What Does a Billing Specialist Do?
The billing specialist manages billing processes, usually for an insurance company or medical facility. Their list of responsibilities includes managing medical billing for patients, updating patient information, generating invoices, and processing payments. They can also be responsible for coordinating payment schedules for self-pay customers, following up on insurance claims, consulting with patients’ families, posting payments in a timely manner, helping resolve client billing issues, and assisting patients with applying for healthcare credit programs.
Looking to Hire a Billing Specialist?
Speak with one of our recruiting experts today.
National Average Salary
Billing specialist salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. Click below to explore salaries by local market.
The average national salary for a Billing Specialist is:
$45,630
Billing Specialist Job Descriptions
It’s important to include the right content in your job description when hiring a billing specialist. The following examples can serve as templates for attracting the best available talent for your team.
Example 1
[Your company name] is in the market for a skilled billing specialist who loves what they do. Our office is a fast-paced environment and requires a certain level of precision to ensure the highest level of accuracy possible. Our billing specialist will be required to work closely with our customers to assist them with all of their billing needs. An ideal candidate will have accounting experience, medical and insurance billing experience, medical coding experience, and two years of previous work as a billing specialist. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, apply today.
Typical duties and responsibilities
- Entering bills into the computer in a timely manner
- Working with insurance in regards to customer billing
- Organize payment arrangements for self-pay customers
- Resolve client billing issues
- Assist patients with health care credit applications
- Submit reimbursement requests to insurance companies
- Handle patient records properly
- Updating patient information when needed
- Generating invoices and processing payments
Education and experience
- High school diploma
- Associate degree in accounting, healthcare administration, or health information management
- Applicable technical certificates a plus
Required skills and qualifications
- Strong written and verbal communication
- Excellent active listening skills
- Above average customer service skills
- Good problem-solving and critical thinking skills
- In-depth knowledge of industry practices
- Superb math, bookkeeping, and accounting skills
- Excellent organizational skills
- Ability to remain discreet and keep patient information confidential
- Effective computer skills
- Comprehension of industry-specific policies
Preferred qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, or a similar field preferred
- Minimum of 5 years in a billing department role
- Comprehension of accounting software like QuickBooks
- Possess excellent attention to detail
- Excellent interpersonal skills
Example 2
Responsibilities
- Perform in-depth analysis of PO-related invoices for contract compliance (rates, task estimates, supporting documentation) and Non-PO-related invoices for proper documentation and correct calculations
- Obtain accounting distribution and code invoices
- Resolve billing discrepancies or missing supporting documentation
- Monitor invoice workload daily to ensure invoices are processed timely, and discounts are availed
- Monitor SAP workflow and follow up with invoice approvers regarding pending invoices
- Respond to vendor/contractor invoice payment inquiries
- Collaborate with invoice approvers and vendors/contractors to ensure proper invoice billing format and contract compliance
- Work closely with accounts payable and supply management to resolve invoice/PO issues impacting timely payments
- Use Smartsheet and SharePoint tools to track invoice processing and maintain contract files
Qualifications
- BS/BA degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or equivalent experience
- A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience required
- Construction contract billing experience preferred
- Works with minimal supervision and direction
- Can communicate complex technical information in a clear and concise manner to technical and non-technical audiences
- Good knowledge of “generally accepted accounting principles”
- Must have the ability to interpret accounting and financial theories and apply them in problem-solving
- Must have the ability to identify issues, analyze data, develop, recommend, and implement solutions
- Must possess initiative, decision-making skills, and problem-solving abilities
- Proficient in Office 365, SAP, Process Director, CCMS, SharePoint, ECM, and SmartSheet Forms
Example 3
Duties include
- Generate bills and invoices specific to customer accounts
- Deliver invoices to clients via digital and client-required methods
- Identify inconsistencies
- Manage Billing ticketing system
- Customer service to internal and external customers
- Assist with AR inquiries as they relate to billing, as needed
Requirements
- Experience in a weekly deadline environment
- Ability to multitask
- Problem-solving
- Detailed and professional
- Excellent communication skills
- Take responsibility for individual and team projects
- Work against a deadline
- Microsoft Office 2010 – Excel, Word, and Outlook (including, but not limited to, formatting, inserting, formulas, vLookups)
- High School diploma or equivalent
- Experience in the temporary staffing industry is a plus
- Bullhorn experience is a plus
Example 4
Responsible for supporting order management and customer billing. Manages customer account set up for billing in compliance with contract terms and conditions for accuracy, processing of orders in a timely and accurate manner. Interfaces with multiple operational groups across the business unit and with outside clients to obtain and secure accurate data for billing and customer service requests. Works with moderate supervision/guidance. Is accountable for individual results and impact on the team.
Core responsibilities
- Process billing set-up for customers accurately and timely for invoice runs
- Adjust billing parameters as needed in case of contract changes
- Research and resolve customer disputes and complex customer escalations
- Accurately process sales tax, fees, and other miscellaneous charges. Process, track, and maintain account records accurately
- Communicate billing details to high-level customer representatives
- Prepare billing reconciliations and root cause analysis
- Meet or exceed departmental key performance indicators
- Professionally interact and engage multiple operational groups across the company and outside clients
- Represent the company in a professional and positive manner in all facets
- Other duties and responsibilities as assigned
Education
- High School Diploma / GED
Relevant work experience
- 2-5 Years of billing and invoicing in a corporate setting
Candidate Certifications to Look For
- Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS). The CBCS is offered by the National Healthcare Association (NHA). This certification requires one of two options. The first is a high school diploma or equivalent plus completion of a medical billing and coding training or education program within the previous five years. The second is a high school diploma or equivalent plus one year of supervised work in the medical billing and coding field within the last three years. Continuing education is required every 10 years, and a recertification fee is required every two years.
- Certified Coding Associate (CCA). Offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the CCA is for entry-level coders. This certification requires a high school diploma, a minimum of six months of professional coding experience, and completion of an AHIMA-approved coding program, completion of a coding training program covering anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, basic ICD diagnostic/procedural, and basic Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding. Candidates have two hours to complete the comprehensive exam. Every two years, candidates must complete 20 hours of CEUs and pay a recertification fee.
- Certified Coding Specialist (CCS). The CCS is also offered by the AHIMA and requires a degree from a medical coding training program. Candidates need one of the following criteria: at least two years of medical coding experience, an existing medical coding certification, plus one year of coding experience. Candidates must pass an oral or written exam, along with taking 20 CEUs and paying a recertification fee every two years.
- Certified Coding Specialist – Physician-based (CCS-P). The CCS-P requires one of the following: a diploma or degree from a medical coding training program plus a year of coding experience, at least two years of medical coding experience, hold a CCA credential plus a year of coding experience, an existing medical coding certification plus one year of coding experience, or hold a CCS, RHIT, or RHIA credential. Candidates have a total of four hours to pass the written or oral exam. This certification requires 20 hours of CEUs and a recertification fee every two years.