DRG Coding Audit Manager

Elevance Health; Port Reading (NJ); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 207,000; Full time

Job summary

Elevance Health is seeking a DRG Coding Audit Manager to lead a high-performing team responsible for auditing inpatient medical records and ensuring the accuracy of DRG assignments and regulatory integrity. The role collaborates with clinical, compliance, provider engagement and analytics teams and reports to the program leadership.

The position is Hybrid, requiring three days in-office per week, with location options in NJ/NY/MD/OH/VA/MI and other posted locations.

Qualifications

• Requires a BA/BS and minimum of 5 years experience in project/program management, process reengineering, organizational design, and/or implementation; or any combination of education and experience, which would provide an equivalent background.
• Minimum 5–7 years of inpatient coding or DRG auditing experience, including 2–3 years in a leadership or supervisory capacity.
• Experience working with ICD-9/10CM, MS-DRG and APR-DRG.
• Broad knowledge of medical claims billing/payment systems provider billing guidelines, payer reimbursement policies, billing validation criteria and coding terminology preferred.

Responsibilities

• Sets the strategic direction for audit methodologies and oversees team development.
• Collaborates cross-functionally with clinical, compliance, provider engagement and analytics teams.
• Hires, trains, coaches and evaluates performance of direct reports.
• Analyzes audit trends, DRG shifts and uses financial outcomes to inform strategy.
• Plans program/project scope and design.
• Develops metrics and reporting tools.
• Leads building of documentation to support business objectives.
• Champions local stakeholders and tactical decisions.
• Proposes process improvements and efficiency recommendations.
• Draws on advanced ICD-10 coding expertise to substantiate conclusions.

Skills

Inpatient coding or DRG auditing

Leadership / Supervisory

ICD-9/10CM knowledge

Billing guidelines knowledge

Education

BA/BS degree

Tools

ICD-9/10CM

MS-DRG

APR-DRG

Job description

DRG Coding Audit Manager-Program/Project

Locations : The selected candidate must reside within a reasonable commuting distance of the designated posting location(s): Virginia, Indiana, Georgia, Ohio, Maryland; New Jersey, New York and Texas.

Hybrid 2 : This role requires associates to be in-office 3 days per week, fostering collaboration and connectivity, while providing flexibility to support productivity and work-life balance. This approach combines structured office engagement with the autonomy of virtual work, promoting a dynamic and adaptable workplace. Alternate locations may be considered if candidates reside within a commuting distance from an office

Please note that per our policy on hybrid/virtual work, candidates not within a reasonable commuting distance from the posting location(s) will not be considered for employment, unless an accommodation is granted as required by law.

The DRG Coding Audit Manager leads a high-performing team responsible for auditing inpatient medical records to ensure the accuracy and compliance of Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) assignments. This role plays a critical part in identifying coding discrepancies and recoverable claim opportunities, and supporting regulatory integrity on behalf of the company and its clients.

How you will make an impact:

• Sets the strategic direction for audit methodologies, oversees team development, and ensures that audits meet the industry’s best practices and payer-specific requirements.
• Collaborates cross-functionally with clinical, compliance, provider engagement, and data analytics teams to align audit insights with broader program goals.
• Hires, trains, coaches, counsels, and evaluates performance of direct reports.
• Analysis of audit trends, DRG shifts, and using financial outcomes to inform strategy.
• Plans program/project scope and design.
• Develops metrics and program/project reporting tools.
• Analyzes variance to program/project plan.
• Leads building of documentation to support business objectives and ensure consistency.
• Responsible for championing local stakeholders and tactical decision-makers.
• Suggests and develops high quality, high value concept and or process improvement and efficiency recommendations.
• Draws on advanced ICD-10 coding expertise, clinical guidelines, and industry knowledge to substantiate conclusions.

Minimum Requirements:

• Requires a BA/BS and minimum of 5 years experience in project/program management, process reengineering, organizational design, and/or implementation; or any combination of education and experience, which would provide an equivalent background. Travels to worksite and other locations as necessary.

Preferred Skills, Capabilities and Experiences:

• Preferred experience includes a minimum of 5-7 years of inpatient coding or DRG auditing experience, including 2-3 years in a leadership or supervisory capacity.
• Experience working with ICD-9/10CM, MS-DRG and APR-DRG.
• Broad knowledge of medical claims billing/payment systems provider billing guidelines, payer reimbursement policies, billing validation criteria and coding terminology preferred.

For candidates working in person or virtually in the below location(s), the salary* range for this specific position is $115,020 to $207,216

Locations: Maryland; Cleveland, OH; Columbus, OH; New Jersey, New York and Virginia.

• The salary range is the range Elevance Health in good faith believes is the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future and actual compensation may vary from posting based on geographic location, work experience, education, and/or skill level. Even within the range, the actual compensation will vary depending on the above factors as well as market/business considerations. No amount is wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable under the terms and conditions of the applicable policies and plans. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.

Please be advised that Elevance Health only accepts resumes for compensation from agencies that have a signed agreement with Elevance Health. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Elevance Health.

Who We Are

Elevance Health is a health company dedicated to improving lives and communities – and making healthcare simpler. We are a Fortune 25 company with a longstanding history in the healthcare industry, looking for leaders at all levels of the organization who are passionate about making an impact on our members and the communities we serve.

How We Work

At Elevance Health, we are creating a culture that is designed to advance our strategy but will also lead to personal and professional growth for our associates. Our values and behaviors are the root of our culture. They are how we achieve our strategy, power our business outcomes and drive our shared success - for our consumers, our associates, our communities and our business.

We offer a range of market-competitive total rewards that include merit increases, paid holidays, Paid Time Off, and incentive bonus programs (unless covered by a collective bargaining agreement), medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability benefits, 401(k) +match, stock purchase plan, life insurance, wellness programs and financial education resources, to name a few.

Elevance Health operates in a Hybrid Workforce Strategy. Unless specified as primarily virtual by the hiring manager, associates are required to work at an Elevance Health location at least once per week, and potentially several times per week. Specific requirements and expectations for time onsite will be discussed as part of the hiring process.

The health of our associates and communities is a top priority for Elevance Health. We require all new candidates in certain patient/member-facing roles to become vaccinated against COVID-19 and Influenza. If you are not vaccinated, your offer will be rescinded unless you provide an acceptable explanation. Elevance Health will also follow all relevant federal, state and local laws.

Elevance Health is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, genetic information, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Applicants who require accommodation to participate in the job application process should submit the Accessibility Accommodation Request Form (https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=8giMvgesLESaRuvu61vU17EJaA0EP3FIissI8zmZ_NpUNUgyTFRUMkY5NE5JNDFWMkhaUzQxMkJLWS4u&route=shorturl) and a member of the team will be in contact.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws, including, but not limited to, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act.

Prospective employees required to be screened under Florida law should review the education and awareness resources at HB531 | Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (https://info.flclearinghouse.com/).