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Utilization coordinator vs referral coordinator

The differences between utilization coordinators and referral coordinators 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 referral coordinator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a utilization coordinator has an average salary of $47,791, which is higher than the $35,179 average annual salary of a referral coordinator.

The top three skills for a utilization coordinator include patients, utilization management and patient care. The most important skills for a referral coordinator are patients, customer service, and medical terminology.

Utilization coordinator vs referral coordinator overview

Utilization CoordinatorReferral Coordinator
Yearly salary$47,791$35,179
Hourly rate$22.98$16.91
Growth rate6%-8%
Number of jobs27,60565,934
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 31%
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 referral coordinator do?

A referral coordinator works with insurance companies and care providers to share essential patient information and assists primarily in scheduling appointments and managing health insurance issues. As a referral coordinator, you will work directly with the patient, patient families, or even social workers, depending on the job and patient needs. Other job responsibilities include general administrative or clerical tasks such as setting up appointments for new and existing patients, verifying insurance information before appointments, and answering phone calls.

Utilization coordinator vs referral coordinator salary

Utilization coordinators and referral coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Utilization CoordinatorReferral Coordinator
Average salary$47,791$35,179
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $63,000Between $27,000 And $44,000
Highest paying CityEverett, WAPortland, ME
Highest paying stateMassachusettsMaine
Best paying companyLoudoun WaterHorizon Laser Vision
Best paying industryConstructionHealth Care

Differences between utilization coordinator and referral coordinator education

There are a few differences between a utilization coordinator and a referral coordinator in terms of educational background:

Utilization CoordinatorReferral Coordinator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Most common majorNursingBusiness
Most common college--

Utilization coordinator vs referral coordinator demographics

Here are the differences between utilization coordinators' and referral coordinators' demographics:

Utilization CoordinatorReferral Coordinator
Average age4749
Gender ratioMale, 32.2% Female, 67.8%Male, 10.2% Female, 89.8%
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 referral coordinator 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

Referral coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Establish rapport with all PCP offices, hospital personnel, and manage care representatives.
  • Ensure CPT and ICD-9 coding are accurate and complete according to AMA's guidelines and for third party intermediaries.
  • Contact medical insurance companies and provide ICD-9 diagnosis and CPT procedure codes for patient's illness, condition or injury.
  • Apply ICD-9 and CPT-4 codes to complete referral requests online or via fax.
  • Conduct the entire office's EHR process and create a system to track old and new patient's records.
  • Incorporate core organizational values of quality, respect, integrity, partnership, and compassion in all activities and decisions.
  • Show more

Utilization coordinator vs referral coordinator skills

Common utilization coordinator skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Utilization Management, 11%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Medical Terminology, 6%
  • Data Entry, 5%
  • Utilization Review, 5%
Common referral coordinator skills
  • Patients, 30%
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Medical Terminology, 7%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Data Entry, 4%
  • EMR, 3%

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