Coding Team Lead

Wolcott, Wood and Taylor Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Wolcott, Wood and Taylor Inc. in Chicago, IL seeks a Coding Lead to orchestrate daily coding operations and act as the liaison between coders, supervisors, and the financial division.

You will guide workflows, address coding questions, and help ensure adherence to coding policies while maintaining an active workload. The role includes coaching junior staff, monitoring productivity, and escalating complex issues as needed to improve reimbursement timelines.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED; solid coding/billing foundation.
• CPC or CCS-P certification preferred.
• Minimum 3–5 years of physician billing coding experience in Healthcare Revenue Cycle.

Responsibilities

• Assist Coding Supervisor in monitoring daily work queues to maintain productivity.
• Serve as a resource to coders on clinical documentation and appropriate code assignments.
• Monitor charge lag to ensure timely coding review turnaround.
• Communicate errors/trends to Coding Supervisor and team.
• Collaborate with financial division on documentation issues affecting coding/reimbursement.
• Research coding issues and escalate as needed.
• Assist with review of Claim Edits and Router WQs.
• Support development of coding staff through coaching and sharing knowledge.
• Train new hires within the assigned Financial Division.
• Perform daily coding encounters meeting productivity levels.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Maintain coding credentials and mandatory training compliance.

Skills

Medical terminology

Communication

Persistence

Goal orientation

Customer relations

Interpersonal skills

Microsoft Excel

Writing skills

Education

High School Diploma

CPC or CCS-P certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Coding Lead supports the daily operations of the Coding Department by serving as a liaison between coding staff, Coding Supervisor, and the assigned financial division. This role provides operational guidance to coders, supports departmental workflows, and promotes adherence to established coding policies and procedures.

Under the direction of the Coding Supervisor and Coding Manager, the Coding Lead performs quality review activities to ensure coding accuracy and compliance while also maintaining an active coding workload. The Lead assists in monitoring productivity, addressing coding questions, and facilitating communication between team members and leadership to support efficient and compliant coding operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist Supervisor in monitoring daily work queues and coding assignments to help maintain productivity and timely completion of coding review.
• Serves as a resource to coders by addressing questions related to clinical documentation, physician coding inquiries and appropriate code assignments.
• Monitors charge lag for assigned WQs to ensure appropriate coding review turnaround.
• Communicates errors and trends identified during team touch base to Coding Supervisor
• Under the guidance of the supervisor, work with financial division contact to provide feedback on documentation issues which affect coding review, reimbursement and/or workflow.
• Research coding issues using available resources. Reviews those needing escalation with supervisor.
• Work with supervisor to assist with review of Claim Edit and Router WQs
• Support boarding and ongoing development of coding staff by sharing knowledge, providing informal coaching and reinforcing coding standards.
• Responsible for helping and training new hires within assigned Financial Division.
• Performs daily coding encounters meeting department productivity levels
• Other duties as assigned.
• Responsible for maintenance and monitoring coding credentials of coding staff and other required mandatory training requirements

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge – knowledge of medical terminology, coding and office procedures.
• Communication - communicates clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing.
• Persistence – comfortable pursuing, rebutting and escalating issues as appropriate.
• Goal-oriented – holds him/herself accountable to achieving shared professional and personal goals.
• Customer orientation - establishes and maintains long-term customer relationships, building trust and respect by consistently meeting and exceeding expectations.
• Interpersonal skills – establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees, patients, and external parties.
• PC skills - demonstrates high proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, especially Microsoft Excel, and others as required.
• Writing skills –advanced writing skills with ability to present a compelling argument, punctuate properly, spell correctly and transcribe accurately.

Education/Experience

High School Diploma or general Education Degree (GED) plus must demonstrate solid foundation in coding and billing. CPC or CCS-P with work experience in coding and billing is preferred. Minimum three to five (2-3) years of coding experience in Physician billing healthcare Revenue Cycle required.