HCC Coder

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Exemption Status:

Non-Exempt

Hiring Range:

$25.83 - $43.91

Please note that the final offer may vary within this range based on a candidate’s experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.

Schedule Details:

Monday through Friday

Scheduled Hours:

7:00am-3;30pm

Shift:

1 - Day Shift, 8 Hours (United States of America)

Hours:

40

Cost Center:

99940 - 5458 Coding Services

Union:

SHARE (State Healthcare and Research Employees)

This position may have a signing bonus available a member of the Recruitment Team will confirm eligibility during the interview process.

Everyone Is a Caregiver

At UMass Memorial Health, everyone is a caregiver – regardless of their title or responsibilities. Exceptional patient care, academic excellence and leading-edge research make UMass Memorial the premier health system of Central Massachusetts, and a place where we can help you build the career you deserve. We are more than 20,000 employees, working together as one health system in a relentless pursuit of healing for our patients, community and each other. And everyone, in their own unique way, plays an important part, every day.

Interprets a wide variety of clinical and diagnostic documentation to determine the opportunity for Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) diagnosis selection and/or removal in accordance with official coding guidelines. Assigns appropriate ICD-CM (current edition) codes to outpatient office-based claims, tracks capture results, and reports clinical documentation patterns and trends. Supports all risk adjustment projects by complying with CMS requirements.

I. Major Responsibilities:
1. Upon review of the medical record, performs analysis on documentation to determine the appropriate ICD-CM (current edition) codes as defined by official coding guidelines and other recognized reference materials.
2. Builds partnerships and work within coding teams and other organization departments critical to HCC coding.
3. Reviews coded records for coding quality assurance.
4. Verifies documentation is present to substantiate codes assigned.
5. Participates in the continuous coding audit and performance management program.
6. Maintains coding accuracy rate of not less than 95% for optimal reimbursement as well as department productivity standards as outlined in department policies.
7. Attends required training classes and coding in-services each year to stay abreast of new regulations and coding guidelines.
8. Participates in improvement efforts and documentation training for medical and clinical staff as it relates to coding practices and guidelines.
9. Alerts management to any unusual or questionable situations, coding irregularities, or trends contrary to policies / procedures, so corrective measures may be taken.
10. Adheres to the coding and billing regulations established by the American Hospital Association (AHA), American Medical Association (AMA), and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
11. Maintains direct and ongoing communications with other coding personnel to maximize overall effectiveness and efficiency of the operation.

Standard Staffing Level Responsibilities:
1. Complies with established departmental policies, procedures and objectives.
2. Attends variety of meetings, conferences, seminars as required or directed.
3. Demonstrates use of Quality Improvement in daily operations.
4. Complies with all health and safety regulations and requirements.
5. Respects diverse views and approaches, demonstrates Standards of Respect, and contributes to creating and maintaining an environment of professionalism, tolerance, civility and acceptance toward all employees, patients and visitors.
6. Maintains, regular, reliable, and predictable attendance.
7. Performs other similar and related duties as required or directed.
All responsibilities are essential job functions.

II. Position Qualifications:

License/Certification/Education:
Required:
1. High School diploma or equivalent.
2. Medical coding training and medical terminology from an accredited program.
Recognized programs include:
a. American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Must complete and pass certification program within one year from date of hire.
3. Certification(s) as a Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), Certified Coding Specialist - Physician (CCS-P), Certified Professional Coder (CPC), or Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC).

Experience/Skills:
Required:
1. Three (3) years of HCC and/or outpatient coding experience.
2. Thorough knowledge of risk adjustment payment mythologies
3. Thorough knowledge of ICD-CM (current edition) and CPT coding as well as CCI edits
4. Thorough knowledge of third-party payer requirements as well as federal and state guidelines and regulations pertaining to coding and billing practices.
5. Excellent interpersonal and communications skills and demonstrates professionalism
6. Excellent customer service skills with the ability to communicate efficiently.
7. Exceptional organizational skills with attention to detail.
8. Ability to work independently within established guidelines.
9. Ability to organize and coordinate multiple functions and tasks.
10. Ability to problem solve, organize and prioritize workload to meet productivity benchmarks.
11. Ability to withstand significant level of on-going pressure, and ability to deal with individuals with tact, discretion and diplomacy.

Unless certification, licensure or registration is required, an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides proficiency in the areas of responsibility listed in this description may be substituted for the above requirements.

Department-specific competencies and their measurements will be developed and maintained in the individual departments. The competencies will be maintained and attached to the departmental job description. Responsible managers will review competencies with position incumbents.

III. Physical Demands and Environmental Conditions:

Work is considered sedentary. Position requires work indoors in a normal office environment.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

We’re striving to make respect a part of everything we do at UMass Memorial Health – for our patients, our community and each other. Our six Standards of Respect are: Acknowledge, Listen, Communicate, Be Responsive, Be a Team Player and Be Kind. If you share these Standards of Respect, we hope you will join our team and help us make respect our standard for everyone, every day.

As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, UMass Memorial Health recognizes the power of a diverse community and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences, perspectives and backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

If you are unable to submit an application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at [email protected]. We will make every effort to respond to your request for disability assistance as soon as possible.