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Medical Records Technician (Specialized Coder)

Department of Health and Human Services
Indian Health Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Coding Unit Section, Medical Records Branch, Northern Navajo Medical Center, Shiprock, New Mexico. This position performs specialized medical coding for highly-complexed clinical services. The position reports to the Supervisory Medical Records Technician or designee.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
06/26/2023 to 07/10/2023
Salary
$51,713 to - $67,231 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 8
Location
3 vacancies in the following location:
Shiprock, NM
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
IHS-23-NN-11951971-ESEP/MP
Control number
723474500

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Duties

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Responsible for ensuring the assignments of diagnostic and procedural codes are accurate and specific as coding accuracy is highly important to the Service Unit, and has an impact on optimizing revenue, describing health outcomes, and to capture all health resources and health care services rendered to Indian beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries.

Employee is the subject matter expert for the complex coding specialty, by performing the following:

  • Accurately assigns and sequences medical codes for all diagnoses, procedures, and services, using International Classification of Disease Modification (ICD-CM), performed by physicians and all other qualified healthcare providers in the facility.
  • Reviews the Integrated Problem List (IPL) for Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED) assignment by health care providers.
  • Reviews and assigns Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes.
  • Assigns Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) medical codes.
  • Analyzes medical documentation to assure the appropriate Evaluation and Management (E&M) levels are assigned. Conducts E&M audits for each visit encounter to validate and confirm E&M level.
  • Analyzes and reviews management of large amounts of pharmaceuticals, administrations and procedures.
  • Analyzes and reviews anesthesia administration, critical care and resuscitation services.
  • Responsible for coding all related ambulatory visits.
  • Enters in billing transaction codes and data from charge tickets, to optimize reimbursement collections for the Service Unit. Updates medical codes for charge tickets and provider picklists in EHR for coding specialty.
Performs extensive qualitative and quantitative analysis of the medical documentation.
  • Makes the final determination that the record is completed and accurate.
Responsible for creating and maintaining specialized registries for high profile cases, such as cancer, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Organ Donor, tumor venous thromboembolism prophylaxis (VTE) and operating room.

Provides ongoing education, updates and briefings. Performs provider coding audits. Ensures conformance to policies, regulations and Medical Records Standards.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Selectee may be subject to a probationary/trial period
ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.

Confidential Financial Disclosure Form required.

Measles and Rubella immunization required for selectees born after 1957 and seasonal influenza immunization is required for all staff working in Indian Health Service health care facilities.

COVID-19 vaccination is required for all selectees prior to entrance on duty.

Incumbent may be required to work on a rotational basis for shift, including days, evenings, weekends and holidays.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation: If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges. You may be subject to a credit check as a part of the background investigation process.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):
GS-8: One year specialized experience equivalent to at least next lower grade, GS-07.

In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-07, in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Extensive experience in applying a comprehensive level of medical terminology and abbreviations, anatomy and physiology, diagnostic services (laboratory, radiology, etc.), major disease processes, pharmacology, pathophysiology and metric system to abstract all the necessary information to assign codes to identify special clinical findings, support existing diagnoses, or substantiate listing additional diagnoses in the medical record. Experience identifying clinical findings, validate present medical conditions, add underlying diagnosis and code complicated medical records that are difficult to classify.

Time In Grade
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Education

There are no education requirements.

Additional information

Per IHS policy (SGM 21-04) IHS selectees to positions located in Federally operated hospitals, health centers, and clinics must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before entry on duty or have IHS approve a medical or religious exemption. If an exemption is approved then wearing a face mask and regular testing for COVID-19 will be required. Your Human Resources Specialist will provide a list of documents acceptable as vaccination proof and instructions on how to submit your vaccination documentation or how to request a medical or religious exemption, if needed.

Additional selection(s) of candidates may be possible within 90 days from the date the certificate of eligibles was issued for this announcement.

Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.

This position is covered by a Bargaining Unit.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

To determine if you are qualified for this position, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against the qualifications as defined in the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement and your responses to the assessment questions.
You will be further evaluated/rated based on the information provided in your resume (your resume must state specific duties that relate to this position) and your responses to the assessment questions to determine your competency in the following.

  • Attention to Detail
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Medical Coding
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Quality Ranking Factor


You will receive a numeric rating based on your responses to the assessment questionnaires. If after reviewing your resume and responses to the assessment questions, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration.

The following links below provide information on how you may be eligible for various hiring authorities. If you are a Veteran, qualified CTAP and ICTAP eligible, or an individual with a disability, please refer to the following links below for additional guidance. CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Workforce Restructuring Career Transition website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Click here to view vacancy questions: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11951971. All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date of, 07/10/2023, to be considered.

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