Inpatient Coding Data Quality Auditor/Educator

University Hospital; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 98,000 - 142,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & Prescription Drug Coverage

Dental & Vision Insurance

HSA & FSA

Short- & Long-Term Disability

Pension Plan

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Professional Development

Job summary

University Hospital in Newark, NJ seeks an Inpatient Coding Data Quality Auditor/Educator to ensure accurate ICD-10 coding, DRG assignment, and compliant documentation. The role leads ongoing education for inpatient coding staff and audits records to optimize reimbursement.

The position requires a BS in health information management, CCS certification, and 3+ years of inpatient coding in a teaching hospital setting with knowledge of CMS/Medi caid guidelines and Epic/Clintegrity tools.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in health information management or related field.
• CCS certification is required; if not CCS, recertification must be obtained within 60 days of hire or next exam.
• Minimum 3 years of hospital inpatient coding experience with ICD-9/ICD-10 and DRG assignment.

Responsibilities

• Performs daily data quality reviews on inpatient records to validate ICD-10 codes.
• Ensures accuracy and proper sequencing according to coding guidelines.
• Reviews cases for OIG-focused DRGs and transfer DRGs as needed.
• Verifies accuracy and appropriateness of DRG selections.
• Prepares and communicates coding corrections with rationale for education.
• Uses audit tracking tools to identify error types by coder.
• Supports third-party payer documentation to ensure accurate reimbursement.
• Reviews physician queries for timeliness and appropriateness.
• Ensures compliance with CMS, Medicaid, and payer guidelines.
• Monitors coding staff for potential violations and escalates as needed.
• Continuously evaluates clinical documentation quality.
• Identifies incomplete documentation impacting code selection and DRG grouping.

Skills

Attention to detail

Verbal and written communication

Independent work

multitasking and prioritization

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management or related field

RHIA or RHIT preferred

CCS certification required

Tools

Clintegrity 360

Epic EHR

Job description

Overview

About the Role

The primary purpose of the Inpatient Coding Data Quality Auditor/Educator is to ensure the consistent processing of claims and collection of data to optimize DRG reimbursement and produce quality data that accurately reflects the severity and
intensity of hospital inpatient services. Audits inpatient coded records, provides continuing education of all inpatient coding staff and facilitates the inpatient coding work flow.

Responsibilities

What You’ll Do

• Performs daily data quality reviews on inpatient records to validate ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes
• Ensures accuracy, proper sequencing, and adherence to coding guidelines on all cases
• Reviews cases identified as OIG-focused DRGs, transfer DRGs, and other target areas as needed
• Verifies the accuracy and appropriateness of the selected DRG
• Communicates coding corrections to coders and explains the rationale for educational purposes
• Utilizes audit tracking tools to identify coding error types by coder
• Prepares written rebuttals for DRG reassignments or appeals, when requested
• Provides supporting documentation to third-party payers to ensure compliance and accurate reimbursement
• Reviews physician queries for appropriateness and follows up to ensure timely responses
• Adheres to AHIMA Standards of Ethical Coding
• Monitors coding staff for potential violations and reports concerns to the Manager
• Continuously evaluates clinical documentation quality
• Identifies incomplete or inconsistent documentation impacting code selection, DRG grouping, and reimbursement
• Escalates documentation concerns as needed

Qualifications

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management or a related field required
• RHIA or RHIT certification preferred
• CCS certification required
• If not CCS certified, must obtain CCS certification from AHIMA within 60 days of hire or within 60 days of the next available exam
• Minimum of 3 years of hospital inpatient coding experience
• Experience with ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure coding
• Experience with DRG assignment
• Experience in a tertiary care or teaching hospital environment preferred
• Knowledge of complex services including surgical, transplant, trauma, neurosurgery, OB/GYN, and neonatology
• Knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and disease processes required
• Knowledge of Coding Clinic, POA, and query guidelines required
• Knowledge of CMS, Medicaid, and third-party payer coding, billing, and compliance regulations required
• Experience with encoder systems (e.g., Clintegrity 360) preferred
• Experience with Epic electronic health record preferred
• Ability to manage multiple and changing priorities
• Must be detail-oriented, accurate, and organized
• Ability to work independently
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Additional related experience may be substituted for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis

What We Offer

• Medical & Prescription Drug Coverage
• Dental & Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) & Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Short- & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Professional Development

Compensation

In compliance with New Jersey’s Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is PS/32S: $98,288 - $118,941- $142,009 per year. University Hospital considers multiple factors when determining compensation, including (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s relevant work experience, education and training, key skills, internal equity, market data, and organizational needs. The expected salary range for this position is in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency Law; final compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

About Us

University Hospital is one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers. As the principal teaching affiliate of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and the only state-certified Level 1 Trauma Center in Northern New Jersey, University Hospital is training the next generation of physicians and advancing science to discovery while taking exceptional care of patients, regardless of their financial situation.