Medical Billing Specialist Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post focuses on the job description of a medical billing specialist, including the duties, tasks, and responsibilities they carry out.

What Does a Medical Billing Specialist Do?

A medical billing specialist is the person responsible for the maintenance of all medical records of patients in a hospital or physician’s office.

Doctors, as well as nurses rely greatly on organized individuals to keep the patients’ record in order.

The medical billing specialist job description involves recording vital signs and body functions, informing the doctor of treatments the patient is receiving and type of illnesses, as well as tracking the results of the test(s) that have been ordered.

A detailed and thorough record is maintained for every patient in a hospital or office.

This record contains the patient’s data like full name, home address, occupation, and any medical issues, including treatments and diagnoses the patient may be currently going through.

Accurate and efficient records make a doctor’s job very easy when he has in one place all the pertinent information.
Special codes are placed on the patient’s chart along with all other vital information.

The codes represent various medical procedures that the patient has undergone.

Each and every test is given a special code that is known to the insurance companies and medical provider.

These codes make communication with the insurance companies easier when submitting medical claims.

It is highly important for medical billing specialists to have a great memory, conversant with details and have the ability to recall information without difficulty.

Anyone wishing to perform the role of a medical billing specialist must be ready to work in the medical field, as well as be prepared to work routinely, day in and day out.

If you work in a large facility such as a hospital, you may be assigned to bill and code patient charts in a specific department.

However, if you work in a smaller facility like in a physician’s office, you may need to be familiar with working in all areas.

You should also know that this field doesn’t require you to have much direct contact with patients.

Most of your duties and responsibilities would usually be carried out in an office far away from the patients.

Being comfortable with following technology trends and working with computers is imperative to a successful career as a medical billing specialist.

The ability to multi-task cum excellent organization skills is an integral part of this profession.

Self-motivation and being independent is essential for this line of work because most medical billing specialists do not work under direct supervision.

Medical Billing Specialist Job Description Example/Sample/Template

Below is an example of a list of key duties, tasks, and responsibilities that usually make up medical billing specialists’ job descriptions:

• Using coded data to produce claims to insurance companies
• Appealing and reviewing denied and unpaid claims
• Verify patients’ insurance coverage
• Answer patients’ billing questions
• Handle collections on unpaid accounts
• Manage facility’s accounts and receivable reports
• Research all information needed to complete billing process among which are information from physicians and providers
• Review coding information about diagnosis on charge and procedures performed
• Review and add charge information into data entry program
• Process electronic data batches
• Produce billing
• Process and distribute billing rejection notices from systems in compliance with clinic policies
• Assist with error resolution and denial management
• Maintains required billing reports, records and files
• Maintain strict confidentiality.

Medical Billing Specialist Job Description for Resume

The job description sample shown above can provide valuable information that you need in preparing the employment history section of a medical billing specialist’s resume.

See a sample resume for the position here: Medical Billing Specialist Resume Example.

Medical Billing Specialist Requirements: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for Career Success

The following is a list of important skills and abilities expected of the medical billing specialist by most employers:

• At least a year experience in electronic billing
• Proficient with computer applications like spreadsheets, etc.
• Customer service skills
• 3+ years medical billing experience.