The EMS Medical Coding Specialist is responsible for accurate and compliant assignment of diagnosis and procedure codes to emergency medical services encounters, including ground and air ambulance transports. This senior-level position requires expert knowledge of ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II coding conventions, and Medicare/Medicaid billing regulations specific to EMS transport services. The specialist ensures optimal reimbursement while maintaining strict adherence to federal and state compliance requirements.
Medical Coding & Documentation:
- Review and abstract patient care reports (PCRs) to assign accurate ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes and HCPCS transport codes (A0426–A0436).
- Evaluate medical necessity documentation to support BLS, ALS-1, ALS-2, and specialty care transport (SCT) levels.
- Apply modifiers (e.g., QL, QM, QN) correctly for Medicare and Medicaid claims.
- Query EMS providers for incomplete or ambiguous clinical documentation in accordance with AHIMA query guidelines.
- Maintain coding accuracy rate of 95% or above on internal and external audits
Billing & Claims Management:
- Submit clean claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers following payer-specific guidelines.
- Review and resolve coding-related claim denials, underpayments, and appeals.
- Identify and escalate patterns of denial or documentation deficiency to management.
- Coordinate with billing staff to ensure seamless claims submission and follow-up.
Compliance & Quality Assurance:
- Ensure coding practices comply with OIG guidelines, HIPAA, and payer-specific policies.
- Participate in internal audits and respond to external audit requests.
- Monitor and implement updates related to annual HCPCS/ICD-10 code changes and CMS rulemaking.
- Maintain current knowledge of Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) for ambulance services.
Required Qualifications & Skills:
- Minimum 3–5 years of EMS/ambulance medical coding experience.
- Active CPC, CCS, or COC credential from AAPC or AHIMA; CPC-P or AMPA EMT-Coder preferred.
- Expert-level knowledge of ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, and CMS ambulance billing rules.
- Demonstrated experience with Medicare ambulance billing, including ABN requirements and transport certification statements.
- Proficiency with EMS billing software (e.g., Zoll Billing, TriTech, ESO, ImageTrend).
- Strong understanding of federal and state ambulance reimbursement regulations.
- High school diploma or GED required; Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Health Information Management preferred.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Certified Ambulance Coder (CAC), Certified Professional Coder (CPC), or other revenue cycle certification.
- Familiarity with value-based care models and ET3 (Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport) program billing.
- Knowledge of state-specific Medicaid managed care ambulance reimbursement policies.
- Experience with revenue cycle analytics and reporting tools.
Work Environment & Benefits:
- Employment Type: Full-time
- Compensation: Competitive hourly pay based on experience.
- Benefits: Health, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off, professional development opportunities.