[Coder] Medical Records Technician

Required Qualifications (Non‑Negotiable) U.S. citizenship Must reside within 50 miles of the nearest VA Medical Center Active credential from AHIMA (RHIA, RHIT, CCS, CCS‑P, CCA, CDIP) or AAPC (CPC, CPC‑H, or successor) Completion of an accredited program in coding, HIM, or HIT Minimum 6–8 years of coding experience (outpatient or inpatient) This is significantly higher than typical requirements; 2–3 years does NOT qualify Current CEUs required to maintain credential Ability to pass a National Agency Check (NAC) , local file check, and obtain a PIV card Cannot be a current VA employee — federal conflict‑of‑interest restriction Preferred Qualifications Prior VA/VHA coding experience Surgical, anesthesia, or pathology coding experience History of tracking/reporting personal accuracy and productivity metrics Medical Records Technician (Coder) VA Central Iowa Health Care System (VACIHCS) – Des Moines, IA Remote Contract Position — Must Reside Within 50 Miles of a VA Medical Center Position Type Contract Remote Schedule Expectations Training Phase: Fixed schedule, 08:00–4:30 PM CST , Monday–Friday Post‑Training: After sustaining 95% accuracy and meeting productivity standards for a full bi‑weekly pay period (~4 weeks), coders may move to a flexible 8‑hour shift between 06:00 AM–5:00PM CST Key Responsibilities Outpatient Coders Code outpatient encounters, ancillary services (radiology, lab), prosthetics, and ambulatory surgical episodes Apply ICD‑CM, CPT, and HCPCS Inpatient Coder Code inpatient facility episodes Assign ICD‑CM diagnoses, ICD‑PCS procedures, and POA indicators Additional Requirements for Inpatient Role Proven ICD‑10‑PCS experience Strong understanding of POA indicators, DRG logic, and inpatient professional fee coding Experience creating encounters in the Patient Care Encounter (PCE) application preferred All Coders Work within VA systems: VistA/CPRS, national encoder, and required VA applications Apply NCCI bundling rules and correct modifier usage Flag insufficient documentation Re‑review and correct coding within 1 business day when questioned due to billing edits or denials Submit daily coded‑status reports and weekly summaries Maintain 95% minimum accuracy — audited monthly and strictly enforced