POSITION DESCRIPTION

 

JOB TITLE & CODE:

Lead Hospital Coding Specialist (23026)

DEPARTMENT:

Health Information Management

REPORTS TO:

Manager

FLSA STATUS:

Non-Exempt

                                   

 

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

Serves as lead responsible for monitoring, maintaining and coordinating work assignments. Performs ongoing audits of select inpatients and outpatient accounts and provides training to ensure optimum reimbursement and hospital coding compliance. Ensures accurate and appropriate gathering of information into the coding classification systems to meet departmental, hospital and outside agency requirements. This includes ensuring appropriate reimbursement, compliance and charging with the various coding guidelines and regulatory agencies. Responsible for obtaining accurate and complete documentation in the medical record for accurate coding assignment, severity of illness and risk of mortality for each medical record.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

1.

High School Diploma or Equivalent.

2.

Certification in one of the following: RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician), RHIA (Registered Health Information Administrator), CCS (Certified Coding Specialist), COC-A (Certified Outpatient Coder-Apprentice), COC (Certified Outpatient Coder), Formerly CPC-H (Certified Professional Coder-Hospital), or CIC (Certified Inpatient Coder).

EXPERIENCE:

1.

Four (4) years of hospital coding, hospital inpatient coding or interventional radiology (IRAD) hospital coding experience.

 

 

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

1.

Graduate of Health Information Technology (HIT) or equivalent program OR Medical Coding Certification Program.

 

 

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The statements described here are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed by people assigned to this position.  They are not intended to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities and duties.  Other duties may be assigned.

1.

Monitors, maintains and coordinates work assignments.

2.

Processes daily reports.

3.

Performs training and in-service education and serves as a coding expert.

4.

Performs audits around charging and coding, as assigned.

5.

Works with revenue cycle teams to ensure that accurate, timely coding and optimum reimbursement occurs.

6.

Assists the management team in the day-to-day operations of the department, as it pertains to reimbursement, coding, abstracting, productivity, quality and education.

7.

Assists with development of coding related policies, procedures, query development, work queues and training materials in conjunction with management.

8.

Reviews and accurately interprets medical record documentation from all hospital accounts in order to identify all diagnosis and procedures that affect the current inpatient stay or outpatient encounter and assigns the appropriate ICD-10, CPT, or modifier codes for each diagnosis and procedure that is identified.

9.

Assures that quality and timely coding, charging and abstraction of accounts are completed daily for assigned specialty areas.

10.

Maintains and enhances current levels of coding knowledge through quality review, attendance and participation at clinical in-services and coding seminars, internal meetings, study of circulating reference materials, and inclusion of updates to coding manuals.

11.

Assures the accuracy, quality, and timely review of data needed to obtain a clean bill.

12.

Contacts physicians or any persons necessary to obtain information required for to accurately code assignments. Works and communicates with other offices in any manner necessary to facilitate the billing process.

 

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1.

Must be able to sit for long periods of time.

2.

Must have visual and hearing acuity within the normal range.

3.

Must have manual dexterity needed to operate computer and office equipment.

 

 

WORKING ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1.

Standard office environment.

2.

Visual strain may be encountered in viewing computer screens, spreadsheets, and other written material.

3.

May require travel.

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1.

Must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as interpersonal skills necessary to communicate effectively.

2.

Must possess the knowledge of related provider healthcare compliance, revenue cycle operations, and auditing techniques required.

3.

Must possess the ability to mentor, educate and train others.

4.

Must meet quality and productivity standards.

5.

Must be able to concentrate and maintain accuracy during constant interruptions.

6.

Must possess the ability to prioritize job duties.

7.

Must be able to adapt to changes in the workplace and work assignments.

8.

Must possess organizational and time management skills.

9.

Must possess the knowledge of anatomy, physiology and medical terminology.

10.

Must possess analytical and problem solving skills.

11.

Must be proficient in office software programs, including medical record and billing systems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date Reviewed/Revised:  July 2020