Coder​/Abstractor III

Job Overview

Coder/Abstractor III ) — Valley Medical Center

Location:

Remote Potential;
City State:
Renton, WA. Department:
Health Information Management.

Shift: Days. Type:
Full Time. FTE: 1.

Hours:

As assigned.

Salary
:
Min $28.00 - Max $46.80/hr DOE.

The position is responsible for hospital inpatient coding and abstracting based on documentation and coding guidelines within established productivity standards for all accounts assigned. Responsibilities include resolving coding edits and denials, providing feedback and education to physicians and clinicians, and following up on accounts with missing or incomplete documentation or charges.

• Review medical record documentation and assign appropriate ICD-10 diagnoses and procedures to determine the correct MS-DRG or APR-DRG.
• Ensure final coding and DRG accuracy on inpatient accounts; maintain confidentiality of protected health information.
• Review coding-based edits, correct errors, and educate clinic and medical staff on ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS usage.
• Collaborate with Clinical Documentation Specialists, HIM deficiency teams, and medical staff to ensure complete documentation for accurate coding.
• Code all records following coding guidelines, payer regulations, and ethics; ensure compliance with Federal and State guidelines.
• Meet productivity coding standards as outlined in the productivity policy; participate in coding meetings for ongoing education.
• Communicate with Revenue Cycle and hospital departments regarding coding or charging concerns; assist with denial review and education.
• Provide telephone support to clinics, medical, and revenue cycle staff with coding questions; assist with new provider orientation on coding and documentation standards.
• Identify backlogs, communicate concerns to management, and support time management for additional tasks; may negotiate work improvement plans as needed.
• Maintain CEUs annually as required for certification; adhere to Valley policies and values.
• Other projects and duties as assigned.

• Associate or bachelor's degree in Health Information Management (HIM) required.
• RHIA, RHIT, or CCS credential required.
• 3+ years of inpatient hospital coding experience required.
• Advanced knowledge of DRG, ICD-10-CM, and ICD-10-PCS coding methodologies.
• Advanced knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, disease processes, and medical terminology.
• Effective written and verbal English communication; accurate spelling and legibility.
• Ability to research authoritative coding citations related to coding, compliance, and reporting needs.
• Ability to work independently, follow procedures, and exercise good judgment.
• Excellent customer service skills; proficient data entry; demonstrated ability to interact with physicians and staff.
• Attention to detail and excellent organizational skills; knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, and third-party coding and billing requirements.
• Successful completion or pre-hire coding test.

• Must be able to prioritize and multi-task; work independently with minimal direction; take initiative in problem solving.
• Interact professionally with a wide variety of people, including operations staff, providers, the public, and hospital departments.
• Function in an environment with frequent interruptions and multiple tasks; manual dexterity and normal vision; ability to travel as needed between sites.

• Reviews coding-based payment denials, identifies patterns, corrects errors, and educates staff on correct coding procedures for denied services.
• Maintains confidentiality of PHI; adheres to policies and procedures; meets coding productivity standards.
• Participates in coding meetings and supports revenue cycle activities related to coding and charging concerns.
• Adheres to all applicable Federal and State coding guidelines and Valley policies.

Legacy/Administrative Details Created: 1/21;
Revised: 8/22;
Grade: OPEIU - O; FLSA: NE; CC: 8490.