Outpatient Coder-Medical Coding

Summary:

Responsible for maintaining current and high-quality ICD-10-CM and CPT coding for all Outpatient diagnoses and procedural occurrences, through the review of clinical documentation and diagnostic results, with a consistent coding accuracy rate of 95% or better. The coder will accurately abstract data into any and all appropriate CHRISTUS Health electronic medical record systems, verifying accurate patient dispositions and physician data, following the Official ICD-10-CM Guidelines for Coding and Reporting and CPT Guidelines. Outpatient coding is applicable towards clinical, provider office visits, therapeutic, laboratory, recurring, emergency department, outpatient observation, and ambulatory surgery patient encounters.

Coder will work collaboratively with various CHRISTUS Health departments (Admitting, Charging, Patient Financial Services, HIM, etc.) to resolve charging issues, denials, and physician documentation clarifications, to ensure accurate billing and reduce denials. Coder will also assist in other areas of the department as requested by leadership.

Coder will report directly to their Regional Coding Manager, with additional leadership from the Director of Coding Operations and System HIM/Coding Director.

Responsibilities:

• Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
• Assign codes for diagnoses, treatments, and procedures according to the ICD-10-CM and CPT Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting through review of coding critical documentation.
• Extracts and abstracts required information from source documentation, to be entered into the appropriate CHRISTUS Health electronic medical record system.
• Works from assigned coding queue, completing and re-assigning accounts correctly.
• Manages accounts on ABS Hold, finalizing accounts when corrections have been made, in a timely manner.
• Meets or exceeds an accuracy rate of 95%.
• Meets or exceeds the designated CHRISTUS Health Productivity standard per chart type.
• Abides by the Standards of Ethical Coding as set forth by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
• Assists in implementing solutions to reduce backend errors.
• Expertly queries providers for missing or unclear documentation, by working with the HIM department and Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists.
• Participates in both internal and external audit discussions.
• Has strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to work independently in a remote setting, with little supervision.
• All other work duties as assigned by the Manager.

Job Requirements:

Education/Skills

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  High school Diploma or equivalent years of experience required.

  
  
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  Completion of Accredited Baccalaureate Health Informatics or Health Information Management or an AHIMA approved Coding Certificate Program, preferred.

  
  

Experience

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  Two (2) years of Outpatient coding in an acute care setting preferred.

  
  

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications

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  None required.

Work Type:

Full Time