Medical Coder (Inpatient)

Accountabilities: Review inpatient medical records in CPRS and accurately assign ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, and DRG codes. Complete required Patient Treatment File (PTF) transactions, including 101, 401, 501, 601, 701/702, and 801 transactions, in accordance with applicable VHA guidance. Abstract required clinical and administrative data and enter information into VistA using an approved coding encoder. Determine whether inpatient episodes are billable and document appropriate reasons when an episode is non-billable. Apply the Cooperating Parties' guidelines, AHA Coding Clinic guidance, and VHA coding requirements, giving priority to applicable VHA guidance when standards conflict. Exclude symptoms that are integral to confirmed diagnoses and findings that do not affect the patient's current care. Escalate conflicting, unclear, or incomplete documentation questions through the appropriate supervisory channels. Re-review coded records when they are questioned before billing or following a claim denial, correcting codes or providing appropriate coding references and supporting rationale. Maintain a minimum coding accuracy of 95% while consistently meeting facility-specific turnaround requirements. Follow applicable confidentiality, ethical coding, privacy, and information-security requirements when handling sensitive healthcare information. Requirements Hold an active RHIA, RHIT, CCS, or CPC-H credential; CCS certification is preferred. Have at least 2 years of recent inpatient facility coding experience, including hands-on ICD-10-PCS and DRG assignment. Complete an accredited coding, Health Information Management (HIM), or health information technician program. Have formal education or training in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and reimbursement methodologies. Demonstrate proficiency with an industry-standard coding encoder, such as 3M or Optum. Be a U.S. citizen and able to successfully complete a federal background investigation (NACI) and fingerprinting. Maintain a private, secure home workspace with reliable high-speed internet suitable for handling confidential information. Experience with VA systems such as VistA, CPRS, and PTF is preferred. Experience coding for an acute-care hospital or academic medical center is advantageous. Experience with clinical documentation improvement (CDI) queries or responding to claim denials is a plus. Demonstrate strong attention to detail, analytical judgment, accuracy, and the ability to consistently meet productivity and quality expectations. Complete required annual Privacy and Information Security Awareness and HIPAA training. Follow applicable professional coding ethics and confidentiality standards. Benefits 100% remote position within the United States. Competitive pay of $25.00–$30.00 per hour . 12-month base term with four additional 12-month option periods. Company-provided laptop, coding encoder, and reference materials. Opportunity to support multiple Veterans Affairs medical centers and contribute to mission-critical healthcare operations. Structured work environment with established coding guidelines, quality standards, and operational processes. Federal healthcare experience that can strengthen expertise in inpatient coding and government healthcare systems. Opportunity to work with specialized VA technologies and workflows, including VistA, CPRS, and PTF.