Anesthesia Coding Specialist II, PB Coding Remote - reside in IL

Northwestern Medicine emphasizes a patient-first approach to ensure every interaction supports a positive workplace and better health care. This role offers the opportunity to contribute across the Northwestern Medicine system with competitive benefits including tuition reimbursement, loan forgiveness, 401(k) matching, and lifecycle benefits.

The Coding Specialist II reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. The candidate must have anesthesia coding experience. The PB Coding Specialist II performs CPT and ICD-10 coding through abstraction of the medical record with a focus on more complex encounters and/or has expertise with HCPCS procedural codes.

This position has deep understanding of disease process, anatomy & physiology and pharmacology and acts as a key collaborator with Providers and Clinical areas to ensure the medical record accurately reflects the patient s service. This position trains physicians and other staff regarding documentation, billing and coding, and performs various administrative and clerical duties to support the role s core function.

The Coding Specialist II also demonstrates expertise to resolve Optum coding edits.

• Utilizes technical coding expertise to review the medical record thoroughly, utilizing all available documentation to abstract and code physician professional services and diagnosis codes (including anesthesia encounters, operative room and surgical procedural services, invasive procedures and/or drug infusion encounters). Additionally, may include coding for Evaluation and Management services, bedside procedures and diagnostic tests as needed.
• Follows Official Guidelines and rules in order to assign appropriate CPT, ICD-10 codes and modifiers with a minimum of 95% accuracy.
• Ensures charges are captured by performing various reconciliations (procedure schedules, OR logs and clinical system reports).
• Provides documentation feedback to physicians.
• Maintains coding reference information.
• Trains physicians and other staff regarding documentation, billing and coding.
• Reviews and communicates new or revised billing and coding guidelines and information.
• Attends meetings and educational round tables, communicates pertinent information to physicians and staff.
• Resolves pre-accounts receivable edits. Identifies repetitive documentation problems as well as system issues.
• Makes appropriate changes to incorrectly billed services, adds missing unbilled services, provides missing data as appropriate, corrects CPT and ICD-9/10 codes and modifiers. Adds MBO tracking codes as needed.
• Collaborates with Patient Accounting, PB Billing, and other operational areas to provide coding reimbursement expertise; helps identify and resolve incorrect claim issues and is responsible for drafting letters in order to coordinate appeals.
• Acts as key point person for Revenue Cycle staff and Account Inquiry Unit staff in obtaining documentation (notes, operative reports, drug treatment plans, etc.). Provides additional code and modifier information to assist with appealing denials. May contact providers for peer-to-peer reviews.
• Meets established minimum coding productivity and quality standards for each encounter type.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required:

• Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) or Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification or Certified Coding Specialist (CCS).
• Zero (0) to two (2) years of experience in a relevant role.
• 94% accuracy on organization s coding test.

Preferred:

• Bachelor s or Associate s degree in a Health Information Management program accredited by CAHIIM.
• Previous experience with physician coding.

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and…