medical coding

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Apr 20, 2012

In my area most of the coding is outsourced. However there is a new trend at the major academic medical centers to hire nurses for the coding department to review charts and ensure accurate coding for the facility receive maximum appropriate reimbursement. I worked with a nurse from the coding dept post my grandmother's hospitalization There was an obscure comment made in one of the resident reports that the regular coder was hyper focused on (the fact that my grandmother had tripped getting out of a vehicle almost 9 months prior. She was admitted for undiagnosed COPD (she was in denial being a pack+/day smoker for 65 years) that exacerbated to acute respiratory edema with severe edema of BLE.). The coder flagged the fall from the complete history and coded the entire critical care admission as related to a car accident. The RN who reviews all hi acuity charts prior to submission to insurance questioned the coding/extracting (especially since it wasn't written as a related diagnosis or any where in the care notes...only a comment in the admission report.

So the nurse saved the facility likely hundreds of thousands of dollars of lost revenue and time (from trying to resubmit the claim to auto and medical insurance multiple times). There have been a few positions posted at another faculty seeking RN's and LPNs with coding training to do chart review and coding in the HIMS/medical records department. I understand that the salary appropriately pays the nurses for their experience and credentials (min 5 years experience in a hospital care area whether critical care, ER, GI, OR, pedi, outpatient etc.)

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Apr 20, 2012

Is anyone here working as a medical coding? I would like to hear more about it about job outlook, how difficult the job is, is there a lot of risk involved with this job?

This can be a more difficult and challenging job than it sounds. I have a relative who did not like his job as a pharmacy tech so he got a coding cert. I think his perspective was he was tired of dealing with the public and coworkers so he wanted a job he could do by himself.

He landed a VERY good job with a prestigious institution that was doing coding work for the VA. He found himself on teams of workers ironing out the details between his company's system and the VA.

And he melted. The stress of working with other people just flummoxed him and he quit.

His situation probably doesn't apply to yours as you probably don't have undiagnosed Asperger's, but coding can be a tough - and rewarding - job.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Apr 20, 2012

Even though congress pushed back the 'start date' for ICD10 until 2014, this transition is going to be HUGE. Radically different, much more granular coding which will require much more detailed documentation. I think that there are going to be opportunities for experts to help with physician & staff training to support this transition. You may be able to market yourself to facilities who need extra help during this upheaval.

netglow, ASN, RN · Apr 20, 2012

Justbeachy, I have seen the same pop up in my area. Really you need to look at your local community college and take that track of classes that will give you HIT certificate training. I hear that jobs for "just" HIT folks are dwindling. I do see more work for RNs with coding experience very recently. There is another field (HIT) whose job options are quickly disappearing.

Ms.RN · Apr 20, 2012

Is medical coding differet from HIT? ARe more hospitals or doctors office more likely to hire nurses with coding training or is it sitll difficult to find jobs after completing the program? I'm worried about how many people mentioned that medical codes can be charged with fraud.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Apr 21, 2012

Most physicians offices don't code in office (or if they do they don't want to pay the added expense of hiring someone who is a certified coder) they outsource to central coding/billing offices or worse (for you're private PHI) outsource to an overseas group).

Hospitals are trending back to utilizing certified coders and nurses that are certified coders as the little bit of extra paid in salary is definitely recouped in the increased reimbursement for accurate coding/billing

HITis health information technology , sometimes called health information management systems or medical records. And basically it refers to the electronic medical record and billing system.

netglow, ASN, RN · Apr 21, 2012

I have seen both hospital and medical offices asking. The office settings (2) were surgical and cardiacep.

ruby_bird · Apr 24, 2012

I have some data from the Department of Labor Occupational Handbook and from Medical Coder Info .com

21% Job Growth through 2020

$46,800 average salary for a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) in 2011

Established/stable healthcare industry

Career ready in as little as 4 months

Among fastest growing fields

One of the few medical careers with no direct hands-on patient care

Approximately 39% of jobs were in hospitals. Medical coders and billers work at a number of healthcare providers such as offices of physicians, nursing care facilities, outpatient care centers, and home healthcare services. Coders and billers also may be employed outside of healthcare facilities, such as in Federal Government agencies. The AAPC and AHIMA have online job boards. Other local resources for jobs could include, hospitals, physicians' offices, and clinics.

Good luck!

jacobgabriel · Nov 12, 2013

Inappropriate billing and coding process will be the main source for improper payment. Coding expertise provides services to physician to get more reasonable payment from insurance companies for services rendered.