[Hiring] Medical Records Technician Auditor-Outpatient @Salem VA Medical Center

Role Description

This position is located within the Health Information Management (HIM) Service at the Salem VA Healthcare System (SVAHCS). The Medical Records Technician (Coder) Auditor is responsible for the accurate classification and coding of medical data derived from patient health records across hospital and physician-based settings, including private practices, group practices, multi-specialty clinics, and specialty care centers.

The major duties of a Medical Records Technician (Coder) Auditor-Outpatient include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Adheres to accepted coding practices, guidelines and conventions when validating the most appropriate diagnosis, operation and procedure.
• 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.
• Assists facility staff with documentation requirements to completely and accurately reflect the patient care provided.
• Provides technical support in the areas of regulations and policy, coding requirements, resident supervision, reimbursement, workload, and proper sequencing.
• Consults directly with the professional staff for clarification of conflicting or ambiguous clinical data.
• Reviews the patient record to find documentation justifying code assignment based on an expanded knowledge of the organization and structure of the patient health record.
• Reviews, analyzes and reports performance monitors.
• Audits accuracy and completeness of assigned codes, status and discharge disposition values.
• Provides training and education to coding and clinical staff.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm

Remote: This position is currently eligible designated as for remote work and is operating under an extension to return-to-office requirement. That extension can be withdrawn at any time, at which point the employee may be required to return to the office within 50 miles of the Salem VA medical center.

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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.
  • English Language Proficiency: Proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Experience and Education:
  • Experience: One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical coding, and the structure and format of health records.
  • Education: An associate's degree or higher, and three years of experience in clinical documentation improvement.
  • Completion of an AHIMA approved coding program, or other intense coding training program of approximately one year or more.
  • Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements.
• Certification: Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation.

Requirements

• In addition to the Basic Requirements above and certification, candidates must also meet any additional requirements to include KSAs and experience based on grade assignment below.
• GS-09 Experience:
  • One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-08 grade level.
• Demonstrated KSAs:
  • Advanced knowledge of current coding classification systems such as ICD, CPT, and HCPCS.
  • Ability to research and solve complex questions related to coding conventions and guidelines.
  • Ability to review coded data and supporting documentation to identify adherence to applicable standards.
  • Ability to format and present audit results, identify trends, and provide guidance to improve accuracy.
  • Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution.

Company Description