What does a billing specialist do?
Billing specialists maintain organized financial records so they can help companies prevent billing errors and resolve disputes quickly. A billing specialist also sends invoices, which can help maintain adequate cash flow. They may also document outstanding balances and communicate with clients until the company receives payment.
In a medical environment, billing specialists use their insurance knowledge to appeal denied claims. This may help a hospital or private practice increase its reimbursement rates, improving financial stability.
Billing specialist skills and qualifications
Strong candidates often demonstrate customer service skills, attention to detail and patience, which may be important for success in this role. Knowledge of common payment practices and good communication are also valuable competencies that set top candidates apart.
Skills to list in billing specialist job descriptions can include:
- Strong communication skills, including writing, speaking and active listening
- Excellent customer service skills to clarify billing disputes or payment processes
- Basic math and accounting skills to document financial records
- Discretion when handling customer data
- Proficiency in using bookkeeping software to process payments
- Understanding of industry-specific policies, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations for healthcare
Billing specialist experience requirements
If your company follows a skills-first hiring strategy, consider searching for candidates who demonstrate basic math skills, developed from related roles such as accounts receivable (AR), accounting clerk or purchasing agent.
You may emphasize transferable skills in your billing specialist job descriptions, such as bookkeeping or data analysis skills.
Billing specialist education and training requirements
Billing specialists don’t typically need formal education, making this role ideal for skills-first hiring. In many cases, a billing specialist can learn the required tools on the job or use skills they developed in previous roles. For example, a candidate with experience as a bookkeeper may already have the skills necessary to use billing software.
You can also search for candidates who have completed voluntary online courses in customer service or payment processing. For billing specialists in the healthcare industry, consider candidates with the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) or the Certified Medical Billing Specialist (CMBS) credential.
Billing specialist salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a billing specialist in the United States is $41,337 per year. Salary may vary according to location, candidate experience and employer size.
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