Medical Office Coder

Description

Summary

The Medical Office Coder will have frequent interactions with physicians, non-physician providers and other clinical staff. Responsibilities include assigning diagnosis and procedure codes based on medical documentation. The Medical Office Coder abstracts information from the medical record and communicates with the physician and clinical staff regarding clarification of insufficient, unclear or conflicting documentation. 

Responsibilities

• Process daily encounters submitted by the provider. Review medical records and abstract information necessary for correct reporting of ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS codes. Applies official guidelines for coding and reporting and understands the coding conventions. Maintain a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, pathophysiology and pharmacology through participation in continuing education programs. 
• Communicate with administrators and ancillary services personnel when clarification and completion of documentation is needed for accurate coding. Provide feedback to providers as it pertains to proper coding and clinical documentation of services performed and to address any other documentation deficiencies.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Adheres to and supports the objectives, policies and procedures of Illinois Bone and Joint Institute.
• Supports the development and implementation of improvement initiatives as it relates to the department goals.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient information according to HIPAA guidelines.
• Reports directly to the Coding Manager.

Requirements

Education

• High School Diploma or equivalent required. 
• Associates degree in health information or equivalent is preferred.

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification

• Certified Coding Specialist (CCS-P), Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Coding Associate (CCA), or Certified Outpatient Coder (COC) is required.
• Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) is preferred.

Experience/Skills

• A minimum of two (2) years’ experience coding office encounters & procedures in Orthopedic Surgery is required. 
• Additional coding experience in one of the following specialties is preferred: Podiatry, Pain Medicine, Rheumatology, Hand Surgery, Sports Medicine, or Physiatry.
• Must be able to code charges based on reading and interpreting medical documentation.
• Understands and applies appropriate Center Medicare Services (CMS) and commercial insurance guidelines to coding.
• Understanding and applying ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS coding conventions is required.
• Understanding of Anatomy & Physiology and Medical Terminology is required.
• EMR experience required; Epic is preferred.
• Encoder experience required; Codify is preferred
• Effective written and verbal communication skills are required.

Base salary offers for this position may vary based on factors such as location, skills and relevant experience. We offer the following benefits to those who are benefit eligible (30+ hours a week):  medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, long and short term disability, 401k program with company match and profit sharing, wellness program, health savings accounts, flexible savings accounts, ID protection plan and accident, critical illness and hospital benefits. In addition, we offer paid holidays and paid time off.