Coding Appeals Specialist

St. Luke's University Health Network

Allentown, PA

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Analysis Skills, Anatomy, CGI (Common Gateway Interface), Clinical Study Publications, Communication Skills, Content Management Systems (CMS), Data Entry, Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG), Disease, Documentation, Electronic Medical Records, Epic Systems, Healthcare, Healthcare Providers, Healthcare Reimbursement, Hearing Impairment, ICD-10, ICD-9-CM, Identify Issues, Insurance, Legal Support Skills, Medical Coding, Medical Records, Medical Terminology, Medical Treatment, Network Support, Nursing, Patient Care, Physiology, Problem Solving Skills, Quality Metrics, Regulations, Reimbursement, Writing Skills
LOCATION
Allentown, PA
POSTED
12 days ago


St. Luke's is proud of the skills, experience and compassion of its employees. The employees of St. Luke's are our most valuable asset! Individually and together, our employees are dedicated to satisfying the mission of our organization which is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient's ability to pay for health care.

The Coding Appeals Specialist analyzes patient medical records, claims data and coding on all diagnosis and procedure codes to assure properly assigned MS-DRG for the purposes of appealing proposed MS-DRG and coding changes by insurance providers or their auditors. Assures that the most accurate and descriptive codes from the AHA ICD-9-CM/ICD-10-CM/PCS diagnoses and/or procedures support the services/treatment rendered.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Conduct retrospective medical record reviews for diagnosis and procedure code assignment and MS-DRG accuracy.
  • Identify and provide feedback, including identification of trends, to the Network Coding and CDMP Managers for education of the medical staff, clinical documentation professionals and the coding professionals on documentation issues that affect proper documentation and coding of documented medical care for appropriate reimbursement.
  • Work with the physician liaison in review of patient medical records identified by RAC/MIC/CGI/QIO and other outside auditors in retrospective reviews for DRG and coding-related issues.  May participate in review of other medical necessity issues as needed.
  • Develop and apply appeal arguments to defend the coding of and by the coding professionals and be able to refute the coding determination made by the outside payor including but not limited to CMS, Aetna, IBC, Omniclaim, QIP, Gateway Health, etc.
  • Draft appeal letters, including the coding argument, to support network coding.
  • Identify clinical documentation improvement issues and through excellent communication with physicians, nurses, coding and other members of the health care team and work independently to resolve such issues.
  • Participate as needed in Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearings.
  • Spends approximately 20% of their time weekly coding/abstracting patient medical records according to ICD-10-CM/PCS, UHDDS and CMS guidelines.  Utilizes the 3M Encoder to verify and assign ICD-10-CM/PCS diagnosis and procedure codes, and MS-DRG assignment.
  • Performs data entry of coded patient medical records into EPIC, maintaining a 95% coding accuracy rate as measured through quality reviews.
  • Queries physicians when code assignments are not clear and consistent, or when documentation in the record is inadequate, ambiguous, or unclear for coding assignment.

PHYSICAL/SENSORY DEMANDS:

Sitting, standing and light lifting.   Repetitive arm/finger use retrieving/viewing computerized patient medical record and abstracting of patient information. Corrected vision and hearing to within normal range.  Hearing as it relates to normal conversation. Works inside with adequate lighting, comfortable temperature and ventilation.

EDUCATION:

RHIA, RHIT and/or CCS with knowledge of ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS diagnosis/procedure coding and MS-DRG assignment.  Minimum of 5 years coding experience in an acute care, teaching hospital, inpatient setting required.

TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Minimum 5 years demonstrated inpatient and/or outpatient coding experience in acute care, teaching setting.  Knowledge of anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and medical terminology required.  Working knowledge of ICD-10-CM/PCS and ability to understand complex disease processes strongly preferred.  Possesses extensive knowledge of reimbursement systems; extensive knowledge of federal, state, and payer-specific regulations and policies pertaining to documentation, coding and, as needed, medical necessity.  Previous experience with electronic patient medical record/EPIC and 3M encoding system preferred.

Please complete your application using your full legal name and current home address.  Be sure to include employment history for the past seven (7) years, including your present employer.  Additionally, you are encouraged to upload a current resume, including all work history, education, and/or certifications and licenses, if applicable.  It is highly recommended that you create a profile at the conclusion of submitting your first application.  Thank you for your interest in St. Luke's!!







About the Company

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St. Luke's University Health Network

St. Luke's University Health Network is a regional network of hospitals, physicians and other related organizations providing care primarily in Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe, Carbon, Schuylkill, Bucks, Montgomery and Berks counties in Pennsylvania and Warren County in New Jersey.

The Network provides services at more than 150 sites. St. Luke's University Health Network is comprised of six hospital sites. The Network includes:

  • More than 80 owned physician-practice sites
  • 300 employed primary care/specialist physicians
  • Various outpatient testing and service facilities
  • Home health
  • Hospice services (inpatient and outpatient)
  • Largest ambulance provider in Bucks County and second largest in Lehigh County
  • Other related organizations
  • 57,500+ annual admissions
  • 195,000 annual emergency room visits
  • 1,325 physicians on the Medical Staff (96 percent board-certified)
  • 8,600+ employees
  • More than 1,350 volunteers

Areas of exceptional medical expertise include:

  • Level 1 Adult Trauma Center: fully accredited by Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation; 2,400+ annual trauma cases; St. Luke's 1.75 percent mortality rate represents top decile performance, significantly better than peer group as measured by National Trauma Data Bank of the American College of Surgeons; aeromedical transport services
  • Oncology: first and only cancer program in Pennsylvania to receive American College of Surgeons' highest quality recognition for three consecutive years; only Pennsylvania program to receive award in 2010; region's only fellowship-trained surgical oncologists; advanced programs for melanoma (internationally recognized melanoma investigator), lung, breast, prostate, gynecologic and gastrointestinal cancers and tumors of the brain and spine
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery: multiple-year recipient of highest rating for cardiac bypass surgery, represents top decile performance achieved by only 10 percent of U.S. hospitals (Society for Thoracic Surgery); region's first Joint Commission certified Heart Failure Program; comprehensive surgical services excluding heart transplants
  • Neuroscience: accredited Stroke Center; additional Centers of Excellence include: Balance Center, Headache Center, Memory Disorders Center, Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sleep Disorders Center
  • Orthopaedics: advanced expertise in total joint replacement and reconstruction, computer-assisted minimally invasive surgery, primary and reconstructive surgery of the spine, sports injuries, diseases and conditions of the hand and elbow, traumatic injuries
  • Women's/Children's Health: high-risk pregnancy; the region’s busiest obstetrical service; two neonatal intensive care units; pediatric specialty care provided by St. Christopher's Hospital for Children.
  • Robotic/Minimally Invasive Surgery: one of the nation's most experienced robotic surgical teams
  • Radiology: designated international General Electric Healthcare Show Site for imaging technology; designated Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by American College of Radiology
  • Bariatric Surgery: designated Center of Excellence by American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and Surgical Review Corporation

St. Luke's offers an exceptional benefit plan for employees. Our values are reflected in all we do for patients, each other and the community:

Pride - We take pride in our accomplishments and in our organization.

Caring - We show consideration for others and their feelings. We treat others as we want to be treated.

Respect - We recognize the value, diversity and importance of each other, those we serve and the organization.

Accountability - We are responsible to make decisions and solve problems in a timely and effective manner.

Flexibility - We adapt to the changing needs and expectations of those we serve.

Teamwork - We work together to improve quality.

The mission of St. Luke's University Health Network is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient's ability to pay for health care.

COMPANY SIZE
5,000 to 9,999 employees
INDUSTRY
Healthcare Services