Outpatient Certified Coder - Health Information Management

County of Ventura; Ventura (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Educational incentive

Bilingual incentive

Merit increases

Deferred compensation

Health plans (dental/vision)

Job summary

County of Ventura seeks a Coder-Certified to review and analyze medical documentation, assign ICD-10-CM/PCS, CPT, and HCPCS codes, and ensure compliant coding practices across outpatient services.

The role requires understanding PPS, DRG/APC methodologies, and strong analytical skills to support accurate reimbursement and quality patient care.

Qualifications

• Two years of recent experience in outpatient coding using ICD-10-CM/PCS, CPT, HCPCS, PPS/DRG/APC.
• Must possess outpatient hospital and physician professional (Pro-Fee) coding experience.
• Ability to train and educate providers on billing guidelines and CPT/HCPCS codes.

Responsibilities

• Codes and abstracts outpatient records using ICD-10-CM/PCS, CPT, HCPCS, PPS and DRG/APC methodologies.
• Review provider documentation for completeness and accuracy and query as needed.
• Educate providers on coding guidelines and assist CDI team with coding education and audits.

Skills

ICD-10-CM

ICD-10-PCS

CPT

HCPCS

E/M coding

PPS/DRG/APC

Education

CCS

RHIA

RHIT

CCA

CPC

Tools

Information Management System

Job description

The Department

The Health Care Agency is a comprehensive healthcare system serving our diverse community of Ventura County through Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC), Santa Paula Hospital, primary and specialty care clinics, Ambulatory Care, Public Health, and Behavioral Health. Join our team and use your coding expertise to support accurate documentation, appropriate reimbursement, regulatory compliance, and quality patient care.

The Position

Under general direction, the Coder-Certified reviews and analyzes medical documentation, assigns appropriate diagnosis and procedure codes, applies coding and billing guidelines, and collaborates with physicians and other healthcare professionals to support accurate and compliant coding.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate has specialized knowledge of ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, HCPCS, E/M coding, outpatient surgery coding and applicable reimbursement methodologies including PPS, DRG, and APC along with strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills. This position offers an opportunity to work across a variety of outpatient services and specialties while contributing to accurate documentation, appropriate reimbursement, and quality patient care.

What We Offer

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package. Aside from our base salary range, an employee in this position may also be eligible for the following:

• Educational Incentive - Some positions may be eligible for educational incentive. This incentive may be 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% for incumbents in eligible positions based on completion of an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree that is not required for the classification.
• Bilingual Incentive - Some positions may be eligible for bilingual incentive depending on the applicable memorandum of agreement and the needs of the department. In order to qualify for this incentive, incumbents in eligible positions must take and pass the applicable bilingual fluency exam with a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher. Proficiency levels by exam are $0.69/hour (Level I), $1.00/hour (Level II), or $1.32/hour (Level III).
• Merit Increases - New employees serving their initial County service probationary period are eligible for an initial 5% merit increase upon completion of at least 1,040 hours (approximately six months) assuming work meets satisfactory standards. Subsequent merit increases will be upon completion of each additional 2,080 hours (approximately one year) from the initial merit increase.
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(K) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. If you participate in the County sponsored 401(K) plan, the County will match a part of your contribution up to 3% of your salary, on a per pay period basis.
• Health Plans - You are afforded a flexible credit allowance for purchasing medical plan under the County’s Flexible Benefits Program. County now pays 100% of dental and vision premiums.
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental, and vision care expenses.
• Pension Plan - Participate in the County's defined benefit pension plan that provides lifetime payments to retirees. Members are "vested" after attaining five years of retirement service credit. If eligible, you may establish reciprocity with other public retirement systems such as CalPERS.
• Holidays - 13 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
• Additional Benefits -Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program.

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Health Care Agency - Administration

The Coder-Certified is represented by the Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) and is eligible for overtime compensation.

NOTE: This classification is within a bargaining unit that is subject to an agency shop arrangement which mandates a Regular employee to either join Local 721 of SEIU and pay dues as a member OR either pay a service fee to Local 721 or direct that an amount equivalent to the service fee be distributed to a qualified charitable organization.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Intermittent, and Extra-Help vacancies within the Health Care Agency. There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy in outpatient coding.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Opening Date: 10/07/2026

Closing Date: 10/21/2026 at 5:00 p.m.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Codes and abstracts, and reviews discharged outpatient medical records and physician professional services for a multi-specialty teaching facility using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM); International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification and Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS); Current Procedural Terminology (CPT); Health care Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS); Prospective Payment System (PPS); and/or Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) assignments based on Prospective Payment System (PPS) and/or Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) methodologies; including Evaluation and Management codes (E/M), procedure codes, modifiers, National and Local Correct Coding Initiatives (NCCI) edits;
• Examines and analyzes provider documentation and medical charts for completeness, accuracy, and relevancy in accordance with Federal and State regulations, ICD-10-CM Official Coding Guidelines and American Medical Association (AMA) guidelines;
• Identifies the need for additional clinical documentation and sends queries to physicians for clarification on diagnoses and procedures performed to assign and/or validate the diagnosis or procedure code(s);
• Conducts provider training and on-going education on billing guidelines and audits the work of non-facility coders;
• Assists the Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) team with education CPT/HCPCS codes, billing guidelines and charge capture Outpatient ancillary department clinical staff;
• Inputs completed patient data coding classification systems into the hospital’s Information Management System in accordance with The Joint Commission (TJC) and the Corporate Integrity Agreement between VCMC and the Office of the Inspector General;
• May process fee-for-service physician claims and audit physician billing for contract compliance;
• Identifies coding trends or issues and assists in resolving them;
• Ensures codes meet payer-specific requirements and resolves denials; and
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and ensure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, And EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of recent experience in an acute care setting using ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, HCPCS, PPS and/or DRG assignments.

Necessary Special Requirements

Must have experience performing outpatient hospital and physician professional (Pro-Fee) coding.

For Hospital Coding -Must Possess One Or More Of The Following Certifications, Certified By The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)

• Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
• Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)
• Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)
• Certified Coding Associate (CCA)
• Certified Professional Coder (CPC) as credentialed by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)

For Physician Professional Coding - Must Possess One Or More Of The Following Certifications, Certified By The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)

• Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
• Certified Coding Specialist-Physician (CCS-P)
• Certified Professional Coder (CPC) as credentialed by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, And ABILITIES

Thorough knowledge of:

• ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, HCPCS, PPS, DRG and APC systems; E/M and procedure codes, modifiers, and NCCI edits;
• anatomy, physiology, disease pathology, and medical terminology necessary to correctly code diagnoses, procedures, and services; and
• Pro-Fee coding

Working Knowledge Of

• The Joint Commission standards for Medical Records Management and Clinical Documentation Programs

Working Ability To

• Code and abstract outpatient medical records and/or physician professional fees using ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS, and applicable coding and reimbursement methodologies such as PPS/APC.

Ability To

• Communicate with all levels of professionals, including physicians;
• Train and educate providers on professional coding.

Working Conditions

Duties are performed primarily in an indoor hospital environment with heavy personnel and public contact. Tasks involve both sedentary and moderate activities.

FINAL FILING DATE

Applications must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

LATERAL TRANSFER OPTION

If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible.

Applicants successfully completing the exam process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

Background Investigation

A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information and driving record is required for this position.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Vivian Merida by telephone at [phone] or by e-mail at [e-mail] .

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.