Final answer:
The billing and coding specialist should match the claim to the remittance advice.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the remittance advice is sent from the third-party payer to the provider, the billing and coding specialist should first match the claim to the remittance advice. This involves comparing the information on the remittance advice, such as the patient's name, date of service, and billed amounts, to the claim that was submitted. By doing this, the specialist can ensure that the correct payment information is received and applied to the patient's account.