Outpatient Coder - Remote

Responsibilities

• Assigns and records an accurate code to all diagnoses, procedures, and operations as documented by the attending physician in the indicated patient's medical record.
• Ensures that all factors necessary for assigning an accurate APC/APGs are present, and that all diagnoses are ranked properly.
• Makes appropriate contacts in order to acquire or clarify necessary information.
• Enters final diagnostic code numbers and narrative descriptions of diagnoses and procedures into an automated grouper system.
• Provides information to and responds to inquiries regarding medical documentation, coding, and APCs/APGs from hospital staff, including utilization and quality assurance staff, patient accounts staff and the Risk Manager.
• Abstracts information from medical records to compile reports and statistical information.
• Enters data such as diagnosis, treatment, admission and discharge dates, length of stay, etc., on hospital-wide or regional automated database.
• Queries appropriate provider as necessary regarding documentation of diagnosis and/or procedure.

Requirements

• Minimum of one year of experience where the primary function of the position was outpatient medical records coding in or for a hospital.
• A high school diploma or equivalent, required.
• An Associate's degree or Bachelor's degree in health information management may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
• Current certification as either a Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) or Certified Coding Specialist-Physician Based (CCS-P) through AHIMA, or as a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) through the American Academy of Professional Coders.

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of the current HCPCS, CPT and ICD codes.
• Thorough knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology.
• Ability to understand and code medical records.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to effectively use computer applications or other automated systems such as spreadsheets, word processing, calendar and e-mail for performing work assignments.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate sufficiently to perform the essential duties of the position.