Differences Between Medical Billing And Medical Transcription

When researching careers in medical billing or medical transcription, you’ll likely find certain similarities—both of these jobs usually require staff to work in a doctor’s office, hospital, medical center or dentist’s office, and both of these professions require knowledge of medical terms. The two professions have distinct roles that are often confused. The following is a quick reference guide outlining the differences between medical billers and medical transcriptionists.

Medical Billers

Responsibility

A medical biller manages the processing of medical bills in doctor’s offices, medical centers, hospitals, etc. Medical billing clerks review records and work with health insurance companies to calculate amounts due from patients.

Job Skills

Successful medical billers must understand medical terminology (including jargon and abbreviations), be proficient with computers and understand the latest industry and legal standards. A thorough comprehension of different insurance plans and accompanying governing laws/regulations is also necessary to any adept medical biller. Typically, post-secondary education is required for medical billing, and degrees are often offered through vocational schools, community colleges, or online training programs offered by online colleges and universities.

Salary

Reports suggests that medical billers with one to four years of experience earn an average salary of around $30,000. If they have five to nine years of experience, the average salary is more than $32,000.

Future Growth Opportunities

Numerous opportunities for trained individuals exist in medical offices, clinics, hospitals, insurance companies, and in form of freelance home-based businesses. Advancement opportunities are unlimited.The U.S. Department of Labor states that continued employment growth for medical coders and billers is spurred by the increased medical needs of an aging population and the number of health practitioners.



Medical Transcriptionist



Responsibility

An employee working in the medical transcription field is generally referred to as a medical transcriptionist or medical transcriber. The main role of a medical transcriptionist is to listen to dictated recordings made by healthcare professionals and subsequently transcribe that information into typewritten formats such as: medical history/physical examination reports, discharge summaries, consultation reports, referral letters, progress notes, operative reports, autopsy reports, and diagnostic imaging studies. These documents are then sent to the healthcare professional for review/signature or correction, after which they become a part of the patient’s permanent medical history.

Job Skills

To become a successful medical transcriptionist, a working knowledge of medical terminology (including jargon and abbreviations), computer proficiency, and comprehension of current industry and legal standards is required. Post-secondary education is generally required to obtain a medical transcriptionist position, and can be obtained through a career college, community college, or an online course offering.

Some additional skills important for medical transcriptionists include:

- Above average verbal communication, typing and memory skills

- Knowledge of math

- Detail-oriented

- Ability to follow verbal/written instructions

Salary

PayScale.com reports the average salary for a medical transcriptionist with one to four years of experience is more than $28,000. Medical transcriptionists with five to nine years of experience make on average close to $30,000.

Job Future

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the job outlook for medical transcriptionists looks optimistic. Medical transcription jobs are expected to increase by 14 percent between 2006 and 2016. Sphere: Related Content