Medical Records Technician (Coder) Auditor

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Indiana (PA); Remote; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Medical Records Technician (Coder) Auditor to oversee coding accuracy and compliance. This role includes conducting audits, providing guidance on coding standards, and generating reports for coding education. Candidates should possess an associate's degree in health information technology and relevant experience. This full-time remote position advocates for a health-centered approach in a transformative environment.

Qualifications

• Proficient in coding systems such as ICD, CPT, and HCPCS.
• One year of experience in medical coding required.
• Ability to perform audits and provide feedback.

Responsibilities

• Conduct audits of outpatient encounters and coding compliance.
• Provide input as a coding expert in committees/work groups.
• Generate reports to track coding errors and accuracy rates.

Skills

Medical terminology

Anatomy

Physiology

Coding accuracy

Interpersonal skills

Education

Associate's degree in Health Information Technology

AHIMA approved coding program

Job description

Join to apply for the Medical Records Technician (Coder) Auditor role at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Join to apply for the Medical Records Technician (Coder) Auditor role at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provided pay range

This range is provided by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$52,205.00/yr - $67,865.00/yr

Summary

The Health Information Section (HIMS) Coding Auditor is responsible for coding and provider audits. Overseeing the appropriate coding assignment of ICD-10 CM, CPT-4, and HCPCS codes and various other duties assigned. Incumbent will also complete any coding assigned.

Help

Duties

Duties of the Medical Records Technician (Coder) Auditor include but are not limited to:

• Performs weekly or monthly audits of outpatient encounters. Reviews results of external audits and prepares education and/or audit responses.
• Performs monthly audits related to VHA Directives to include in-house and contract coding audits, EPRP reviews, revenue related/CPAC audits and other coding risk areas identified by Compliance, CPAC, VISN, external auditors medical center leadership and HIMs.
• Researches current guidelines related to inpatient and outpatient services and provides guidance to coding department and clinical staff accordingly.
• Participates in committees/work groups to provide input as a coding expert related to coding services and identify risk areas to improve clinical documentation and coding accuracy.
• Produces audit reports, graphs, presentations, to track and trend coding errors and accuracy rates using quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Works with Lead Coder to identify training deficiencies and areas of Improvement. Provides feedback to coders to improve accuracy as requested. Provides feedback to providers, including education and training on coding guidelines and corrective measures. Ensures coding assignment and documentation follows VHA Coding guidelines, Joint Commission on Accreditation of healthcare organization (JCAHO0), ICD-10, CPT/AMA coding conventions, and payer guidelines for optimal reimbursement. Thoroughly reviews the patient's record to ensure that all conditions of care, operations, and procedures ore properly documented by the clinician and sequenced in order of importance.
• Audits new providers as they are newly employed.
• Interprets and applies knowledge of clinical classification systems such as International Classification of Disease (ICD), Current Procedural Technology (CPT), Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED), Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) and health information systems.
• Determines and evaluates for compliance with the standards of regulatory and accrediting bodies such as Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services etc.
• Provide technical advice and/or oversight on health information issues, privacy and coding compliance. This includes skill in interpreting and adapting health information management guidelines that are not completely applicable to the work or have gaps in specificity.
• Extracts information to generate reports from various databases (e.g. clinical, financial), and analyze data including a consideration of such issues as applicability, validity, reliability and the quality and characteristics of the data source etc.
• Produce various reports, graphs and PowerPoint presentations in various formats, presenting data to various organizational levels and providing technical education to medical staff.
• Reviews, audits, monitor and complete other assignments in specified time frames.
  
  

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Remote: This is a remote position. Remote refers to work performed on full-time basis anywhere other than a VA facility or using VA-leased space.

Functional Statement #: 91545-A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Help

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
  
  

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

English Language Proficiency: MRTs (Coder) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C.

• 7403(f).
  
  

Experience and/or Education:

• Experience. One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical coding, and the structure and format of a health records; OR,
• 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 (e.g., courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical coding, and introduction to health records); OR,
• Completion of an AHIMA approved coding program, or other intense coding training program of approximately one year or more that included courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, basic ICD diagnostic/procedural, and basic CPT coding. The training program must have led to eligibility for coding certification/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; OR,
  
  

Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements. The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable experience:

• Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, 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.
• Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces or the U.S. Maritime Service, under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to six months of experience provided the training program included courses in anatomy, physiology, and health record techniques and procedures. Also, requires six additional months of creditable experience that is paid or non-paid employment equivalent to a MRT (Coder).
  
  

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA as a MRT (Coder) on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

Grade Determinations:

Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the journey grade level GS-8 of a MRT (Coder). Creditable experience includes: Ability to analyze the health record to identify all pertinent diagnoses and procedures for coding and to evaluate the adequacy of the documentation. This includes the ability to read and understand the content of the health record, the terminology, the significance of the comments, and the disease process/pathophysiology of the patient. Ability to accurately perform the full scope of outpatient coding, including ambulatory surgical cases, diagnostic studies and procedures, and outpatient encounters, and inpatient facility coding, including inpatient discharges, surgical cases, diagnostic studies and procedures, and inpatient professional services. Skill in interpreting and adapting health information guidelines that are not completely applicable to the work, or have gaps in specificity, and the ability to use judgment in completing assignments using incomplete or inadequate guidelines.

AND

Certification: Persons hired or reassigned to MRT (Coder) positions in the GS-0675 series in VHA must have possess one of the following certifications:

• Apprentice/Associate Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.
• Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.
• Clinical Documentation Improvement Certification through AHIMA or ACDIS.
  
  

NOTE: Mastery level certification is required for all positions above the journey level; however, for clinical documentation improvement specialist assignments, a clinical documentation improvement certification may be substituted for a mastery level certification.

Employees at this level must have a Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC. Current mastery level certifications include: 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), Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC).

AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

i Advanced knowledge of current coding classification systems such as ICD, CPT, and HCPCS for the subspecialty being assigned (outpatient, inpatient, outpatient and inpatient combined).

ii. Ability to research and solve complex questions related to coding conventions and guidelines in an accurate and timely manner.

iii. Ability to review coded data and supporting documentation to identify adherence to applicable standards, coding conventions and guidelines, and documentation requirements.

iv. Ability to format and present audit results, identify trends, and provide guidance to improve accuracy.

v. Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to deal with individuals at all organizational levels.



Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09.

Education

EDUCATION:


IMPORTANT: A transcript, either official or unofficial, must be submitted with your application for ALL degrees. A copy of your certificate/degree or screenshot of your current classes are not a replacement of your transcript and they will not be used in the qualifying process. Transcripts must include the following information:

• Your Name
• Name of the college or university
• Full address of the college or university
• Degree Received
• Date Conferred
  
  

If the position requires a certain number of credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses in your resume.



Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Read more

• Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Health Care Provider

• Industries

  Hospitals and Health Care

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs by 2x

Sign in to set job alerts for “Medical Records Technician” roles.

Medical Records Associate: $5,000 sign on bonus

Medical Records Specialist - Physicians Medical Center

Medical Records Specialist - Physicians Medical Center

CJN-74/2023 - Vacancy of Medical Coding Freshers

CJN-166/2024 - Vacancy for Freshers Medical coders

Medical Coder, CPC with ASC - US Full Time Remote Position

Indianapolis, IN $61,680.00-$80,182.00 4 days ago

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.