Many small practices do not need a full-time biller. They need someone reliable for a few hours every day: getting claims out on time, working the denials that come back, and following up on anything aging past 30 days. What they usually end up with is an office manager doing billing between phone calls, or a freelancer who disappears when the work gets hard.
This page covers when a part-time biller makes sense, what 20 hours a week can realistically cover, what it costs, and how to hire one without the usual risks.
When a part-time biller is the right hire
- Solo and small group practices with one to three providers, where billing is steady but not a full-time job.
- Your office manager is doing billing on the side and claims go out late, or denials sit unworked for weeks.
- You have an in-house biller who needs help with AR follow-up, credentialing or a backlog, without adding a second full-time salary.
- Your volume is seasonal or growing, and you want to add hours as you need them rather than commit to a full-time hire.
If your claims are aging past 60 days or your denial backlog is large, it can make sense to start with more hours to clear the backlog, then drop to part-time once the work is current.
What 20 hours a week can cover
For a typical small practice, a part-time biller working 20 hours a week can usually handle:
- Charge entry and claim submission the same or next day
- Clearinghouse rejections fixed before they age
- Payment posting and underpayment checks
- Working every denial, with appeals where needed
- Weekly AR follow-up on claims older than 30 days, including payer calls
- Eligibility checks for upcoming appointments
The right number of hours depends on your specialty, claim volume and how clean the account is today. We size the role with you before the pilot starts, and you can change the hours as your volume changes.
What a part-time medical biller costs
| Option | Typical cost for about 20 hours a week | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Part-time in-house employee | Roughly $1,700 to $2,500 a month in wages, plus payroll costs | One person you recruit, train and manage yourself |
| US freelancer | About $1,300 to $6,000 a month at $15 to $70 an hour | Varies widely, and nobody reviews their work |
| Billing company | 4 to 10% of collections, regardless of hours | A team you rarely talk to, usually with monthly reporting |
| DrBillerz part-time biller | About $600 a month | A dedicated biller tested on your specialty and EHR, plus a dedicated RCM manager and the client portal at no extra cost |
For a full breakdown, see how much a medical biller costs.
The risk with part-time billing, and how to avoid it
The usual problem with part-time billing is not skill. It is continuity and accountability. A part-time freelancer has other clients, so your work waits when they get busy. If they leave, you find out when claims stop going out. And nobody checks their work until collections drop.
Three things fix that:
- A dedicated person, not a shared queue. The same biller works your account every week and learns your payers, providers and front desk.
- Someone above them. A dedicated RCM manager reviews the work and steps in if anything slips or if your biller is out.
- Visibility. You should be able to see what was done each day, not only a monthly total. DrBillerz clients see claims worked, denials resolved and payments posted in the client portal.
Before you hire anyone remote, read how to vet a remote medical biller and freelance billers vs dedicated staff.
How to hire a part-time biller through DrBillerz
- Tell us about your practice. Specialty, EHR, claim volume and what you need covered.
- We size the role and shortlist billers who have passed coding, specialty and EHR tests.
- You interview and choose.
- Start a free 4-week pilot. Your biller works inside your systems under a signed BAA. You pay nothing for 4 weeks.
- Adjust the hours up or down as your volume changes. There is no long-term contract.
DrBillerz is not a software company. We do not sell billing software or ask you to switch systems. Your biller works in the EHR and clearinghouse you already use.
Start your free 4-week pilot · Send an enquiry · or call (313) 725-9746
Looking for a full-time biller instead? See how to hire a medical biller.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a part-time medical biller cost?
Through DrBillerz, a part-time biller at 20 hours a week is about $600 a month. A part-time in-house employee usually costs $1,700 to $2,500 a month in wages alone, and US freelancers charge about $15 to $70 an hour.
How many hours a week does a small practice need?
Many small practices start at about 20 hours a week. The right number depends on your specialty, claim volume and how much backlog you have. We size the role with you and you can adjust hours later.
Will I get the same biller every week?
Yes. You get a dedicated biller who works your account consistently and learns your payers and providers, with a dedicated RCM manager overseeing their work.
What happens if my part-time biller is out or leaves?
A trained backup covers the work and we re-match you with a new biller, so claims keep going out.
Can I switch from part-time to full-time later?
Yes. You can add or reduce hours as your volume changes. There is no long-term contract.
Do I have to change my billing software?
No. DrBillerz is not a software company. Your biller works inside the EHR and clearinghouse you already use.