Manager, Network Outpatient Coding at Westchester Medical Center – Valhalla, New York

Job Summary: The Manager, Network Outpatient Coding directs , plans, organizes, coordinates and evaluates the staff and activities for network-wide coding operations to ensure accurate and timely coding of outpatient records according to established standards, policies and procedures.

Responsibilities:

• Designs and develops programs and procedures to utilize internal employee population and assist in selection and negotiation of staffing vendors.
• In collaboration with the Senior Director, provides direction for all hospital outpatient coding activities and productivity standards required to reach unbilled targets for Network facilities
• Meets specified Discharge not Final Billed (DNFB) target for all hospital’s outpatient coding population;.
• Plans, organizes, coordinates and evaluates outpatient staffing requirements to meet operational goals.
• Manages the assignment and schedules of direct reports to ensure a smooth and efficient workflow;
• Identifies opportunities for efficiencies, reviews and implements as approved;
• Reviews strategic operating goals, objectives and budgets to predict labor needs and ensure outpatient coding services meet productivity, timeliness and quality standards to support financial goals of the Network
• . Reviews operational performance, justification and/or corrective action for the HIM Department outpatient staff.
• Provides guidance and motivation to staff regarding identifying activities/areas where performance can be improved.
• Ensures collaboration between the outpatient Clinical Documentation Improvement and outpatient Coding function is optimal to achieve the excellence required.
• Develops and implements policies and procedures to ensure clear and consistent operations of outpatient coding areas while encompassing departmental and operational needs.
• Ensures integrity of encoder and abstracting systems by maintenance/revision of data as necessary.
• Oversees the implementation and ongoing operation or selection of electronic coding or documentation improvement software, interfaces with billing systems and workflow changes with computerized patient information.
• Identifies training needs for outpatient coding and operations staff.
• Collaborates with Coding Director and Senior Director to schedule and implement training activities as identified, including transition to EHR and ICD-10/CPT code changes.
• Assists with business development for remote coding – delete sentence.
• Responds to leadership inquiries regarding outpatient coding
• Collaborates with Business Offices and Patient Access to eliminate holds on accounts.
• Participates in negotiation of vendor contracts to ensure compliance
• Reviews and monitors contract services, and ensures network wide and vendor compliance.
• Reports on issues and makes recommendations for changes.

Qualifications/Requirements:

Experience: 7 years of experience in an acute care facility which included coding of complex outpatient medical records, appeals and denial management, at least two of which must have been at a managerial level.

Education: Bachelor's degree

Licenses / Certifications: Must possess and maintain current certification as a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) or Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Other: Satisfactory completion of 30 credits* toward a Master’s degree may be substituted on a year for year basis for up to two years of the above experience.

Special Requirements: Education beyond the secondary level must be from an institution recognized or accredited by the Board of Regents of the New York State Education Department as a post-secondary, degree-granting institution.