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Physician Practices Coder

Ashe Memorial Hospital | Health Information Management Department

At Ashe Memorial Hospital, we are driven by our mission:
"To meet the needs of the community by delivering patient-centered, high-quality health care."

Ashe Memorial Hospital is proud to have been voted Ashe's Best Place to Work from 2022-2025. Join an award-winning team recognized for excellence in healthcare, including Best Hospital, Best Surgeon, Best Physician, Best Nurse, and Best Medical Practice. This is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact while serving a close-knit mountain community.

Position Details

• Position: Physician Practices Coder
• Department: Health Information Management (HIM)
• Reports To: HIM Supervisor
• Status: Full-Time | Non-Exempt
• Schedule: Monday-Friday during general business hours
• Location: Ashe Memorial Hospital - West Jefferson, NC
• Remote Work: Eligible for remote work up to three (3) days per week upon approval
• Supervisory Responsibilities: None
• Travel Requirements: None
• Compensation: Pay commensurate with experience

Position Summary

The Physician Practices Coder is responsible for accurate coding, documentation review, and charge entry for primary care Rural Health Clinic (RHC) services and specialty practices including oncology, orthopedics, obstetrics/gynecology, and urology utilizing Athena EMR.

This position supports compliant coding practices for Evaluation & Management (E/M) services, preventive care, and procedural services while ensuring documentation specificity, revenue cycle integrity, and optimal reimbursement outcomes.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong coding knowledge, attention to detail, analytical thinking, and the ability to collaborate effectively with providers and interdisciplinary teams.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• High School diploma or equivalent required
• Associate degree preferred

Certifications

• CPC, COC, CCS-P, or equivalent certification required or obtained within one (1) year of hire

Experience

• Minimum of one (1) year of coding and/or billing experience required
• Two (2) or more years of coding experience in Rural Health Clinic (RHC), FQHC, primary care, or physician practice settings preferred

Skills & Knowledge

• Knowledge of ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS coding systems
• Understanding of rural health billing and reimbursement regulations
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to maintain productivity and coding accuracy standards
• Basic computer proficiency required; Athena EMR experience preferred
• Knowledge of current E/M coding guidelines and documentation standards

Core Responsibilities

Coding & Charge Entry

• Assign accurate ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS codes
• Perform charge entry in Athena EMR through real-time and retrospective workflows
• Link diagnoses and procedures appropriately to support clean claim submission
• Apply Rural Health Clinic (RHC) encounter-based billing guidelines

Documentation Review

• Review medical records for completeness, specificity, and compliance
• Apply current Evaluation & Management (E/M) coding guidelines, including medical decision-making and time-based coding
• Query providers for missing, incomplete, or unclear documentation as appropriate

Athena EMR Utilization

• Manage coding workflows, charge posting, and work queues
• Resolve edits, denials, rejections, and claim holds
• Support provider documentation improvement efforts

Compliance & Quality

• Maintain compliance with CMS, Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payer regulations
• Participate in audits, coding validations, and quality review initiatives
• Identify opportunities for provider education and documentation improvement

Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with providers, clinical staff, and revenue cycle teams
• Support outpatient Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) initiatives
• Maintain positive working relationships across departments

Key Knowledge Areas

• Evaluation & Management (E/M) coding guidelines
• Preventive medicine and wellness visit coding
• Chronic Care Management (CCM)
• Specialty coding including oncology, orthopedics, urology, and OB/GYN
• Rural Health Clinic billing and reimbursement processes

Performance Expectations

• Demonstrate accuracy, efficiency, and organization in daily responsibilities
• Meet established productivity and quality benchmarks
• Communicate effectively and professionally with staff and providers
• Adapt positively to workflow, payer, and regulatory changes
• Maintain current knowledge of billing and coding updates and industry regulations

Working Conditions

• Extensive computer use and repetitive motion activities including typing and filing
• May require prolonged sitting for up to eight (8) hours with periodic movement encouraged
• General office and indoor working conditions
• Very light noise environment
• Frequent verbal and written communication responsibilities
• Use of standard office equipment required

Occupational Hazards

• Potential exposure to infectious materials or patients
• Potential exposure to hazardous or toxic substances, including chemotherapy and cleaning agents
• Potential exposure to needles or sharp instruments
• Potential risk of musculoskeletal strain if proper ergonomic and lifting techniques are not followed

Additional Requirements

• Must be willing to receive all required vaccinations as a condition of employment unless an approved exemption has been granted
• Must comply with all hospital policies, HIPAA regulations, and professional standards
• Criminal background check and pre-employment drug screening required upon conditional offer of employment

Application Instructions

To apply, please submit:

• Employment Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter, including explanations for gaps in employment and reasons for separation

Benefits

Benefits become effective the first of the month following employment, in accordance with hospital policy.

For a full job description and complete benefits information, please contact Human Resources.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ashe Memorial Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants based on qualifications, experience, and ability to perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities without compromising patient care. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law.