Outpatient Coder Specialist

Kaiser Permanente; Wailuku, Northern (HI, KY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaiser Permanente seeks a skilled Medical Coder to assign accurate ICD-10-CM/HCPCS/CPT4 codes to patient records across hospital and ambulatory settings. The role requires physician communication for documentation clarification and strict adherence to CMS/NCHS guidelines.

Responsibilities include coding accuracy, data abstraction, and ensuring timely, compliant coding with HIPAA protections. Prior hospital coding experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• Minimum one year of Certified Coding experience.
• High school diploma or GED required; post‑high school coursework in medical records, anatomy, physiology and medical terminology.

Responsibilities

• Identify and assign appropriate codes for diagnoses and procedures.
• Sequence codes for proper APC assignment and coding conventions.
• Consult with care providers to clarify documentation.
• Abstract data into computerized systems ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Maintain HIPAA privacy and confidentiality standards.

Skills

Certified Coding

Health information

Physician query communication

Education

GED or high school diploma

Post high school coursework in medical records

Professional coding credentials

Tools

ICD-10-CM

CPT-4

HCPCS coding

Job description

Job Summary:

Under supervision, is responsible for assigning accurate diagnosis and procedure codes to the patients health information records, for: Observation, Hospital Ambulatory Surgery, Complex Hospital Outpatient Visit {Cardiac Catheterization (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) Lab, Interventional Radiology}, Emergency Departments, and other select OP records. This responsibility requires appropriate code assignment for physician-documented patient diagnoses, conditions and procedures; utilizing various coding classification schemes including ICD- 10CM (may include PCS), and HCPCS/CPT.

All work will be carried out in accordance with the: International Classification of Diseases - Official Coding Guidelines for coding and reporting as established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS); American Medical Association (CPT) National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI), and Kaiser Permanente organizational/institutional coding directives. Ability to communicate with physicians in order to obtain clarification for diagnoses/procedures. Ability to understand the clinical content of the health record and abstract the data in the patient health information record data as well as perform other duties as assigned.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Upholds and maintains Maui Health Systems Policies and Procedures, Principles of Responsibilities and all applicable state, federal and local laws. Reviews patient health information record to: identify and assign appropriate codes for diagnoses, procedures, and other services rendered.
• Appropriately assign and sequence codes for diagnoses, procedures and other services as needed for proper Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) assignment, utilizing the applicable coding conventions.
• Serves as a consultant to care providers.
• Identifies discrepancies, potential quality of care, and billing issues. Research, analyzes, recommends and facilitates plan of action to correct discrepancies and prevent future coding errors.
• Interacts with physicians through established query process in order to clarify documentation supporting accurate patient diagnostic and procedure coding.
• Abstracts patient information into the computerized systems, in a manner ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the data.
• Ensures timely coded record availability according to regulatory guidelines, by meeting established coding and abstracting productivity standards. Ensures quality standards by meeting the established 95% coding accuracy and 98% completeness quality standards.
• Maintains and complies with HIPAA policies and procedures for privacy and confidentiality of all patient records. Attends and participates in selected national, regional and coding educational sessions. Works collaboratively with others on coding questions and issues.
• Demonstrates knowledge of system security, by complying with KP Electronic Assets Usage Policy.
• Maintains courteous and cooperative relations when interacting with others.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications:

Experience

• Minimum one (1) year of Certified Coding experience.

Education

• High school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) required.
• Post high school coursework in medical records administration, anatomy, physiology and medical terminology.

License, Certification, Registration

• Certified Coding Specialist OR Registered Health Information Technician OR Registered Health Information Administrator OR Certified Professional Coder

Additional Requirements:

• Demonstrated competence with personal computers, networks, and Microsoft Office.
• Experience with International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), Current Procedure Terminology (CPT4), and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) coding system, and other related documentation requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to understand clinical content of a health record.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum three (3) consecutive years of experience as a Certified Hospital Coder.
• Previous experience of coding in a hospital license space.
• Successful completion of Certified Coding Specialist Program through American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).