What does a receptionist/billing clerk do?
A receptionist/billing clerk is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties as needed to maintain a smooth flow of operations for the business. Receptionist/billing clerks process the customers' payment transactions, manage account payables, releasing invoices, and immediately resolve account discrepancies. A receptionist/billing clerk must have excellent communication and analytical skills, responding to customers' inquiries and concerns, escalating high-level complaints to the billing management. They should also maintain records of financial documentation for reference and reconciliation as needed.
Receptionist/billing clerk responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real receptionist/billing clerk resumes:
- Assist office management and staff with administrative projects/responsibilities such as managing time-sensitive projects, filing, copying, and collating materials.
- Obtain and track all insurance referrals for patients with HMO products.
- Coordinate in-processing of all patients, to include accurate insurance information and payments are entered correctly into office computer system.
- Move from SNF billing to HMO outpatient billing and keep a large alpha current.
- Maintain confidentiality and adherence to HIPAA guidelines.
- Develop effective billing strategies for Medicaid recipients according to HIPPA rules and regulations.
- Verify insurance information, while also reinforcing and upholding patient confidentiality as required by HIPAA and clinic.
- Assist office management and staff with administrative projects/responsibilities such as managing time-sensitive projects, filing, copying, and collating materials.
- Call Medicaid/Medicare to verify eligibility for whom supplies and/or equipment is needed.
- Prepare healthy meal replacement protein smoothies
Receptionist/billing clerk skills and personality traits
We calculated that 25% of Receptionist/Billing Clerks are proficient in Patients, Data Entry, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Computer skills, Integrity, and Customer-service skills.
We break down the percentage of Receptionist/Billing Clerks that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 25%
Coordinated in-processing of all patients, to include accurate insurance information and payments were entered correctly into office computer system.
- Data Entry, 11%
Performed data entry of claims, verified eligibility and entered provider information into computer.
- Customer Service, 9%
Exercised customer service through strong communication skills and organization to both internal and external customers.
- Telephone Calls, 7%
Directed telephone calls to management for additional reservation support.
- Appointment Scheduling, 6%
Screened and routed patient calls efficiently ensuring accurate registration, appointment scheduling and follow-up appointment scheduling into database.
- Front Desk, 5%
Verify insurance benefits for upcoming appointments for front desk collections.
Most receptionist/billing clerks use their skills in "patients," "data entry," and "customer service" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential receptionist/billing clerk responsibilities here:
Computer skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a receptionist/billing clerk to have is computer skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "receptionists should be adept at using computers." Receptionist/billing clerks often use computer skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "filed and pulled charts and eob's; checked and corrected information and entered information into computer. "
Integrity. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling receptionist/billing clerk duties is integrity. The role rewards competence in this skill because "receptionists may handle confidential data, especially in medical and legal offices." According to a receptionist/billing clerk resume, here's how receptionist/billing clerks can utilize integrity in their job responsibilities: "protect the financial integrity of the practice by verifying all insurance benefits and assigning cob to maximize reimbursement. "
Customer-service skills. This is an important skill for receptionist/billing clerks to perform their duties. For an example of how receptionist/billing clerk responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "receptionists represent the organization, so they should be courteous, professional, and helpful to customers and the public." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a receptionist/billing clerk: "automated data entry for customer records. ".
Interpersonal skills. For certain receptionist/billing clerk responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "interpersonal skills." The day-to-day duties of a receptionist/billing clerk rely on this skill, as "receptionists should be comfortable interacting with people in different types of situations." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what receptionist/billing clerks do: "register outpatients, insurance verification, co-pays * customer service, phone skills, interpersonal communication skills * indexing medical records. "
Communication skills. A commonly-found skill in receptionist/billing clerk job descriptions, "communication skills" is essential to what receptionist/billing clerks do. Receptionist/billing clerk responsibilities rely on this skill because "receptionists must speak and write clearly when providing information and corresponding with customers." You can also see how receptionist/billing clerk duties rely on communication skills in this resume example: "gore, ok email communications, answering phone, data entry and filing. "
Organizational skills. Another skill commonly found on receptionist/billing clerk job descriptions is "organizational skills." It can come up quite often in receptionist/billing clerk duties, since "receptionists take messages, schedule appointments, and maintain employee files." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day receptionist/billing clerk responsibilities: "side projects include assistance with employee travel arrangements, light help with accounting projects, and various organizational tasks. "
The three companies that hire the most receptionist/billing clerks are:
- University of Rochester4 receptionist/billing clerks jobs
- Leggett & Platt2 receptionist/billing clerks jobs
- LifePoint Health2 receptionist/billing clerks jobs
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Compare different receptionist/billing clerks
Receptionist/billing clerk vs. Clerk typist
A clerk typist is responsible for data entry procedures and document transcriptions, alongside other clerical and administrative duties as required by the employer. Clerk typists create reports and presentation materials, transcribe audio meetings, write business drafts, and send documents to appropriate office personnel or clients. A clerk-typist must show excellent organizational and time-management skills, especially with handling various typing tasks under strict deadlines and minimal supervision. They also respond and take calls from clients and customers, assisting with their inquiries and concerns.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between receptionist/billing clerks and clerk typist. For instance, receptionist/billing clerk responsibilities require skills such as "patients," "appointment scheduling," "patient appointments," and "medicaid." Whereas a clerk typist is skilled in "payroll," "input data," "scheduling appointments," and "office procedures." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Clerks typist earn the highest salaries when working in the education industry, with an average yearly salary of $32,312. On the other hand, receptionist/billing clerks are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $35,383.The education levels that clerks typist earn slightly differ from receptionist/billing clerks. In particular, clerks typist are 1.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a receptionist/billing clerk. Additionally, they're 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Receptionist/billing clerk vs. Clerk
Clerks are responsible for many of the general administrative tasks in the office. They are in charge of manning office telephone lines, managing incoming and outgoing mails, filing paperwork and other needed records, scheduling and documenting meetings, typing out documents when needed, disseminating memos and other official announcements, and keeping an inventory of office equipment and supplies. Clerks should have good office skills, communication skills, business writing skills, and time management skills. They should also be able to treat any document or paperwork they handle with confidentiality.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, receptionist/billing clerk responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "patients," "appointment scheduling," "patient appointments," and "insurance verification." Meanwhile, a clerk has duties that require skills in areas such as "basic math," "math," "cleanliness," and "pos." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, clerks earn a lower salary than receptionist/billing clerks. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, clerks earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $31,380. Whereas receptionist/billing clerks have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $35,383.clerks earn similar levels of education than receptionist/billing clerks in general. They're 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Receptionist/billing clerk vs. Front office clerk
A front office clerk performs various administrative and secretarial duties, including welcoming and greeting clients and visitors, answering telephone calls, and managing the office budget. You will be responsible for monitoring, organizing, and forwarding emails and maintaining files and records. Other duties include following company policies and procedures, organizing transportation for guests, and handling and resolving guest complaints. In addition, you will also be responsible for invoicing and billing guests for their stay and used services.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, receptionist/billing clerks are more likely to have skills like "insurance forms," "insurance payments," "eob," and "multi-line telephone system." But a front office clerk is more likely to have skills like "check-in," "patient care," "hotel services," and "lab results."
Front office clerks make a very good living in the government industry with an average annual salary of $32,238. On the other hand, receptionist/billing clerks are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $35,383.When it comes to education, front office clerks tend to earn similar degree levels compared to receptionist/billing clerks. In fact, they're 0.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Receptionist/billing clerk vs. Switchboard operator, receptionist
Types of receptionist/billing clerk
Updated January 8, 2025
