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Utilization coordinator vs medical support assistant

The differences between utilization coordinators and medical support assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a utilization coordinator, becoming a medical support assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a utilization coordinator has an average salary of $47,791, which is higher than the $35,390 average annual salary of a medical support assistant.

The top three skills for a utilization coordinator include patients, utilization management and patient care. The most important skills for a medical support assistant are patients, patient care, and advanced life support.

Utilization coordinator vs medical support assistant overview

Utilization CoordinatorMedical Support Assistant
Yearly salary$47,791$35,390
Hourly rate$22.98$17.01
Growth rate6%-8%
Number of jobs27,605190,633
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age4749
Years of experience62

What does a utilization coordinator do?

Utilization coordinators are healthcare professionals who coordinate the effective use of health care services as well as review the medical care of inpatient hospitalizations. These coordinators are required to provide scheduling conflict information to their supervisors to alleviate any potential issues with the schedules of physicians that would interrupt patient care. They must provide information education to nursing and medical staff about the issues of utilization. Utilization coordinators must also perform clerical duties and utilize customized data entry programs to assist the claims department with data entry of claims.

What does a medical support assistant do?

A medical support assistant job is mainly in health care services, such as hospitals, medical clinics, and private doctors who perform administrative duties and organizing schedules and records. They work together with patients' physicians, nurses, and other medical personnel. Assistants can directly work with patients and call insurance firms on their behalf to inquire about insurance coverage. Medical support assistants encode data on a computer regarding patients' medications, treatment, and lab test results.

Utilization coordinator vs medical support assistant salary

Utilization coordinators and medical support assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Utilization CoordinatorMedical Support Assistant
Average salary$47,791$35,390
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $63,000Between $28,000 And $44,000
Highest paying CityEverett, WAPortland, ME
Highest paying stateMassachusettsConnecticut
Best paying companyLoudoun WaterMicrosoft
Best paying industryConstructionGovernment

Differences between utilization coordinator and medical support assistant education

There are a few differences between a utilization coordinator and a medical support assistant in terms of educational background:

Utilization CoordinatorMedical Support Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common majorNursingBusiness
Most common college--

Utilization coordinator vs medical support assistant demographics

Here are the differences between utilization coordinators' and medical support assistants' demographics:

Utilization CoordinatorMedical Support Assistant
Average age4749
Gender ratioMale, 32.2% Female, 67.8%Male, 24.9% Female, 75.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 5.3% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%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 Percentage8%9%

Differences between utilization coordinator and medical support assistant duties and responsibilities

Utilization coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Manage and coordinate authorization of denial letters and request for appeals with all levels of services.
  • Manage and coordinate the workload of the release team members and are responsible for organizing and hosting all production release windows.
  • Perform accurate verification of eligibility and benefits as well as advanced application of CPT, ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes.
  • Assign accurate ICD-9 and CPT codes to request services for referral and authorization processing.
  • Claim adjudication for assign HMO members.
  • Provide orientation to pre-certification process for HMO, PPO, and POS members.
  • Show more

Medical support assistant example responsibilities.

  • Provide pharmaceutical services to Medicaid recipients through manage care organizations and fee-for-service programs.
  • Coordinate front and back office tasks such as checking in and checking out patients, triage, and insurance verification.
  • Assist with enrolling patients into the TRICARE online website so patients can access appointments remotely from any web enable device.
  • Analyze patients' financial information to recommend suitable programs and lifesaving aid for both veterans and eligible family members.
  • Review and audit payroll reports.
  • Apply knowledge of coding systems, including ICD-9-CM and CPT.
  • Show more

Utilization coordinator vs medical support assistant skills

Common utilization coordinator skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Utilization Management, 11%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Medical Terminology, 6%
  • Data Entry, 5%
  • Utilization Review, 5%
Common medical support assistant skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Advanced Life Support, 7%
  • Veterans, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Medical Terminology, 5%

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