Medical Assistant (Visiting Physicians Office)

Job Description

What Most Job Listings Don’t Tell You

General overview for this role type — specific duties and requirements vary by employer.

Administrative roles in senior living facilities require a level of emotional intelligence that typical office positions do not. You will interact daily with families navigating one of the most stressful decisions of their lives — placing a loved one in care. Front desk and receptionist roles are often the first point of contact for prospective families, making you part of the sales and admissions process whether or not that is in your job title.

Billing and business office positions in this industry involve navigating Medicaid, Medicare, long-term care insurance, and private pay — each with different documentation requirements and reimbursement timelines. HR-focused roles face the added challenge of high-turnover environments where recruiting and onboarding is nearly continuous. Most facilities prefer candidates comfortable with electronic health record systems and senior-living-specific software, though training is typically provided.

What to Expect in This Role Day-to-Day

Based on typical senior living facilities in the Houston area.

A typical day at the front desk involves answering phones, greeting visitors, coordinating tours for prospective families, managing incoming mail and deliveries, and supporting the administrator with scheduling and correspondence. You are the hub of communication — families call to check on their loved ones, vendors arrive for deliveries, and staff stop by with questions throughout the day.

In billing roles, the day revolves around claims processing, payment posting, aging reports, and following up on outstanding balances across multiple payer sources. Month-end close and state reporting deadlines create predictable busy periods. HR roles focus on maintaining staffing levels — posting jobs, screening applicants, running background checks (required by Texas HHSC for all direct-care staff), and managing credentialing files. The pace is steady rather than frantic, and most admin staff work standard daytime hours with weekends off.

Houston Area Salary Data

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical/Health Services Manager positions in the Houston metro area earn a median wage of $59.81/hr ($124,405/yr). The typical range is $45.69 – $78.44/hr (25th–75th percentile).

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Metro Area). Salary data provided by Houston Senior Living Guide.