Inpatient Coder

Location Chicago, Illinois, USA

76960 USD – 83200 USD/Year

This is a 100% REMOTE position for Inpatient Coders in the US.

Description

• The Inpatient Coder II is the coding and reimbursement expert for ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding and ICD-10-PCS procedure coding for complex inpatient acute care discharges. This person possesses a strong foundation in coding conventions, instructions, Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, and Coding Clinics. The Inpatient Coder II has a deep understanding of disease processes, anatomy/physiology, pharmacology, and medical terminology.
• Utilizes technical coding expertise to assign appropriate ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS codes to complex inpatient visit types. Complexity is measured by a Case Mix Index (CMI) and Coder II’s typically see average CMI’s of 2.2609. This index score demonstrates higher patient complexity and acuity.
• Utilizes expertise in clinical disease process and documentation, to assign Present on Admission (POA) values to all secondary diagnoses for quality metrics and reporting.
• Thoroughly reviews the provider notes within the health record and the Findings from the Clinical Documentation Nurse in the Clinical Documentation
• Improvement (CDI) Department who concurrently reviewed the record and provided their clinical insight on the diagnoses.
• Utilizes resources within CAC (Computerized Assisted Coding) software to efficiently review documentation and select or assign ICD-10-CM/PCS codes using autosuggestion or annotation features.
• Reviews Discharge Planning and nursing documentation to validate and correct when necessary, the Discharge Disposition which impacts reimbursement under Medicare’s Post-Acute Transfer Policy.
• Utilizes knowledge of MS-DRGs, APR-DRGs, and AHRQ Elixhauser risk adjustment to sequence the appropriate ICD-10-CM codes within the top 24 fields to ensure correct reimbursement and NM’s ranking in US News and World Report.
• Collaborate with CDI on approximately 45% of discharges regarding the final MS or APR DRG and comorbidity diagnoses.
• Educates CDI on regulatory guidelines, Coding Clinics, and conventions to report appropriate ICD-10-CM diagnoses.
• Interprets health record documentation using knowledge of anatomy, physiology, clinical disease process, pharmacology, and medical terminology to determine the Principal Diagnosis, secondary diagnoses, and procedures
• Follows the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, ICD-10-PCS Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, Coding Clinic for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS, coding conventions, and instructional notes to assign the appropriate diagnoses and procedures.
• Utilizes coding expertise and knowledge to write appeal letters in response to payor DRG downgrade notices.
• Resolves Nosology Messages/Alerts and Coding Validation Warning/Errors.
• Meets established coding productivity and quality standards.

Top Skills Details:

• Medical coding, RHIT, RHIA, CCS, Inpatient, Hospital, Academic, Trauma 1, AHIMA

Additional Skills & Qualifications:

• 3 years of inpatient coding experience in an academic facility (teaching hospital)
• RHIA, RHIT or CCS credential
• AHIMA membership