[Hiring] Medical Records Technician Auditor @VA Manchester Healthcare System

Role Description

This position is located in the Health Information Management Section (HIMS) of the Business Office Service Line at the VAMC Manchester NH. MRTs (Coder) Auditors are skilled in classifying medical data from patient health records in the hospital setting, and/or physician-based settings.

This remote option for this position will be assessed continuously, and if selected as a VA employee you may need to return to work to the nearest VA Office in the future, as determined by the agency policy.

Responsibilities

• Applies comprehensive knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, disease processes, treatment modalities, diagnostic tests, medications, procedures as well as the principles and practices of health services and the organizational structure to ensure proper code selection.
• Reviews assigned codes from the current version of several coding systems to include current versions of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), and/or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS).
• Adheres to accepted coding practices, guidelines and conventions when choosing the most appropriate diagnosis, operation, procedure, ancillary, or evaluation and management (E/M) code to ensure ethical, accurate, and complete coding.
• Applies guidelines specific to certain diagnoses, procedures, and other criteria used to classify patients under the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA) program.
• Monitors ever-changing regulatory and policy requirements affecting coded information for the full spectrum of services provided by the VAMC.
• Assists facility staff with documentation requirements to completely and accurately reflect the patient care provided.
• Directly consults with the professional staff for clarification of conflicting or ambiguous clinical data.
• Expertly searches the patient record to find documentation justifying code assignment.
• Reviews, analyzes and reports performance monitors for PTF, PCE, VERA and Non-VA Medical Care (purchased care) coding.
• Audits accurate and complete assignment of ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS codes, MS-DRG, POA status, and discharge disposition values for inpatient health records.
• Audits accurate and complete assignment of ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS codes, including appropriate E/M assignment and modifier usage for outpatient health records.
• Reviews coding and assists coders in improving coding accuracy; provides coding guidance to various levels of staff.
• Facilitates improved overall quality, completeness and accuracy of coded data.
• Responsible for performing audits of coded data, developing criteria, collecting data, graphing and analyzing results, creating reports and communicating in writing and/or in person to appropriate leadership and groups.

Work Schedule

• Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm
• Compressed/Flexible: Not available

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus)

• Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance)

• Not Authorized

Pay

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• A higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA.

Paid Time Off

• 37-50 days of annual paid time off 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).

Telework/Remote

• Available

Virtual

• This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #

• F04759

Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

• Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO)

• Not Authorized

Qualifications

• Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
• Basic Requirements:
• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Experience and Education:
• One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical coding, and the structure and format of health records.
• OR, an associate's degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education with a major field of study in health information technology/health information management, or a related degree with a minimum of 12 semester hours in health information technology/health information management.
• OR, completion of an AHIMA approved coding program, or other intense coding training program of approximately one year or more.
• OR, equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements.

Requirements

• CERTIFICATION: Persons hired or reassigned to MRT (Coder) positions in the GS-0675 series in VHA must have either:
• Apprentice/Associate Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.
• Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.
• Clinical Documentation Improvement Certification through AHIMA or ACDIS.
• NOTE: Mastery level certification is required for all positions above the journey level.

Benefits

• Previous experience in auditing in both Outpatient, inpatient and surgical settings.
• Previous experience in training coding and clinical staff on coding guidelines.

Company Description

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit VA Qualification Standards .

VA Handbook 5005/122 PART II APPENDIX G57.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-09.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.