Managing Consultant - Risk Adjustment Coding Compliance

About the role

The Coding Compliance Consultant position is a staff consulting position within the Health Analytics Practice (HAP) of BRG. HAP seeks to add either a Consultant or Managing Consultant to their Coding Compliance team. BRG Healthcare Analytics professionals bring extensive industry experience to deliver data-driven, independent, and innovative approaches to complex legal, regulatory, and business challenges. Our core strength is the ability to harness and analyze large amounts of electronic healthcare data and turn it into meaningful and insightful information. Healthcare companies trust our independent thinking and ability to solve unstructured problems. We serve a range of healthcare clients including payors, providers, life sciences companies, and the legal and financial firms that work with the industry.

Responsibilities

• Audit Planning: Design coding and documentation audit plans for annual and periodic audits and investigations, using knowledge of key risk areas in coding and documentation compliance.
• Conducting Audits and Critiquing External Audits: Perform coding and documentation audits by reviewing medical records and charges to ensure compliance with CPT-4/HCPCS and ICD-10-CM coding guidelines and standards, as well as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) coverage guidelines. Work includes reviewing the results of audits conducted by external parties (e.g., CMS RADV audits) and assisting with both identifying records for appeal and drafting narrative appeals.
• Analysis, Reporting, and Education: Conduct analysis of audit findings to identify trends/problems in coding and documentation and recommend areas for improvement. May also lead educational meetings with providers/health plans/legal counsel to review the audit findings.
• Compliance Program Activities: Assist with reviewing, editing, or writing policies and procedures related to billing and coding compliance risk adjustment operations, and provider/coder education trainings.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on interpretation and application of coding and documentation guidelines; Recommend procedural or policy changes to improve coding and documentation practices based on industry knowledge and audit findings; Monitor relevant resources, publications, and current government compliance and enforcement activity related to high-risk compliance areas; Stay current on coding guidelines, risk adjustment reimbursement requirements, and changes to the CMS-HCC model; Generate client deliverables and make valuable contributions to expert reports; Manage client relationships and communicate results and work product as appropriate; Manage junior staff and delegate assignments as directed by more senior managers; Demonstrate creativity and efficient use of relevant software tools and analytical methods to develop solutions; Participate in group practice meetings, contribute to business development initiatives and office functions such as staff training and recruiting;
• Comply with HIPAA laws and regulations and all applicable company rules and policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor Degree in Health Information Management or related healthcare field.
• Minimum of 5 years of risk adjustment coding experience as an auditor/coder within a health plan or medical group/physician office setting.
• Minimum of 3 years of medical coding experience (CPT-4/HCPCS and ICD-10-CM) in a medical group/physician office setting.
• Active certification in medical coding (CPC or CCS-P) through AAPC or AHIMA, as well as active certification as a risk adjustment coder (CRC) through AAPC.
• Preference will be given to candidates who are certified in medical auditing, certified in healthcare compliance, and/or current or former licensed clinicians (e.g., RN).
• Comprehensive knowledge of Medicare rules, regulations, and guidelines as they apply to coverage, coding, and provider documentation.
• Advanced knowledge of CPT-4, HCPCS, and ICD-10-CM coding systems, guidelines, and regulatory requirements, including Physician, Multi-Specialty, Surgical, Hospital, Lab, Pharmacy, or other related Code Sets, with ability to research coding related questions.
• Required skills include: Demonstrated ability to interpret national coding and documentation guidelines and translate them into effective auditing practices and tools; Identify issues in coding and documentation practices and develop plans to remediate; Develop reports, track, and trend audit findings and results; Make timely and appropriate judgements on audit findings and translate into needed actions and follow-up plans; and Effectively communicate with stakeholders regarding coding and documentation improvement. Commitment to producing high-quality analysis and attention to detail. Excellent verbal/written communication skills. Keen interest in healthcare compliance and healthcare policy. Excellent time management, attention to detail, follow-up skills, organizational skills, and ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines. Proficient user in MS office suite: Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word. A desire to expand those capabilities is required, as is the ability to train others to use such tools.

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to interpret national coding and documentation guidelines and translate them into effective auditing practices and tools.
• Identify issues in coding and documentation practices and develop plans to remediate.
• Develop reports, track, and trend audit findings and results.
• Make timely and appropriate judgements on audit findings and translate into needed actions and follow-up plans.
• Effectively communicate with stakeholders regarding coding and documentation improvement.

Benefits

BRG is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, national origin, age, United States military veteran status, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, family structure, medical condition including genetic characteristics or information, veteran status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law.

Pay

• Coding Compliance Consultant Salary Range: $70,000 – $150,000
• Managing Consultant Salary Range: $100,000 – $230,000

Schedule

The work of a Coding Compliance Consultant/Managing Consultant will involve execution of engagement work streams that will primarily involve employing certified coding skills to audit provider claims and provider clinical documentation with a particular focus on ICD-10-CM codes that risk adjust under the CMS-HCC model for Medicare.