Billing representatives manage customer databases, issue invoices, and handle billing-related communications. They register new customers, generate bills, and work on payment plans. They may also verify insurance and use standardized coding practices. They may handle initial collection attempts and turn over delinquent accounts to third parties. No special education is required, but relevant experience is preferred.
A billing representative maintains customer databases, issues invoices, and handles communications related to billing issues. Many utility companies, doctors’ offices, and similar service providers use billing representatives to manage their billing and payment systems. There are typically no special educational requirements for this job other than a high school diploma, although some offices will expect relevant experience in administrative support and billing specifically. Employment opportunities may vary depending on experience, training and region.
When new customers or customers arrive, the billing representative registers them, gathering basic information, recording it, and taking note of any special concerns. This may include eligibility for services through insurance or other payment programs. Billing representatives can provide advice, alerting people to their obligations when accepting products and services and offering advice on cutting expenses. For example, if a client in a doctor’s office has insurance, the billing representative may advise early release for certain procedures or treatments.
As the company provides services, the billing representative generates bills and sends them to the appropriate party. This could be an insurance company, government agency providing services, employer or other entity. Any remainder due on the invoice is the responsibility of the customer. Billing representatives can work on payment plans and other measures to handle large, unexpected bills. They keep customer accounts in good standing and maintain communication with customers who have outstanding balances to increase the chances of collecting the balance in full.
This work may include insurance verification, checks to ensure clients are insured and determining the nature of their coverage. Billing representatives may need to be familiar with the coding practices used to identify services and procedures using a standardized system. In some cases, multiple systems may be used by the same company, depending on where the accounts go. Insurance companies may have their own codes, for example, that need to be entered correctly in order to receive payments.
Initial charges on accounts for customers who appear to be in arrears may be the responsibility of a billing representative. This may include establishing correct contact information, issuing payment demands and providing information about payment methods. If customers don’t respond to collection attempts, the company can turn them over to third parties who use more aggressive practices, for a fee. By focusing exclusively on collections, as opposed to a collection representative who handles a variety of tasks, the third party can increase the collection rate.
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