.
Treat all patients with compassion and dignity no matter what their socioeconomic status is.
Job entail becoming familiar with medical insurance carriers, which include Medicaid and Medicare programs.
Schedule patients for radiology procedures, including complicate scheduling for multiple exams in one patient visit.
Register patients into EMR system, ensuring accuracy when updating patient information, demographics and insurance.
Schedule outpatient appointment for radiology patients, verify insurance, obtain authorization from insurance companies for special procedures.

Prior authorization specialist vs scheduling specialist skills

Common prior authorization specialist skills

Patients, 18%
Customer Service, 8%
Medical Necessity, 8%
Medical Terminology, 6%
Clinical Resource, 6%
Authorization Process, 4%

Common scheduling specialist skills

Patients, 25%
Medical Terminology, 8%
Home Health, 7%
Patient Care, 5%
Insurance Verification, 4%
Excellent Interpersonal, 4%

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Prior Authorization Specialist
Prior Authorization Specialist vs Scheduling Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

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