Athena Coding Jobs in Lafayette, LA (NOW HIRING)

The Director of Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) RCM Operations provides executive leadership over all revenue cycle management operations for the CIS group practice, with accountability for RCM results, team performance, payer relationships, denial management, and billing and collections workflow integrity. This is a bridge role designed to provide immediate operational continuity while securing a long-term leader for the CVL platform: the individual hired will lead and manage CIS today and assist with the business transformation to AthenaOne. The individual will ultimately transition into the future-state Director of RCM Support role for Cardiovascular Logistics (CVL). The Director of RCM Support will assume platform-wide responsibility for RCM systems, workflow optimization, staff development, and operational infrastructure across the full CVL enterprise.

This Hybrid position is available in LA. Applicants are welcome to apply from the following areas only, Greater Houma, Lafayette, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, or Thibodaux, LA, or willing to relocate, no relocation assistance will be provided. Starting salary range is $150K annually, dependent on experience.

• Provide day-to-day executive leadership of the CIS RCM, including oversight of billing, collections, denial management, and payer relations
• Monitor, manage, and improve CIS revenue cycle KPIs — AR days, % AR > 120, net collection rate, denial rate, clean claim rate — and report results regularly to the VP of RCM
• Manage, mentor, and develop the CIS RCM staff; establish clear accountability frameworks and drive a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth
• Lead denial management and appeals processes; identify root-cause trends and implement corrective action plans to reduce denial rates and protect net revenue
• Maintain and strengthen payer relationships; escalate credentialing or contract issues as needed in coordination with the CIS Credentialing Manager (Current State) and CVL Director of Credentialing (Future State)
• Partner with the Athena implementation team on workflow design, queue configuration, data migration, and go-live readiness activities specific to CIS
• Collaborate with the VP of RCM and peer platform directors on enterprise-wide process standardization, RCM transformation initiatives, and platform reporting
• Serve as the primary CIS liaison to CIS Executive Leadership, Practice Management, Finance, HR, and Compliance on revenue cycle matters; ensure alignment on budgeting, staffing, and regulatory requirements
• Ensure compliance with payer requirements, CMS billing guidelines, HIPAA, and internal revenue cycle policies and procedures
• Prepare and present operational and financial reports to the VP of RCM and CIS executive leadership as requested
• Actively assist with the business transformation to Athena, supporting implementation, workflow build, and change management efforts; transition into the Director of RCM Support role, assuming platform-wide responsibility for RCM systems, workflow optimization, vendor relationships, and operational support across all CVL entities

• Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business, Finance, or a related field required or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 7 years of RCM experience in an ambulatory, multi-specialty, or physician group healthcare setting; cardiovascular or cardiology group experience a plus
• Minimum 3 years of director-level or senior leadership experience in ambulatory revenue cycle management
• Demonstrated experience with RCM platforms and EHR/PM systems; Athena Health (athenaOne) experience strongly preferred
• Deep understanding of payer billing requirements, denial management strategies, and collections processes in a physician group environment
• Proficient in RCM analytics and reporting tools; ability to interpret KPI trends and translate data into operational action
• Experience leading RCM workflow design, process improvement, and operational infrastructure build — not solely a traditional collections or AR management background
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills; ability to build trust and operate effectively across a multi-site, multi-entity platform
• Track record of building and developing high-performing RCM teams in a growth or transformation environment
• Healthcare transformation or growth company experience preferred
• CPC, CRCR, or equivalent coding/billing certification preferred but not required