[Hiring] Supervisory Medical Records Technician @VA Rocky Mountain Network

Role Description

The VISN 19 Consolidated Coding Unit (CCU) Supervisor is a supervisory position located within the Business Office Support Services (BOSS), Health Information Management (HIM) section within VISN 19.

This position currently has a Return to Office (RTO) mid-term extension (180-days). Remote work is currently authorized; however, candidates may be subject to return to office in the event policy changes or the exemption is not extended.

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.
• Selects and assigns 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).
• Monitors ever-changing regulatory and policy requirements affecting coded information for the full spectrum of services provided by the VAMC. Timely compliance with coding changes is crucial to the accuracy of the facility database as well as all cost recovery programs.
• Performs a comprehensive review of the patient health record to abstract medical, surgical, ancillary, demographic, social, and administrative data to ensure complete data capture.
• 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, accepted nomenclature, and proper sequencing.
• Determines staffing patterns for the unit, reassigning personnel to meet changing conditions.
• Works collaboratively with the Chief HIMS at each facility covered by the CCU, and CPAC (Consolidated Patient Accounts Center) staff in order to coordinate work related to the Consolidated Coding Unit and resolves any problems which could impede the progress of the unit.
• Coordinates and assists the development of standardized, Network-wide guidelines, procedures and compliance education materials for coding and abstracting to meet the rules and regulations of governmental health programs, VA, and other external entity requirements and payers.
• Is the primary contact with the CPAC regarding coding and billing issues. Independently acts to resolve any problems and provides regular reports to top management regarding the status of billed/unbilled claims.
• Develops performance standards and conducts performance evaluations for subordinate staff.
• Interviews new employees, recommends selection, and carries out training and development of reassignments, awards or disciplinary action. Approves leave schedules.
• Implements provisions of EEO programs to ensure fair and equal treatment for all employees.
• Schedules the sequence of work and operations on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis to assure even workflow and distribution, expeditious handling of priorities and the meeting of deadlines. Revises schedules/assignments to meet changes in workload considering peak loads, availability of manpower and time limits. Prepares workload and production reports; reports on operations and problems encountered; and presents proposed requests for resource needs based on past experience, anticipated staffing, equipment, and space.
• Reviews coding and assists coders in improving coding accuracy; provides coding guidance to various levels of staff to promote consistency in practice and compliance with coding rules and regulations; initiates various reports and analyzes data; and coordinates, assigns, and monitors the workflow.
• Keeps abreast of all regulations and guidelines governing the coding section, ensuring that staff supervised is educated as needed. Ensures that regulatory guidelines and current coding conventions are followed.
• Analyzes and recommends improvements in documentation systems used to provide patient care to optimize VERA workload, third-party reimbursement, and to manage resources.
• Required to train others on the encoder product suite.
• Conducts provider training to improve health record documentation for the episodes of care provided.

Work Schedule

• Monday - Friday. Tour of duty hours can vary between time zones and will be discussed with the supervisor.

Remote

• This is a remote position. This position currently has a Return to Office (RTO) mid-term extension (180-days). Remote work is currently authorized; however, candidates may be subject to return to office in the event policy changes or the exemption is not extended.

Qualifications

• 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 of the following must be met:
  • One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical coding, and the structure and format of health records.
  • 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.
  • Completion of an AHIMA approved coding program, or other intense coding training program of approximately one year or more that included courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, basic ICD diagnostic/procedural, and basic CPT coding.
  • Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements.
• Certification: At this level you must have a mastery level certification.

Requirements

• In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must also have one year of experience equivalent to the GS-9 level, that includes but is not limited to the following:
  • Review coding and assist MRTs (Coder) in ensuring timeliness and improving coding accuracy.
  • Provide coding guidance to various levels of staff to promote consistency in practice and compliance with coding rules and regulations.
  • Initiate, prepare, and maintain various reports, and analyze data; and may also coordinate, assign, and monitor workflow.
  • Orient and instruct new coding personnel and/or students on coding, abstracting, and use of the electronic health record and encoder software.
  • Ensure audit findings and claim denials related to coding errors are resolved and/or daily coding rejects corrected for accurate billing and data collection.
  • Monitor trends and/or changes in regulatory and policy requirements affecting coding practices and identify educational needs.
  • Develop coding training materials and present a curriculum encompassing ongoing training initiatives.
  • Provide assistance with coding inquiries from providers, MRTs (Coder), billers, and other facility staff.

Benefits

• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
• Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
• Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Physical Requirements

• Position is mostly sedentary, in an office type setting.