Location: Chattanooga,TN, USA
Job Summary:
Utilizing an electronic medical record and computerized encoder, assigns and sequences diagnosis and procedure codes and present on admission indicators (inpatient only) on inpatient or outpatient encounters based on medical record documentation in accordance with Official Coding Guidelines, CMS regulations, encoder software guidance and Health Information Management (HIM) policies and procedures.
* Inpatient coders are responsible for coding adult (lower acuity), pediatric inpatient cases, L&D, NICU, minor trauma and normal newborns.
* Outpatient coders are responsible for coding outpatient diagnostic, emergency room visits, recurring accounts and low level same day surgery.
Detailed responsibilities:
1. Reviews inpatient or outpatient medical records to assign and sequence all appropriate diagnosis and procedures codes utilizing encoder software proficiently translating diagnostic statements, procedure descriptions, physician orders, and other pertinent documentation. Reviews Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Groups (MSDRGs) and All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (APRDRGs) on inpatient cases or Ambulatory Payment Classification (APCs) on outpatient cases for appropriate code assignment.
2. Reviews and validates accuracy of Admission-Discharge-Transfer (ADT) data fields; abstracts admission type, point of origin, discharge disposition, physicians, procedure dates and present on admission (POA) indicators on inpatient cases.
3. Reviews appropriate coding work queues daily to address coding edits and needed corrections and follows procedure to notify billing as needed. Reviews accounts and performs needed correction for internal audits and external denials.
4. When documentation or valid order is incomplete, vague, or ambiguous, it is the responsibility of coder to work in conjunction with Leadership to utilize the appropriate physician clarification process to obtain additional information that provides a codeable diagnosis, procedure and/or physician order.
5. Outpatient coders are responsible for following charge verification processes and routing accounts based on missing, incomplete, or inaccurate charging.
Other responsibilities include:
* Adherence to Health Information Management (HIM) Coding policies.
* Interprets and applies American Hospital Association (AHA) Official Coding Guidelines to articulate and support appropriate principal, secondary diagnoses and procedures OP coding validates reason for visit and IP validates admit diagnosis.
* Adherence to Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and other third-party documentation guidelines in an effort to continually improve coding quality and accuracy.
* Responsibility for maintaining coding certification and knowledge referencing current diagnosis and procedural coding classification system coding guidelines and regulatory changes.
* Contacts the appropriate department or physician for assistance in obtaining physician clarification of diagnoses and procedures.
* Participates in performance improvement initiatives as assigned.
This position must consistently meet or exceed productivity and quality standards as defined by department Leadership.
The coder must have:
1. Knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology, Disease Pathology, and Medical Terminology.
2. Knowledge of coding conventions and use of coding nomenclature consistent with CMS Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS or CPT/HCPCS codes.
3. Accurate translation of written diagnostic descriptions to appropriately and accurately assign ICD-10-CM diagnostic codes to obtain optimal reimbursement from all payer types, including Medicare/Medicaid, and private insurance payers.
4. Accurate translation of written procedure descriptions to accurately assign ICD-10-PCS procedure codes for inpatient and CPT/HCPCs codes for outpatient accounts.
5. Ability to navigate the Electronic Medical Record to identify appropriate documentation for coding/billing in support of submitted department charges
6. Knowledge of clinical content standards.
Education:
Required:
Validation of coding certification, i.e., specialty focus such as ICD-10 coding, ICD-10 PCS, CPT coding, and billing practices from an accredited program
Preferred: BS or AS degree in Health Information Management Administration or Health Information Technician from an accredited program or possess a 4-year bachelor's degree from an accredited college
Experience:
Required:
Must demonstrate knowledge of coding to support this position. Ability to follow standard practices in coding and reimbursement. Demonstrate the knowledge of optimization of coding for reimbursement. Computer literate in a windows environment, also basic word-processing skills, knowledge of MS Office and a basic graphics package. Possess excellent communication skills both written and oral. Demonstration of sound judgment and organizational ability. Ability and knowledge to maintain a quality and quantity standard in coding. Minimum experience in coding profession of three (3) years.
Preferred: Level 1 Trauma academic medical center experience
License/Certification/Registration
Required: Current registration as an RHIT, RHIA, CCA, CCS, or CPC, CPC- H
Preferred: N/A
Department Position Summary:
The employee must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to optimally code inpatient or outpatient encounters (based on team assigned). The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the various payment schemes for inpatient or outpatient encounters. The individual must demonstrate the ability to be flexible as to the type of encounter to be coded. The associate must demonstrate the ability to work in a self-directed team by taking and giving direction and sharing in the responsibility of the team.
The associate must display the ability to be self-motivated, be able to evaluate the scope of each day's work, and display time management skills to assigned work. Must be able to work effectively in a remote work capacity. The associate must provide management with annual/biannual proof of certification and complete annual/biannual required continuing education. The associate will perform any other tasks as assigned.
'232133