The Inpatient Coding Quality Auditor functions independently from routine production coding activities and maintains primary responsibility for coding quality assurance, coding validation, competency assessment, coding education, regulatory compliance monitoring, audit reporting, and continuous program improvement. Monitor coding compliance risk areas, Coding Clinic updates, CMS guidance, payer audit findings, OIG Work Plan priorities, RAC-targeted services, denial trends, and emerging regulatory requirements that may impact coding quality, reimbursement integrity, or organizational compliance.