Medical Coder, Professional Fee Coder – Inpatient

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Alabama.

📋 Description

• Code professional services for inpatient care and nursing homes utilizing CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS.

• Code surgical procedures following global surgical package regulations and necessary add-on codes.

• Determine E/M categories and levels for inpatient and consultation services in accordance with the latest E/M guidelines.

• Implement NCCI bundling edits and assign modifiers such as 24, 25, 26, 51, 57, 59, and 79.

• Follow VHA billing protocols for supervising practitioners and residents in line with VHA Directives 1400.01 and 1401.

• Adhere to documentation requirements for teaching physicians.

• Examine documentation within CPRS.

• Update provider names in PCE or the surgery package as necessary.

• Enter codes into VistA using the VA-approved encoder.

• Identify records that have missing, unsigned, or inadequate documentation.

• Reassess coded records when questioned by the VA prior to billing or following a claim denial.

• Maintain a minimum accuracy rate of 95% and adhere to the turnaround times set by each facility.

• Provide support to Veterans Affairs medical centers within VISN 7, focusing on facilities in Atlanta and Birmingham.

⛳️ Requirements

• A valid CPC, CCS-P, CCS, RHIT, or RHIA credential.

• A minimum of 2 years of recent experience in professional fee coding, encompassing inpatient E/M and surgical procedures.

• Graduation from an accredited coding, health information management (HIM), or health information technician program.

• Formal education in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and reimbursement methodologies.

• In-depth understanding of CPT surgery guidelines, global periods, modifiers, and NCCI edits.

• Proficient with an industry-standard encoder.

• Must be a U.S. citizen.

• Capability to pass a federal background investigation (NACI) and fingerprinting.

• A private, secure home office equipped with reliable high-speed internet.

• Completion of the VA's annual Privacy and Information Security Awareness and HIPAA training (TMS 10176 and 10203) before commencing and annually thereafter.

• Compliance with AHIMA's Standards of Ethical Coding and VA confidentiality regulations.

• Avoid the use of "incident to" billing rules.

• Preferred: Experience coding in an academic medical center or teaching hospital with residents.

• Preferred: Experience in multi-specialty surgical coding, such as general, orthopedic, or vascular surgery.

• Preferred: Familiarity with VA systems, including VistA, CPRS, and the surgery package.

🏝️ Benefits

• Aptive supplies the laptop, encoder, and reference materials.

• 12-month base period plus four additional 12-month option periods.

• Veterans, Reserve and National Guard members, and transitioning active-duty service members are strongly encouraged to apply.