Medical Records Technician (Coder-Outpatient and Inpatient)

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Experience and Education

(1) Experience. One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical coding, and the structure and format of a health records; OR (2) Education. An associate's degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education with a major field of study in health information technology/health information management, or a related degree with a minimum of 12 semester hours in health information technology/health information management (e.g., courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical coding, and introduction to health records); (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR (3) Completion of an AHIMA approved coding program, or other intense coding training program of approximately one year or more that included courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, basic ICD diagnostic/procedural, and basic CPT coding.

The training program must have led to eligibility for coding certification/certification examination, and the sponsoring academic institution must have been accredited by a national U.S. Department of Education accreditor, or comparable international accrediting authority at the time the program was completed; OR (4) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements.

The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable experience: (a)Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, general understanding of medical coding and the health record, and one year above high school, with a minimum of 6 semester hours of health information technology courses. (b)Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces or the U.S.

Maritime Service, under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to six months of experience provided the training program included courses in anatomy, physiology, and health record techniques and procedures. Also, requires six additional months of creditable experience that is paid or non-paid employment equivalent to a MRT (Coder). Certification.

Persons hired or reassigned to MRT (Coder) positions in the GS-0675 series in VHA must have either (1), (2), or (3) below: (1) Apprentice/Associate Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC. (2) Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC. (3) Clinical Documentation Improvement Certification through AHIMA or ACDIS. Grandfathering Provision.

All persons employed in VHA as a MRT (Coder) on the effective date of the VA Qualification Standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. REFER TO THE "ADDITIONAL INFORMATION" SECTION BELOW. English Language Proficiency. MRTs (Coder) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Grade Determinations

Medical Record Technician (Coder-Inpatient) (1) Medical Records Technician (Coder-Inpatient), GS-4 (a) Experience or Education. None beyond basic requirements. (b) Assignment. Employees at this level serve as entry level MRTs (Coder) and receive close guidance from more experienced MRTs (Coder). (2) Medical Records Technician (Coder-Inpatient), GS-5 (a) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; OR, (b) Education.

Successful completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, with a major field of study in health information management or a related degree with a minimum of 24 semester hours in health information management or technology. (c) Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve as developmental level 1 MRTs (Coder) and receive guidance from more experienced MRTs (Coder) for more complex coding procedures.

Inpatient MRTs (Coder) select and assign codes from current versions of ICD CM, PCS, and/or CPT and HCPCS classification systems for inpatient facility and/or professional services. (d) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. REFER TO EDUCATION SECTION BELOW. (3) Medical Records Technician (Coder-Inpatient), GS-6 (a) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (b) Assignment.

Employees at this grade level serve in developmental level 2 positions as MRTs (Coder) and receive intermittent monitoring. Inpatient MRTs (Coder) select and assign codes from current versions of ICD CM, PCS, and/or CPT and HCPCS classification systems for inpatient facility and/or professional services. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. REFER TO EDUCATION SECTION BELOW. (4) Medical Records Technician (Coder-Inpatient), GS-7 (a) Experience.

One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (b) Assignment. Employees at this grade level serve as developmental level 3 MRTs (Coder) and receive minimal monitoring. Inpatient MRTs (Coder) select and assign codes from current versions of ICD CM, PCS, and/or CPT and HCPCS classification systems for inpatient facility and/or professional services. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

REFER TO EDUCATION SECTION BELOW. (5) Medical Records Technician (Coder-Inpatient), GS-8 (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. (b) Assignment. This is the journey level for this assignment. Inpatient MRTs (Coder) select and assign codes from current versions of ICD CM, PCS, and/or CPT and HCPCS classification systems for inpatient facility and/or professional services. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

REFER TO EDUCATION SECTION BELOW. References: VA Handbook 5005/122 Part II, Appendix G-57, Medical Record Technician Qualification Standard. The full performance level (FPL) of this vacancy is GS-08.

Preferred Experience

3 years coding experience Physical Requirements: The work is performed in an office setting which adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. The physical demands of the work are generally minor. The work is primarily sedentary (6-8 hrs.) although, there is some walking (1 hr.), bending (1 hr), and carrying of bulky files (1- 10 lbs.) and some extended periods of standing (2 hrs.).

Duties and responsibilities include, but not limited to: Assigns codes to documented patient care encounters (inpatient facility and/or professional services) covering the full range of health care services provided by the VAMC. Patient encounters are often complicated and complex requiring extensive coding expertise.

Applies advanced knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, disease processes, treatment modalities, diagnostic tests, medications, procedures as well as the principles and practices of health services and the organizational structure to ensure proper code selection.

Selects and assigns codes from the current version of several coding systems to include current versions of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), and/or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS). Adheres to accepted coding practices, guidelines and conventions when choosing the most appropriate diagnosis, operation, procedure, ancillary, or E/M code to ensure ethical, accurate, and complete coding.

Also applies codes based on guidelines specific to certain diagnoses, procedures, and other criteria used to classify patients under the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA) program that categorizes all VA patients into specific classes representing their clinical conditions and resource needs Performs a comprehensive review of the patient health record to abstract medical, surgical, ancillary, demographic, social, and administrative data to ensure complete data capture.

Patient health records may be paper or electronic. The abstracted data has many purposes, for example, to profile the facility services and patient population, to determine budgetary requirements, to report to accrediting and peer review organizations, to bill insurance companies and other agencies, and to support research programs Utilizes the facility computer system and software applications to correctly code, abstract, record, and transmit data to the national VA database in Austin.

Corrects any identified data errors or inconsistencies in a timely manner to ensure acceptance in the national VA database within established timelines. Independently researches references to resolve any questionable code errors; contacts supervisor as appropriate.

Identifies the principal diagnosis and principal procedure (when applicable) for every inpatient discharge; also identifies significant complications and/or co-morbidities treated or impacting treatment to correctly determine the proper Diagnosis Related Group (DRG). Upon patient admission to the Community Living Center/Nursing Home Care Unit, codes the admission diagnosis for use by unit staff. All diagnoses and procedure codes are selected from the current version of the ICD coding system.

Works within a team environment; supports peers in meeting goals and deadlines; flexible and handles multiple tasks; works under pressure; and copes with frequently changing projects and deadlines. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday; Tour of duty will be set between 8:00am - 4:30pm EST.

Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Available Virtual: 100% Remote Functional Statement #: 82470F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required