Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, GS-9 (Entry Level): Experience, Education, and ... Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and ...
Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, GS-9 (Entry Level): Experience, Education, and ... Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and ...
Entry Level Risk Adjustment Coder information
See Jackson, MS salary details
$15.97 is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$13.83 - $16.02
26% of jobs
$16.02 - $18.21
9% of jobs
$18.21 - $20.40
12% of jobs
The median wage is $21.49 / hr.
$20.40 - $22.59
9% of jobs
$22.59 - $24.78
11% of jobs
$24.78 - $26.97
5% of jobs
$28.61 is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$26.97 - $29.16
6% of jobs
$29.16 - $31.35
5% of jobs
$31.35 - $33.54
5% of jobs
$33.54 - $35.73
3% of jobs
$35.73 - $37.92
10% of jobs
$13
$23
$37
How much do entry level risk adjustment coder jobs pay per hour?
What is an Entry Level Risk Adjustment Coder job?
An Entry Level Risk Adjustment Coder reviews medical records to identify and assign accurate diagnosis codes for risk adjustment purposes. Their work ensures healthcare organizations receive appropriate reimbursement based on patient health conditions. They typically use ICD-10-CM codes and follow guidelines from CMS and other regulatory bodies. This role requires strong attention to detail, knowledge of medical terminology, and an understanding of risk adjustment models. Entry-level coders may work in various healthcare settings, including insurance companies, hospitals, or coding firms.
What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Entry Level Risk Adjustment Coder position, and why are they important?
To thrive as an Entry Level Risk Adjustment Coder, you need a strong understanding of medical terminology, anatomy, and ICD-10-CM coding guidelines, typically supported by completion of a coding training program or relevant coursework. Familiarity with coding software, electronic medical records (EMR) systems, and coding certification such as CPC or CRC is often preferred. Attention to detail, analytical thinking, and effective communication are essential soft skills for this role. These skills and qualifications ensure the accurate coding of diagnoses for risk adjustment, compliance with regulations, and contribute to optimal healthcare reimbursement.
What does a typical workday look like for an entry level risk adjustment coder?
A typical day for an entry level risk adjustment coder involves reviewing patient medical records to identify and assign appropriate diagnostic codes based on clinical documentation. You’ll use specialized coding software and electronic health record systems to ensure accuracy and compliance with federal guidelines. Collaboration with senior coders, team leads, and occasionally clinicians is common when clarification or additional documentation is needed. Most entry level coders work in an office or remote environment and spend much of their day analyzing records, updating databases, and participating in training sessions to stay current on coding updates.

Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program
Jackson, MS
$61K/yr
Other
Posted 15 days ago
Job description
Qualifications: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.
- English Language Proficiency: LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English.
- Education: Hold a master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling. CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. Additional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/.
- Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0183 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment.
- Exception. VHA may waive the licensure requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure. This exception only applies up to the full performance level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed.
Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, GS-9 (Entry Level):
Experience, Education, and Licensure. The GS-9 grade level is the entry grade level for LPMHCs with less than one year of experience(post-master's degree) or for LPMHCs at the master's or doctoral level) who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice level. Unlicensed LPMHCs at the GS-9 grade level have completed the required education and are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure.
AND,
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the basic requirements, the candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:
- Ability to engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, continuum of care, evaluation and follow-up.
- Knowledge of current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders in formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical interventions using professional counseling practices.
- Basic knowledge of professional counseling practice with emphasis on human development principles through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systemic interventions, and strategies that address high risk behaviors, wellness, personal growth, and career development across the life span.
- Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills.
- Ability to serve on an interdisciplinary team with focus on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and relational functioning of individuals, groups and families and on the counseling approaches, strategies, and techniques that will best help patients function effectively.
- Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation and delivery of services, such as Telehealth.
- Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA.
- Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.
Experience, Education, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of post-master's or post- doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience) and must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level and demonstrate the KSAs below. LPMHCs may provide clinical supervision over the clinical practice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC trainee. Some state licenses do not license an individual to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs. Please refer to specific state licensing laws regarding the requirements for providing clinical supervision.
AND,
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:
- Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation.
- Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship.
- Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the counseling process within various specialty areas, build on the foundation of competence through regular meetings and discussions to explain assignments, review progress of cases and confer about the counseling perspectives and orientation.
- Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill.
- Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment.
- Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills.
- Ability to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices.
- Ability to develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho- education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration. This may include evidence based psychotherapy.
- Experience working with Veterans in an outpatient mental health setting.
- Experience providing evidenced based psychotherapy for serious mental illness and other diagnoses (e.g., depression, anxiety) with symptom severity and/or complexity necessitating intervention at a higher level of care than is provided in a primary care setting.
- Experience completing assessments for diagnostic clarification, treatment planning, and measurement based care.
- Experience working with an interprofessional team to develop and implement collaborative treatment plans.
- Utilization of recovery-oriented, person-centered, and trauma-informed principles.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11.
Continues in the Education section:Education:Continued from the Qualification section:
Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.
Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.
A copy of your transcripts must be submitted with your application package.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Employment Type: OTHER