Do you enjoy helping others? Want to be an integral part of a medical team? If so, you have options. Two great options for working in the medical field are as a Medical Assistant and as a Medical Coding and Billing Specialist. The main difference between the two roles is that a medical coding and billing specialist works in the back office and usually doesn’t interface with patients directly. On the other hand, the medical assistant is responsible for both client-facing clinical and clerical duties. Now that you know a bit about the difference between the roles, let’s look at what each role is responsible for on the medical team.
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
Medical assistants perform clinical and administrative tasks. They provide hands-on patient care, performing essential duties such as:
Reception Support
Medical assistants greet patients, answer phone calls, and provide general information about healthcare facilities. They handle routine inquiries while directing patients’ clinical questions to the appropriate provider. Medical assistants are the first to greet patients, and they ensure that patients’ needs are met while waiting for their appointment.
Patient Intake and History
Medical assistants prepare patients for their appointments by taking their vital signs, updating medical histories, and documenting relevant information in the patient’s electronic health record.
Taking Vital Signs
Taking vital signs is essential at every appointment. It helps set a trend that the doctor can reference when understanding vital sign abnormalities. Before each exam, medical assistants measure the patient’s temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, and peripheral oxygen saturation.
Height and body weight are measured less often but are still critical. Providers use these vital signs to calculate drug dosages, monitor treatments, and screen for diseases.
Assisting with Examinations
Medical assistants help doctors during medical examinations by preparing the necessary equipment, positioning the patient, and monitoring the patient’s privacy, comfort and safety.
Performing Diagnostic Tests
Medical assistants can perform many diagnostic tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), Holter testing, blood glucose monitoring, and occult fecal blood testing.
Phlebotomy
Medical assistants draw blood to help doctors better diagnose and treat patients. They also process samples and prepare them for external processing.
Laboratory Specimen Collection
Medical assistants collect samples such as blood, sputum, and urine for laboratory testing. This can also help doctors make better diagnoses and treatment decisions.
Medical Records Management
Updated records help reduce medical errors and duplication of testing. A medical assistant updates information continually, ensuring timely data. They keep track of test results and treatment plans.
Scheduling (Patients & Physicians)
Medical assistants collaborate with the front office to manage urgent appointments. They triage phone calls, troubleshoot symptoms, and arrange the appropriate care for patients.
Infection Control
Medical assistants prevent the spread of microorganisms and disease by sanitizing exam rooms and disinfecting and sterilizing equipment.
Emergency Response
Medical assistants are trained in CPR and first aid. Their medical expertise can make difference in a life-or-death emergency.
Patient Education
Medical assistants educate patients and empower them to take an active role in their health plans. They also provide information to patients on lifestyle management and healthy living,
Communication Facilitation
Medical assistants serve as liaisons between patients and their doctors. They ensure that patients’ concerns are forwarded to the medical team and that patients understand the information provided by the medical team.
Providing Administrative Support
By supporting the back office, such as organizing patient records and helping with correspondence, medical assistants allow nurses and doctors to focus on offering the best health care to patients.
Being an Advocate
Medical assistants act as patient advocates; they help patients access resources and navigate the healthcare system.
Medical Recordkeeping
Medical assistants maintain complex recordkeeping systems. They keep documentation organized, accessible, and secure in compliance with regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
What Does a Medical Coding and Billing Specialist Do?
Medical billing and coding specialists have many essential responsibilities that include:
Coding Insurance Forms
Medical codes are standardized, and alphanumeric sequences describe symptoms, disorders, procedures, equipment, and supplies. Medical coding and billing specialists help translate health information into universal codes for insurers to process claims.
Filing Claims
Private Health insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid pay for most medical bills, but doctors only get paid once a claim is approved. The medical coding and billing specialists complete the forms and submit them for review.
Posting Payments
Medical coding and billing specialists help track payments on patients’ accounts so that each payer knows what they owe.
Appealing Denied Claims
Insurers reject claims due to insufficient or incorrect data. However, a doctor’s office relies on reimbursement, so medical coding and billing specialists must complete the appeal process.
They examine claims, determine why they were denied, and gather the data necessary for approval.
Requesting Pre-authorizations
Some treatments must be pre-approved before it begins. Medical coding and billing specialists work directly with insurers to obtain pre-authorizations. Requesting pre-authorization from the insurance company protects the doctor’s office and the patients from financial liability.
Bookkeeping
Medical coding and billing specialists manage bookkeeping tasks that include balancing cash drawers, reconciling credit card payments, invoicing, and collections.
What Are the Similarities and Differences Between Medical Assistants and Medical Coding and Billing Specialists?
Medical assisting and medical coding and billing specialists’ roles are similar and different. Which one you pursue will depend on your passion and career goals. Some of the similarities and differences between medical assistants and medical coding and billing specialists include:
Training
The medical assisting programs at FNU cover clinical and administrative procedures. Students will learn what coding and billing specialists do so they can serve as liaisons between the exam room and the back office.
Medical billing and coding programs manage the doctor’s office’s financial duties. Plus, they learn just enough about clinical duties to facilitate coding and billing.
Employment Settings
Most medical assistants work for doctors, while the rest are employed by hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and government agencies.
Medical billing and coding specialists work for doctor’s offices, healthcare facilities, insurance companies, and independent medical billing agencies.
Working Environment
Medical assistants can choose to work in a hospital’s ER or a more relaxed environment in a doctor’s office. However, they must be on their toes because emergencies happen.
Medical coding and billing specialists stay busy but usually have fewer emergencies. Also, their day can be structured and predictable. Whether you choose to be a medical assistant or medical coding and billing specialist depends on what working environment you are looking for.
Coworkers
Medical assistants are part of a medical team. They work alongside doctors, nurses, administrators, billing managers, and other medical professionals.
Medical coding and billing specialists interact with colleagues, insurance companies, administrators, accountants, and auditors.
Personal Fulfillment
Most medical assistants choose the role because they want to help others and provide direct healthcare. Medical assistants work one-on-one with patients, and knowing they have changed lives is very rewarding.
However, medical coding and billing can be rewarding as well. They are still part of the medical team and provide essential support to patients.
Final Thoughts
So, which role are you interested in? Regardless of which one you choose, FNU offers both diploma and degree programs that can prepare you for these essential roles.
Medical Assistant Technology Degree Program
The Medical Assistant Technology Degree program prepares you for entry-level employment as a medical assisting technologist in administrative and clinical settings such as hospitals, clinics, medical labs, diagnostic centers, and medical offices. The Medical Assistant Technology training program includes components of general education/ liberal arts courses. The student is prepared to take the ARMA (American Registry of Medical Assistants) certification examinations, and the Phlebotomy National Certification exam. Florida National University awards an Associate of Science Degree upon program completion.
Medical Assistant Diploma Program
This Medical Assistant Diploma program aims to prepare the student as a multi-skilled medical assistant. This is done by acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to work in clinical and administrative settings at hospitals, clinics, medical labs, diagnostic centers, and doctors’ offices. In addition, the program offers options for entry-level positions such as front office procedures and back office procedures. Florida National University students can apply for the American Registry for Medical Assistants (ARMA) registry.
Medical Coding and Billing Specialist Program
This Medical Coding and Billing Specialist program was designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in a variety of health care facilities, such as medical record coder, coding technician, or coding clerk. The students will learn to translate diagnoses and procedures into numerical codes using the International Classification of Disease (ICD-10-CM/PCS) and the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT). The students will be trained to prepare and file insurance claim forms for reimbursement.
If you are interested in healthcare programs, let Florida National University answer any questions. Contact us today to learn more about our degree and diploma programs.
