Coder​/Abstractor III

Job Title:

Coder/Abstractor III (Remote, WA residents only)

Req:

Location:

Remote Potential

Department:
Health Information Mgmt

Shift: Days

Type:
Full Time

FTE: 1

Hours

City State:
Renton, WA

Category:
Administrative/Clerical

Salary Range:
Min $29.12
- Max $48.67/hrly. DOE

This salary range may be inclusive of several career levels at Valley Medical Center and will be narrowed during the interview process based on several factors, including (but not limited to) the candidate's experience, qualifications, location, and internal equity.

The position description is a guide to the critical duties and essential functions of the job, not an all‑inclusive list of responsibilities, qualifications, physical demands, and work environment conditions. Position descriptions are reviewed and revised to meet the changing needs of the organization.

Responsible for hospital inpatient coding and abstracting based on documentation and coding guidelines within established productivity standards for all accounts assigned. Resolves coding related edits and denials and provides ongoing feedback and education to physicians and clinicians. Responsible for following up on all accounts unable to code due to missing/incomplete documentation or charges.

• Associate or bachelor's degree in HIM, required.
• RHIA, RHIT, or CCS required.
• 3 or more years exclusively in inpatient hospital coding experience, required.
• Demonstrated advanced ability to use and understand DRG, ICD‑10‑CM, and ICD‑10‑PCS coding methodologies.
• Advanced knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, disease processes and medical terminology.
• Ability to communicate in writing and verbally in the English language in an effective manner. Effective communication includes ability to spell accurately and write legibly.

• Ability to research authoritative citations related to coding, compliance, and additional reporting needs.
• Ability to carry out assignments independently, follow procedures, and exercise good judgment.
• Excellent customer service skills, including telephone interactions.
• Proficient data entry skills.
• Proven ability to interact with physicians and support staff.
• Attention to detail and excellent organizational skills are essential.
• Knowledge of Medicare, Medicaid, and third‑party coding and billing requirements.
• Successful completion or pre‑hire coding test.

Generic

Job Functions:

See Generic Job Description for Administrative Partner.

• Reviews medical record documentation and accurately assigns appropriate ICD‑10 diagnoses and procedure codes, leading to the assignment of the correct Medicare Severity‑Diagnosis Related Group (MS‑DRG) or All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Group (APR‑DRG).
• Responsible for final coding and DRG accuracy on all inpatient accounts.
• Maintains confidentiality of protected health information.
• Reviews coding‑based edits, corrects errors, and educates clinic and medical staff on appropriate use of ICD‑10‑CM and ICD‑10‑PCS codes.
• Demonstrates advanced competency with ICD‑10‑CM and ICD‑10‑PCS code assignment for diagnoses and procedures for hospital requirements.
• Collaborates with Clinical Documentation Specialists, HIM deficiency team, and members of the medical staff to ensure completeness of documentation in the charts so that appropriate codes, and ultimately the correct Diagnostic Related Group (DRG), may be assigned.
• Codes all records based on documentation, being careful to follow strict coding guidelines, payer regulations, and ethics.
• Ensures compliance with all Federal and State guidelines regarding correct coding initiatives.
• Meets productivity coding standards as outlined in the productivity policy.
• Participates in coding meetings to enhance knowledge and coding compliance skills.
• Communicates effectively with Revenue Cycle team and hospital departments in relationship to coding or charging concerns and the submission of claims.
• Reviews coding‑based payment denials, identifies patterns, corrects errors, and educates clinic and revenue cycle staff on appropriate coding procedures when services are denied due to inappropriate…