Inpatient Coder

Job Description

Job Description

We're seeking an experienced Inpatient Coder to join our remote Health Information Management team. This advanced coding role functions with a high degree of independence and requires strong analytical skills, coding accuracy, and clinical understanding across a wide variety of specialties.

You'll be responsible for accurately assigning ICD-10-CM / PCS diagnosis and procedure codes and MS-DRGs for inpatient hospital services across complex medical and surgical cases. This includes specialties such as Neurology, Oncology, Urology, Transplant, OB / Newborn, Orthopedics, Cardiology, and Critical Care — including trauma and acutely ill patients.

This position offers the opportunity to work in a collaborative, quality-driven environment where coders partner closely with Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) teams and providers to ensure complete and compliant medical records.

Key Responsibilities

Assign accurate ICD-10-CM / PCS diagnosis and procedure codes for inpatient accounts.

Determine and validate MS-DRG groupings per facility and payer guidelines.

Ensure Present on Admission (POA) indicators are coded accurately.

Review medical record documentation for completeness and query providers when needed.

Collaborate with CDI specialists to ensure documentation supports optimal code assignment.

Maintain 95% or higher coding accuracy and meet productivity standards.

Support denial management and provide coding justifications for payer appeals.

Participate in audits, QA reviews, and other departmental projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Required :

1+ year of recent inpatient coding experience in an academic or acute care hospital OR

3+ years of hospital inpatient coding experience in a multi-specialty environment.

Certification : RHIA, RHIT, or CCS required.

Education : Completion of a Coding Certificate Program or Associate degree in Health Information Management (HIM) or related field.

Preferred :

3+ years of inpatient coding experience in an academic or Level I Trauma Center setting.

Bachelor's degree in HIM or related discipline.

Skills & Competencies

In-depth knowledge of ICD-10-CM / PCS coding, DRG assignment, and CMS guidelines .

Strong communication and query-writing skills.

Proficiency in EMR systems and computer-assisted coding software.

Ability to manage complex cases independently and meet strict deadlines.

Commitment to compliance, accuracy, and continuous learning.

Eligible States

Candidates must reside in one of the following states to be considered :

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, or Wyoming.