Coder-Physician Practices

Physician Practices Coder

Ashe Memorial Hospital | Health Information Management Department

At Ashe Memorial Hospital, we are driven by our mission: "To meet the needs of the community by delivering patient-centered, high-quality health care."

Ashe Memorial Hospital is proud to have been voted Ashe's Best Place to Work from 2022–2025. Join an award-winning team recognized for excellence in healthcare, including Best Hospital, Best Surgeon, Best Physician, Best Nurse, and Best Medical Practice. This is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact while serving a close-knit mountain community.

• Position:
  Physician Practices Coder
• Department:
  Health Information Management (HIM)
• Reports To:
  
  HIM Supervisor
• Status:
  Full-Time | Non-Exempt
• Schedule:
  
  Monday–Friday during general business hours
• Location:
  
  Ashe Memorial Hospital – West Jefferson, NC
• Remote Work:
  Eligible for remote work up to three (3) days per week upon approval
• Supervisory Responsibilities:
  
  None
• Travel Requirements:
  None
• Compensation:
  Pay commensurate with experience

The Physician Practices Coder is responsible for accurate coding, documentation review, and charge entry for primary care Rural Health Clinic (RHC) services and specialty practices including oncology, orthopedics, obstetrics/gynecology, and urology utilizing Athena EMR.

This position supports compliant coding practices for Evaluation & Management (E/M) services, preventive care, and procedural services while ensuring documentation specificity, revenue cycle integrity, and optimal reimbursement outcomes.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong coding knowledge, attention to detail, analytical thinking, and the ability to collaborate effectively with providers and interdisciplinary teams.

Education

• High School diploma or equivalent required
• Associate degree preferred

Certifications

• CPC, COC, CCS-P, or equivalent certification required or obtained within one (1) year of hire

Experience

• Minimum of one (1) year of coding and/or billing experience required
• Two (2) or more years of coding experience in Rural Health Clinic (RHC), FQHC, primary care, or physician practice settings preferred

Skills & Knowledge

• Knowledge of ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS coding systems
• Understanding of rural health billing and reimbursement regulations
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to maintain productivity and coding accuracy standards
• Basic computer proficiency required;
  Athena EMR experience preferred
• Knowledge of current E/M coding guidelines and documentation standards

Coding & Charge Entry

• Assign accurate ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS codes
• Perform charge entry in Athena EMR through real-time and retrospective workflows
• Link diagnoses and procedures appropriately to support clean claim submission
• Apply Rural Health Clinic (RHC) encounter-based billing guidelines

Documentation Review

• Review medical records for completeness, specificity, and compliance
• Apply current Evaluation & Management (E/M) coding guidelines, including medical decision-making and time-based coding
• Query providers for missing, incomplete, or unclear documentation as appropriate

Athena EMR Utilization

• Manage coding workflows, charge posting, and work queues
• Resolve edits, denials, rejections, and claim holds
• Support provider documentation improvement efforts

Compliance & Quality

• Maintain compliance with CMS, Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payer regulations
• Participate in audits, coding validations, and quality review initiatives
• Identify opportunities for provider education and documentation improvement

Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with providers, clinical staff, and revenue cycle teams
• Support outpatient Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) initiatives
• Maintain positive working relationships across departments

Key Knowledge Areas

• Evaluation & Management (E/M) coding guidelines
• Preventive medicine and wellness visit coding
• Chronic Care Management (CCM)
• Specialty coding including oncology, orthopedics, urology, and OB/GYN
• Rural Health Clinic billing and reimbursement processes

Performance Expectations

• Demonstrate accuracy, efficiency, and organization in daily…