Outpatient VA Coder

Medovent Solutions is a nationally recognized healthcare staffing and consulting firm headquartered in Tampa Bay. We are proud to be named one of the Best Places to Work by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, included in the Fast 50 for fastest-growing companies in Tampa Bay, and honored as part of the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. We are passionate about supporting healthcare organizations and professionals nationwide with expertise, innovation, and integrity.

Position Summary

Medovent Solutions is seeking an experienced Medical Records Technician (Coder) to support the Health Information Management (HIM) section of a VA Health Care System/Medical Center. This role classifies medical data from patient health records in hospital and physician-based settings, analyzing and abstracting records and assigning alpha-numeric codes to each diagnosis and procedure across outpatient and inpatient services.

The ideal candidate holds a mastery level coding certification, has advanced knowledge of ICD, CPT, and HCPCS, and can train and supervise coding staff. Along with coding, this position oversees daily coding operations, including staffing, workflow, turnaround times, training, and performance evaluations.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply comprehensive knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, disease processes, treatment modalities, diagnostic tests, medications, and procedures, along with the principles and practices of health services and the organizational structure, to ensure proper code selection.
• Select and assign codes from the current version of several coding systems, including ICD, CPT, and/or HCPCS.
• Apply codes based on guidelines specific to certain diagnoses, procedures, and other criteria in inpatient and outpatient settings used to classify patients under the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA) program, which categorizes all VA patients into specific classes representing their clinical conditions and resource needs.
• Monitor changing regulatory and policy requirements affecting coded information for the full spectrum of services provided by the VAMC, ensuring timely compliance with coding changes to protect the accuracy of the facility database and all cost recovery programs.
• Assist facility staff with documentation requirements to completely and accurately reflect the patient care provided, and provide technical support in regulations and policy, coding requirements, resident supervision, reimbursement, workload, accepted nomenclature, and proper sequencing.
• Ensure provider documentation is complete and supports the diagnoses and procedures coded.
• Consult directly with professional staff to clarify conflicting or ambiguous clinical data, and report incorrect documentation or codes in the electronic patient health record.
• Work within a team environment, supporting staff in meeting goals and deadlines while handling multiple tasks, working under pressure, and adapting to frequently changing projects and deadlines.
• Provide daily operational oversight of all coding functions by adjusting staffing, investigating workflow issues, answering coder questions, maintaining turnaround times, developing action plans, and following appropriate escalations.
• Develop performance standards and conduct performance evaluations for subordinate staff.
• Identify and communicate productivity and accuracy standards, and ensure coding staff meet them.
• Interview new employees, recommend selection, and carry out training and development activities, awards, or disciplinary action.
• Approve leave schedules and implement provisions of EEO programs to ensure fair and equal treatment for all employees.
• Schedule the sequence of work and operations on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis to maintain even workflow and distribution, handle priorities quickly, and meet deadlines.
• Revise schedules and assignments to meet changes in workload, considering peak loads, availability of manpower, and time limits.
• Monitor the status and progress of work and make day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities.
• Instruct employees in specific tasks and job techniques, and make written instructions, reference materials, and supplies available.

Required Qualifications

• Current mastery level certification: Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), Certified Coding Specialist - Physician-based (CCS-P), Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Outpatient Coder (COC), or Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC).
• In addition to certification, one of the following experience, education, or training paths.
• 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 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 (for example, courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical coding, and introduction to health records).
• Training: Completion of an AHIMA approved coding program, or another intensive coding training program of approximately one year or more that included courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, basic ICD diagnostic/procedural coding, and basic CPT coding. The program must have led to eligibility for a coding certification examination, and the sponsoring academic institution must have been accredited by a national U.S. Department of Education accreditor, or comparable international accrediting authority, at the time the program was completed.
• Education/Experience Combination: Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, a general understanding of medical coding and the health record, and one year above high school with a minimum of 6 semester hours of health information technology courses.
• Military Training/Experience Combination: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training given by the Armed Forces or the U.S. Maritime Service, under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted month-for-month for up to six months of experience, provided the program included courses in anatomy, physiology, and health record techniques and procedures. This path also requires six additional months of creditable paid or non-paid experience equivalent to an MRT (Coder).
• Advanced knowledge of current coding classification systems such as ICD, CPT, and HCPCS for the subspecialty being assigned (outpatient, inpatient, or outpatient and inpatient combined).
• Ability to provide or coordinate staff development and training.
• Education must be from an accredited college, university, school, or institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants using foreign education must submit a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with their transcript.

Preferred Qualifications

• Mastery level of current coding classification, or the equivalent to GS-7 or higher.
• A minimum of 3 years of continuous coding experience in the VA system, a university medical center, or an academic/teaching hospital.

Medovent Solutions offers an exceptional benefits package including a comprehensive medical/dental/vision plan, a 401(k) savings plan, paid holidays, and vacation pay.

Medovent Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in its employment practices on the basis of race, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, disability, citizenship, genetic information, veteran status or military service, or any other characteristic protected by federal or Florida law.