Inpatient Coder II, HB coding

Northwestern Memorial Hospital; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

$10,000 Tuition Reimbursement per year

$10,000 Student Loan Repayment

$1,000 Professional Development per yr

$250 Wellbeing Fund per yr

Matching 401(k)

Excellent medical, dental and vision

Life insurance

Annual Salary Increase and Incentive

Paid time off and Holiday pay

Job summary

Northwestern Memorial Hospital is seeking an Inpatient Coder II to code complex inpatient discharges using ICD-10-CM/PCS. You will review clinical documentation, collaborate with the CDI team, and ensure accurate DRG assignments to support correct reimbursement.

The role offers a comprehensive benefits package, tuition and student loan support, and opportunities for professional development within Northwestern Medicine.

Qualifications

• RHIA, RHIT or CCS credential is required.
• AHIMA membership is required.
• 3 years of inpatient coding experience in an acute healthcare setting.

Responsibilities

• Assign ICD-10-CM/PCS codes for complex inpatient discharges.
• Review provider notes and CDI input to ensure accurate coding.
• Use CAC software to review and annotate codes.
• Ensure correct MS-DRG/APR-DRG assignments and reimbursement.
• Educate CDI on coding guidelines and conventions.

Skills

Inpatient coding

Education

Associate’s degree in related field

RHIA, RHIT or CCS credential

AHIMA membership

Job description

The salary range for this position is $29.24 - $42.39 (Hourly Rate)

Placement within the salary range is dependent on several factors such as relevant work experience and internal equity. For positions represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range is guided by the rules outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section located at jobs.nm.org/benefits to learn more.

Northwestern Medicine is powered by a community of colleagues who are purpose-driven and committed to our mission to deliver world-class care. Here, you’ll work alongside some of the best clinical talent in the nation leading the way in medical innovation and breakthrough research with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

We recognize where you’ve been, and we support where you’re headed. We celebrate diverse perspectives and experiences, which fuel our commitment to equity and culture of service.

Grow your career with comprehensive training and development opportunities, mentorship programs, educational support and student loan repayment.

Create the life you envision for yourself with flexible work options, a Reimbursable Well-Being Fund and a Total Rewards package that support your physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.

Make a difference through volunteer opportunities we offer in local communities and drive inclusive change through our workforce-led resource groups.

From discovery to delivery, come help us shape the future of medicine.

Benefits:

• $10,000 Tuition Reimbursement per year ($5,700 part-time)
• $10,000 Student Loan Repayment ($5,000 part-time)
• $1,000 Professional Development per year ($500 part-time)
• $250 Wellbeing Fund per year ($125 for part-time)
• Matching 401(k)
• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage
• Life insurance
• Annual Employee Salary Increase and Incentive Bonus
• Paid time off and Holiday pay

Description

The Inpatient Coder II reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. The Inpatient Coder II is the coding and reimbursement expert for ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding and ICD-10-PCS procedure coding for complex inpatient acute care discharges. Possesses a strong foundation in coding conventions, instructions, Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting and Coding Clinics. Has a deep understanding of disease process, anatomy/physiology, pharmacology and medical terminology.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Utilizes technical coding expertise to assign appropriate ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS codes to complex inpatient visit types. Complexity is measured by a Case Mix Index (CMI) and Coder II’s typically see average CMI’s of 2.2609. This index score demonstrates higher patient complexity and acuity.
• Utilizes expertise in clinical disease process and documentation, to assign Present on Admission (POA) values to all secondary diagnoses for quality metrics and reporting.
• Thoroughly reviews the provider notes within the health record and the Findings from the Clinical Documentation Nurse in the Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) Department who concurrently reviewed the record and provide their clinical insight on the diagnoses.
• Utilizes resources within CAC (Computerized Assisted Coding) software to efficiently review documentation and select or assign ICD-10-CM/PCS codes using autosuggestion or annotation features.
• Reviews Discharge Planning and nursing documentation to validate and correct when necessary, the Discharge Disposition which impacts reimbursement under Medicare’s Post-Acute Transfer Policy.
• Utilizes knowledge of MS-DRG’s, APR-DRG’s, AHRQ Elixhauser risk adjustment to sequence the appropriate ICD-10-CM codes within the top 24 fields to ensure correct reimbursement and NM’s ranking in US News and World Report.
• Collaborate with CDI on approximately 45% of discharges regarding the final MS or APR DRG and comorbidity diagnoses.
• Educates CDI on regulatory guidelines, Coding Clinics and conventions to report appropriate ICD-10-CM diagnoses.
• Interprets health record documentation using knowledge of anatomy, physiology, clinical disease process, pharmacology, medical terminology to determine the Principal Diagnosis, secondary diagnoses and procedures.
• Follows the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, ICD-10-PCS Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, Coding Clinic for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS, coding conventions and instructional notes to assign the appropriate diagnoses and procedures.
• Utilizes coding expertise and knowledge to write appeal letters in response to payor DRG downgrade notices.
• Resolves Nosology Messages/Alerts and Coding Validation Warning/Errors.
• Meets established coding productivity and quality standards.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

Certification:

• RHIA, RHIT or CCS credential
• AHIMA membership

Experience:

• 3 years of inpatient coding experience in an acute healthcare setting

Preferred:

• Associate’s degree in related field
• RHIA, RHIT with CCS or CDIP/CCDS credential
• 4 years of inpatient coding experience in a teaching hospital

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events.

Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information https://jobs.nm.org/benefits

Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings.

If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.