Coding Specialist III, Outpatient

Coding Specialist III, Outpatient

Why UT Southwestern?

With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the #1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth for the sixth consecutive year, we invite you to continue your healthcare career with us at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital.

UT Southwestern offers a robust benefits package including 13 holidays (including 2 floating holidays) for the 2023-2034 fiscal year. Full time employees participate in the Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS) and are able to join additional voluntary retirement programs. We have various community discounts, wellness programs and more to learn about the benefits UT Southwestern offers visit utsouthwestern.edu/employees/hr-resources/

Job Summary

The OP Coding Specialist III is responsible to review and code outpatient University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) medical records. The UTSW medical records are maintained in electronic format and will be coded according to current coding guidelines, and in compliance with organizational, departmental, and regulatory requirements. The OP Coding Specialist III is identified as a subject matter expert due to education, training, and experience and as such will receive coding assignments in accordance with that level of expertise. Additionally, the OP Coding Specialist III may be asked to mentor and proctor employees at the Coding Specialist I and II levels.

Experience and Education

• Required three to five (3-5) years acute hospital-based coding experience.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Experience working in a remote environment preferred; required for PRN Coders.
• Preferred Bachelor's Degree or Associate Degree in Health Information Management and/or closely related field
• Required Certifications: Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), AHIMA Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), AAPC Certified Outpatient Coder (COC),AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC), AAPC Certified Professional Coder-Hospital (CPC-H), or AAPC Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder (CIRCC)

Job Duties

• Responsible for coding retrospective outpatient accounts using ICD-10 CM and CPT, in compliance with the Official Coding Guidelines and conventions.
• Accurately identifies most appropriate Reason for Visit, First Listed (Primary) Diagnosis, Procedure(s),
• Modifiers, and all secondary diagnoses to accurately support medical necessity (LCD/NCD edits) and CCI edits.
• Accurately abstracts required data elements including, discharge disposition, discharge destination, procedure dates and physician(s), Occurrence Codes, and other designated data.
• May be assigned to review accounts in the denials work queues and make recommendations to the Coding Manager.
  • Identifies when a physician query is appropriate for further clarification.
  • Recognizes when the documentation is missing or incomplete and routes appropriately.
  • Validates chargemaster driven CPT code assignment and routes appropriately.
  • Completes review and final coding when query and/or documentation is available.
• Maintain the Quality and Productivity Standards set by UTSW/HIM Coding.
• Mentor/train on designated coding service lines as requested to ensure quality.
• Maintains an expert level of knowledge of coding related guidelines and practices.
• Other duties as assigned

This job is remote only and individuals who reside in the job will permanently work 100% from an alternate approved worksite.

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents in lieu of stated minimums require prior approval of the Vice President for Human Resources Administration, or his/her designee.

UTSouthwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.