Inpatient Coding Manager

Organization Overview, Mission, Vision, and Values

Our mission is to improve the health of people in the communities we serve through compassionate, high-quality care, prevention, and wellness education. Washington Regional Medical System is a community-owned, locally governed, non-profit health care system located in Northwest Arkansas in the heart of Fayetteville, which is consistently ranked among the Best Places to live in the country. Our 425-bed medical center has been named the #1 hospital in Arkansas for five consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report. We employ 3,400+ team members and serve the region with over 40 clinic locations, the region's only Level II trauma center, and five Centers of Excellence - the Washington Regional J.B. Hunt Transport Services Neuroscience Institute; Washington Regional Walker Heart Institute; Washington Regional Women and Infants Center; Washington Regional Total Joint Center; and Washington Regional Pat Walker Center for Seniors.

Position Summary

The role of the Inpatient Coding Manager reports to the Director of Revenue Integrity. This position is responsible for managing staff to ensure accurate and timely coding of all outpatient facility records. This position will address personnel, production, and system issues and are responsible for overseeing and supporting the continued development of the coding department. 

Essential Position Responsibilities

• Organize, direct, and coordinate daily job functions of the inpatient coding teams
• Develop and maintain department policies and procedures, productivity standards, and educational and training materials for coders across all specialties
• Educate providers and other health care professionals on proper documentation practices to ensure accurate billing practices
• Apply coding knowledge to lead the DRG, MCC/CC, hierarchal condition categories, and risk adjustment coding efforts as well as supportive activities.
• Work with clinical quality to ensure accurate capture of outcomes data as directly correlated with complications, PSI/HACs, readmissions and mortality measures.
• Communicate coding issues with necessary parties and ensure timely education is provided if processes are updated
• Ensure all inpatient coding processes meet state and federal regulatory requirements
• Maintain a current knowledge of ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT and HCPCS coding; including continuous knowledge of quarterly and annual code changes, coding rules and guidelines as well as LCD/NCD guidelines
• Conduct ongoing performance assessment of staff competency and provide timely and appropriate feedback
• Enforce the use of physician queries, as appropriate
• Perform continuous quality and compliance review of coded records and ensure accuracy by the coding specialists
• Work closely with central billing, clinical documentation improvement program and other services to assist and/or coordinate in resolving