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Senior patient account representative vs collections representative

The differences between senior patient account representatives and collections representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a senior patient account representative and a collections representative. Additionally, a senior patient account representative has an average salary of $57,603, which is higher than the $34,015 average annual salary of a collections representative.

The top three skills for a senior patient account representative include patients, CPT and data entry. The most important skills for a collections representative are payment arrangements, customer service, and delinquent accounts.

Senior patient account representative vs collections representative overview

Senior Patient Account RepresentativeCollections Representative
Yearly salary$57,603$34,015
Hourly rate$27.69$16.35
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs126,39985,275
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%High School Diploma, 33%
Average age4646
Years of experience1212

What does a senior patient account representative do?

A senior patient account representative typically works at a hospital, clinic, or other medical facility. They handle matters concerning medical insurance claims and patient billing. Their duties include collecting and processing payments, arranging billing and payment plans, coordinating with insurance providers, verifying patient information, and maintaining accurate records. They also directly assist patients by answering inquiries, explaining payment arrangements and other details, keeping an open communication line with patients and insurance providers, and settling refunds. They also supervise junior patient account representatives.

What does a collections representative do?

A Collections Representative's role is to collect payment for outstanding or overdue bills through phone calls, email, mail, or sometimes personal appointments. A Collections Representative is required to have a great deal of research and communication skills in order to reach out to people and explain how to settle their debts or even negotiate a payment term or plan. Collections Representatives must also make sure that these terms are honored and met, and create reports for the creditor regarding the delinquent accounts.

Senior patient account representative vs collections representative salary

Senior patient account representatives and collections representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Patient Account RepresentativeCollections Representative
Average salary$57,603$34,015
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $101,000Between $26,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City-San Ramon, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between senior patient account representative and collections representative education

There are a few differences between a senior patient account representative and a collections representative in terms of educational background:

Senior Patient Account RepresentativeCollections Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%High School Diploma, 33%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Senior patient account representative vs collections representative demographics

Here are the differences between senior patient account representatives' and collections representatives' demographics:

Senior Patient Account RepresentativeCollections Representative
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 11.6% Female, 88.4%Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 3.6% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between senior patient account representative and collections representative duties and responsibilities

Senior patient account representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage Facebook and patient communication programs.
  • Review physician's documentation to ensure correct CPT codes and ICD-9 codes are billed correctly for services render.
  • Use online referral system to obtain authorization for treatment for a specialist office using ICD-9 and CPT codes.
  • Train new staff in billing and follow-up of Medicaid HMO plans including both the hospital and electronic billing system.
  • Provide reports and information to various clients; comply with HIPAA regulations.
  • Input ICD-9 codes and HCPC to help with calculating cost for each patient.
  • Show more

Collections representative example responsibilities.

  • Protect A/R assets by managing a portfolio of accounts to maximize gainful sales and reduce debt losses.
  • Maintain effective communication and utilize negotiation skills with internal and external customers to effect collections while maintaining customer good will.
  • Submit all reconsideration and appeals if need.
  • Conduct periodic data cleaning of queues balances deny with deny appeals.
  • Resolve valid or authorize NSF charges due to decline credit cards or ACH transactions.
  • Collect and count inventories, reconcile purchases and scan UPC's and inputting price information.
  • Show more

Senior patient account representative vs collections representative skills

Common senior patient account representative skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • CPT, 9%
  • Data Entry, 8%
  • Medical Terminology, 6%
  • Medicaid, 6%
  • Appeals, 5%
Common collections representative skills
  • Payment Arrangements, 14%
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Delinquent Accounts, 9%
  • Past Due Accounts, 6%
  • Customer Accounts, 4%
  • Debt Repayment, 4%

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