Current jobs related to Senior Cancer Coding Analyst - Lithonia, Georgia - HealthEcareers - Client

The primary role involves the identification, collection, evaluation, monitoring, and documentation of diagnosis coding information (ICD). The specialist will collaborate closely with departmental leadership, auditors, and management to enhance the collection of additional diagnoses and HEDIS data through thorough clinical documentation reviews. This position engages in ongoing trend identification and analysis concerning practitioners and various clinical areas as needed, adhering to established documentation and coding standards. Key responsibilities include the application of documentation criteria, validation of health record completeness, process studies, regulatory audits, and coding compliance analysis. The role also entails concurrent analysis of coding for Medicare encounters, providing coding assistance through guideline interpretation, training support, and communication with practitioners.

This position ensures compliance with state and federal regulations regarding the lifelong monitoring of cancer patients. Responsibilities include daily activities related to the collection, summarization, and abstraction of detailed demographic and clinical oncology information from diverse internal and external data sources, in line with the reporting requirements of the Georgia Tumor Registry and the standards set by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer for all reportable cases. Accurate and complete documentation is essential for this mandated reporting. The role also supports accurate Medicare risk adjustment reporting and healthcare exchanges, maintaining lifetime follow-up on each reportable case.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct data/documentation and coding validation and analysis, authorized to modify assigned codes based on clinical documentation reviews and necessary clarifications.
• Assist in designing, modifying, and implementing best practices and recommendations for coding edit software, participating in user acceptance testing.
• Provide specialty-specific training to practitioners on documentation and appropriate coding practices, supporting training at various levels as required.
• Stay updated on professional health information practices and regulatory requirements related to health information management and coding compliance.
• Engage in task force groups as requested, interacting with leadership and staff on health information and coding matters.
• Facilitate regional and departmental training sessions.
• Serve as a coding expert in Medicare Risk Adjustment and specialty-based coding.
• Perform extensive analyses of patient records to assess documentation of relevant diagnoses related to Oncology and secondary diagnoses.
• Promote appropriate clinical documentation through collaboration with physicians, nursing staff, and other resources.
• Link ICD-0 and ICD coding guidelines to enhance the accuracy of patient severity assessments and final code assignments.
• Review medical records to ensure compliance with AJCC Staging Manual, SEER, and FORDS standards.
• Maintain professional relationships with physicians and caregivers.
• Compile data and analyses to identify documentation and coding improvement opportunities and enhance coding accuracy.
• Act as a liaison between coding operations, auditing, clinicians, and partners to identify trends and develop remediation strategies.
• Ensure timely lifetime follow-up reporting for all required cases.
• Fulfill all continuing education requirements to maintain credentials.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Minimum seven (7) years of outpatient coding experience.
• At least three (3) years of experience in tumor registry.
• Minimum two (2) years of direct experience in Cancer Registry.
• At least two (2) years of experience in Risk Adjustment coding.

Education:

• Associate's degree or completion of two (2) years of college-level courses in health information, business administration, or related fields. A High School Diploma or GED is required.

Certifications:

• Tumor Registrar Certificate must be obtained within 12 months of hire.

Additional Skills:

• Proven ability to collaborate with State Reporting Agencies.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written.