Inpatient Coder

Job Summary:

As an Inpatient Coder at Kaiser Permanente, you will be responsible for accurately coding and abstracting patient encounters, including diagnostic and procedural information, significant reportable elements, and complications. You will research and analyze data needs for reimbursement, analyze medical records, and identify documentation deficiencies. You will serve as a resource and subject matter expert to other coding staff, assisting with orienting, training, and mentoring staff as needed.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Review and verify documentation supports diagnoses, procedures, and treatment results, identifying diagnostic and procedural information.
• Audit clinical documentation and coded data to validate documentation supports services rendered for reimbursement and reporting purposes.
• Assign codes for reimbursements, research, and compliance with regulatory requirements utilizing guidelines, following coding conventions.
• Identify discrepancies, potential quality of care, and billing issues, researching, analyzing, recommending, and facilitating a plan of action to correct discrepancies and prevent future coding errors.
• Serve as a resource and subject matter expert to other coding staff, providing ongoing training as needed.

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum two (2) years of hospital licensed space certified coding experience required.

Education:

• High school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) required.
• Post high school coursework in medical records administration, anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology.

License, Certification, Registration:

• Certified Professional Coder OR Certified Coding Specialist OR Registered Health Information Technician OR Registered Health Information Administrator.

Additional Requirements:

• Experience with International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10 and ICD-10-PCS), Current Procedure Terminology (CPT4), and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) coding systems, and other related documentation requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to understand the clinical content of a health record.
• Knowledge of and experience in medical record department functions, diagnosis-related groups, and prospective payment system.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and skill in word processing, spreadsheet, and database PC applications.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum three (3) years of hospital licensed space experience as a Certified Hospital Coder.
• Completion of an accredited Health Information Management program.

---