Billing Specialist Career Guide

Sample job description

[Your company name] is in the market for a skilled billing specialist that 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

Available certifications

Billing specialists have a wide variety of relevant certifications to choose from:

• 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 code 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.