Job Description of a Billing Manager in a Health Care Setting

Health care jobs are in demand thanks to an aging population. These jobs can also offer good pay. Nine of the top 20 best-paying careers for women are in health care, reports "Forbes." At number 13 on the list is medical and health service managers. Medical billing is an integral part of patient care. Unlike other medical staff positions, billing managers enjoy consistent work hours, less time on their feet and a little less stress, although trying to get billing completed by the end of the month can be a challenge.

Medical billing offices can be as small as one to two people, or in a hospital or clinic setting, as large as 50 people or more. Hospitals often have centralized billing offices that handle multiple areas. The role of the billing department in a doctor’s office, hospital or clinic is to file charges with insurance companies or other responsible parties after a patient receives treatment. When submitting to an insurance company, the billing department verifies the charges are coded properly using specialized codes referred to as CPT codes. The billing manager oversees the process to ensure timely and accurate billing.

Supervising the staff and ensuring that they are properly trained in their jobs is a billing manager's prime duty. The manager also coordinates schedules around vacations, sick leave and busy billing times. The manager is also the source of approval for any patient or insurance credits. At the end of the billing period the billing manager reports the amounts billed to the finance or accounting departments so they can account for expected revenue. Patients and insurance companies may deny billing department claims for a variety of reasons. These issues may be sent up to the billing manager for resolution.

Mangers in any type of setting need strong interpersonal skills to deal with the variety of personalities represented in the office. Billing software differs from office to office. Medical billing requires strong computing skills and an ability to learn new computing systems fairly quickly. Presentation and training skills are needed as the billing manager is responsible for training staff. Successful candidates possess strong math skills. Many insurance companies have contracts with doctors' offices and hospitals, stipulating how much they will pay per procedure and the total reimbursable amount. These contracts can be very intricate, requiring strong contract review skills and an attention to detail.

A four-year college degree is the typical requirement for a billing manager role. A degree in business administration or management covers much of what a billing manager needs in her career. Degrees in accounting, finance, or economics are also good choices for aspiring managers. In addition to education, experience working in a billing department is also required for a management position. Specialized computer knowledge such as Microsoft Office or QuickBooks is sometimes a requirement for applicants.

Medical and health services managers earned a median annual salary of $96,540 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, medical and health services managers earned a 25th percentile salary of $73,710, meaning 75 percent earned more than this amount. The 75th percentile salary is $127,030, meaning 25 percent earn more. In 2016, 352,200 people were employed in the U.S. as medical and health services managers.