Specialty Coder Inpatient - REMOTE

Schedule Details/Additional Information:

First shift

REMOTE Opportunity

Desired Experience: coding challenging academic charts

Major Responsibilities:

• Reviews all documentation from Qualified Medical Providers to assign all significant diagnosis based on guidelines. Additionally, all documentation from nurses must be reviewed, to assign correct codes based on AHA Coding Clinic such as wound care. Coder must understand the reimbursement rules and quality outcomes so diagnoses can be clarified for statistical, research, SOI/ROM severity, best DRG outcome and as well as accurate assignment of present on admission (POA) indicators.
• Codes cases utilizing a computerized encoding software system and completes abstraction for clinical data and non-clinical data elements for community and academic hospital sites. This position is responsible for reviewing all documentation in the patient record for accurate and complete code. High dollar cases must be coded within 24 hours. High dollar cases for these coders are typically $500,000 and higher.
• Must be able to do a clear and concise query to the MD, when there is conflicting documentation. Must also be able identify and place accounts to the correct status/hold when additional documentation is required for accurate and complete coding.
• Collaborate with Clinical Documentation Specialist (CDS) team as part of the clinical documentation validation process to provide the most accurate and complete diagnosis. Work with Clinical Documentation Specialists, as part of the Clinical Documentation improvement team to validate the DRG, SOI/ROM and HCC. Forward queries created by the CDS team to the medical staff to obtain the most accurate DRG. This provides outcomes for the organization as well as accurate reimbursement and benchmarking
• Collaborates with the Coding Quality team when alerted to coding quality issues found via internal and external reviews; implement, with accuracy, coding quality recommendations.
• Collaborates with HIM operations as needed to clarify queries and documentation needs for the completion of the medical record.
• Verify abstracting of discharge disposition as this often has an impact on the DRG.
• Collaborate with quality and CDI to ascertain that charts are at the highest level possible for SOI/ROM based on documentation for critical charts such as mortality cases for benchmarking purposes based on documentation. Query for unclear or conflicting documentation on a pre-bill basis.
• Maintains a productivity rate of 100% on a monthly basis and a quality rate of 95% or higher.
• Assists in ensuring coding compliance with federal, state, and other regulatory agencies, research cases, government payors and other selected third-party payors.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• Coding Specialist (CCS) certification issued by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), or
• Health Information Administrator (RHIA) registration issued by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), or
• Health Information Technician (RHIT) registration issued by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), or

Education Required:

• Associate's Degree in Health Information Management or related field.

Experience Required:

• Typically requires 3 to 5 years of experience in ICD-10-CM & ICD-10-PCS progressive inpatient coding experience in an integrated acute care teaching setting with proven competency in lower level inpatient records.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Knowledge of, but not limited to, current Official Coding Guidelines and methodologies, MS-DRGs, APR-DRGs, the ICD-10-CM/PCS coding systems and conventions.
• Extensive knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and pathophysiology, pharmacology and ancillary test results.
• Advanced knowledge of pharmacology indications for drug usage and related adverse reactions.
• Knowledge of coding systems and regulatory requirements of Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS).
• Extensive knowledge with Quality Outcomes, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, including Patient Safety Indictors, Hospital Acquired Conditions, and mortality.
• Proficient with encoder software and other coding applications/tools.
• Strong communication skills (interpersonal, verbal and written).
• Strong organizational and analytical thinking skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Self-motivated and demonstrated capacity to work independently without close supervision.
• Ability to quickly analyze a situation, problem solve and prioritize.
• Knowledge of external auditing programs; ex.: Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC), Office of the Inspector General (OIG), third-party payors.
• Maintains required continuing education credits and certification(s).

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Exposed to a normal office environment.
• Must be able to sit majority of the workday and lift, bend, and stretch throughout the workday.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 lbs. occasionally.
• Must have functional vision.
• Position requires repetitive use of hands; therefore, must have excellent fine manipulation skills.
• Position requires travel to other sites; therefore, may be exposed to road and weather hazards.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.

#Remote

Pay Range

Our Commitment to You:

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:

Compensation

• Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
• Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job
• Incentive pay for select positions
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits and more

• Paid Time Off programs
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program

About Advocate Health

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.