Medical Records Technician (Coder) Outpatient and Inpatient

The Medical Records Technician (Coder) is responsible for performing a quality review of patient care documents and assigning codes specific for the type of care provided. Duties may include, but are not limited to: Identifies the principal diagnosis and principal procedure (when applicable) for every inpatient discharge; also identifies significant complications and/or co-morbidities treated or impacting treatment to correctly determine the proper Diagnostic Related Group (DRG). Upon patient admission to the Nursing Home Care Unit, codes the admission diagnosis for use by unit staff. Conducts re-reviews of codes abstracted for patient encounters (inpatient and outpatient) identified by the VISN VERA committee to determine if based on the documentation the specific VERA coding requirements were followed; corrects coding as needed to ensure proper patient classification in the VERA program. Codes inpatient professional fee services for identified inpatient admissions in support of the Medical Care Cost Recovery (MCCR) program. Code selection is based upon strict compliance with regulatory fraud and abuse guidelines and VA specific guidance for optimum allowable reimbursement. Establishes the primary and secondary diagnosis and procedure codes for billable outpatient encounters following applicable regulations, instructions, and requirements for allowable reimbursement; links the appropriate diagnosis to the procedure and/or determines level of Evaluation & Management service provided. Understands the nuances of the CPT coding system for Third Party Insurance cost recovery and accurately interprets instructional notations; bundles encounters when appropriate; identifies non-billable encounters. Codes all Operating Room procedures reported in the Surgical Package of the Vista hospital system; applies ICD-9-CM and CPT coding guidelines and selects proper codes using the QuadraMednCoder+ software; ensures all procedures file to the appropriate Patient Care Encounter (PCE); adds Anesthesia and Pathology codes to the PCE encounter for all billable surgical cases. Updates codes for current inpatient and Contract Nursing Home admissions for quarterly census and as directed for billable long stay admissions to reflect all patient conditions and care up to the census date or to the requested billing date. Reviews and codes assigned Fee Service patient encounters (inpatient and outpatient) using the paper or electronic documentation obtained from non-VA facilities such as Community Hospitals, Emergency Rooms, military facilities, etc. Work Schedule: Full time 7:00am to 3:30pm (Can be negotiated at time of interview) Compressed/Flexible: Available Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized NOTIFICATIONS: Current and former Federal employees MUST submit copies of their most recent non-award SF-50 (notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position, title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (competitive or Excepted). This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Veterans' preference does not apply This vacancy is limited to the first #50 applications received and will close on the day we receive the #50 application, whichever comes first. This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position.