Senior Inpatient Coder

Essentia Health; Minnesota; Remote; USD 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, life, and dis

Disability insurance

401(k) plan with employer contribution

Tuition reimbursement and training

Flexible scheduling and paid time off

Wellness resources

Job summary

Essentia Health is seeking a Hospital Coding professional to review clinical documentation and assign ICD-10-CM/PCS codes and DRGs for complex inpatient accounts in Minnesota. The role ensures accurate reimbursement and collaborates with Clinical Documentation Integrity and clinicians to optimize documentation quality and coding accuracy.

The ideal candidate has a completed coding program, AHIMA or AAPC credentialing, and inpatient coding experience.

Qualifications

• Successful completion of a coding program with ICD-10-CM/PCS coursework.
• AHIMA or AAPC certification preferred and inpatient coding experience.

Responsibilities

• Review health records and assign ICD-10-CM/PCS codes and DRG.
• Identify documentation gaps and initiate coding queries.
• Ensure 95% accuracy and timely inpatient coding.
• Collaborate with Clinical Documentation Integrity and clinicians.

Skills

Inpatient coding

DRG coding

Education

Coding program completion

Tools

Epic experience

3M Encoder experience

Computer Assisted Coding experience

Job description

Building Location:Business Service CenterDepartment:1006240 HOSPITAL CODING - EH SSJob Description:This position is responsible for reviewing clinical documentation and assigning ICD-10-CM diagnosis, PCS procedure codes, and the DRG to ensure proper reimbursement for complex inpatient accounts. Requires extensive knowledge and understanding of ICD-10-CM/PCS coding guidelines, MS-DRG and APR-DRG reimbursement systems, medical terminology, and disease processes. Works closely with Clinical Documentation Integrity and clinicians to ensure complete and accurate documentation, coding, and final DRG assignment. Adheres to the quality and productivity standards set by the department.Education Qualifications:Key Responsibilities:Evaluates health record documentation and accurate reimbursement by ensuring that ICD-10-CM diagnostic and PCS procedural codes accurately reflect and support the inpatient hospital admissionIdentifies documentation clarification opportunities to ensure that documentation supports the coding and DRG assignment. Initiates coding queries and provides feedback to cliniciansReviews Local Coverage Determination (LCD)/National Coverage Determination (NCD) policies for ICD-10-CM diagnoses that support medical necessity for services providedWorks with the coding denials team for education and assists with DRG denial prevention solutionsEnsures inpatient accounts are coded accurately and in a timely mannerConsistently maintains coding quality (95% accuracy) and productivity expectationsAssists with the training of inpatient codersPerforms related duties as requiredEducational Requirements:Successful completion of a coding program, which included coursework in ICD-10-CM/PCS, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology and disease processesRequired Qualifications:Two (2) years of hospital inpatient/DRG coding experiencePreferred Qualifications:Epic experience3M Encoder experienceComputer Assisted Coding experienceLicensure/Certification Qualifications:Certification/Licensure Requirements:Current certification with American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or AAPC and credentialed as Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), and/or Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC)FTE:1Possible Remote/Hybrid Option:RemoteShift Rotation:Day Rotation (United States of America)Shift Start Time:8:00AMShift End Time:4:30PMWeekends:Holidays:NoCall Obligation:NoUnion:DC USWA Main & Neighborhoods (DCUMN)Union Posting Deadline:10/26/2026Compensation Range:$25.54 - $37.76Employee Benefits at Essentia Health: At Essentia Health, we’re committed to supporting your well-being, growth, and work-life balance. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, along with supplemental options to fit your needs. We offer a 401(k) plan with employer contributions to help you plan for the future, and we invest in your professional development through training, tuition reimbursement, and educational programs. To help you thrive both at work and at home, we provide flexible scheduling, generous time off, and wellness resources focused on your physical, mental, and emotional health. Please note that benefit eligibility may vary. For full details, refer to your benefit summary or contact our HR Service Center at [phone].