Medical Records Technician (Coder) Auditor

Veterans Health Administration; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration is seeking a Medical Records Technician (Coder) Auditor in the San Diego VA Medical Center HIM section. The role focuses on abstracting medical record data and assigning codes using current classification systems for various care types.

Applicants may be referred while meeting TIG and basic requirements; must reach the qualification standards for MRT (Coder) in GS-0675. Certifications or grandfathering provisions may apply.

Qualifications

• One year of creditable experience showing knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, medical coding, and health records structure.
• Associate degree with at least 12 semester hours in health information technology/health information management or related degree.
• Completion of AHIMA/AAPC coding program leading to coding certification eligibility or equivalent training.

Responsibilities

• Abstract medical record data and assign codes using current clinical classification systems based on the type of care provided.

Skills

Medical terminology

Anatomy

Physiology

Medical coding

Health records

Education

Associate degree in health information technology/health information management

AHIMA/AAPC coding certification eligibility

AHIMA coding program completion

Job description

The Medical Records Technician (Coder) Auditor position is located in the Health Information Management (HIM) section at the San Diego VA Medical Center. The Medical Records Technician (Coder) Auditor is responsible for abstracting medical record data and assigning codes using current clinical classification systems appropriate for the type of care provided.

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. You must meet Time in Grade (TIG) as well as the qualifications below (52 weeks at the next lower grade-GS-08).

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.
• Experience and 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 4 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).

Certification

• Persons hired or reassigned to MRT (Coder) positions in the GS-0675 series in VHA must have either (1), (2), or (3) below: 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. You may qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation.

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. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the journey level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but will not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such employees in an occupation that requires a certification only at higher grade levels must meet the certification requirement before they can be promoted to the higher-grade levels. MRTs who are appointed on a temporary basis, prior to the effective date of the qualification standard, may not have their temporary appointmen