What does an Inpatient Coder do?
Published 4 min read
An inpatient coder is responsible for reviewing medical records and assigning codes to diagnoses and procedures using a classification system. This position requires a high level of accuracy and attention to detail, as coding errors can result in inaccurate reimbursement from insurance companies. Inpatient coders typically work in hospital settings, but may also work in clinics or other healthcare facilities.
Inpatient Coder job duties include:
- Reviewing medical records to identify relevant diagnosis and procedures
- Assigning appropriate codes using ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS manuals
- Sequencing codes to accurately reflect the patient’s clinical picture
- Applying knowledge of official coding guidelines
- Staying up-to-date on coding updates and changes
- Conducting quality reviews of coded data
- Participating in educational opportunities to maintain coding proficiency
- Consulting with physicians and other clinicians as needed to resolve coding issues
- Performing audits of medical records for completeness and accuracy
- Other duties as assigned
Inpatient Coder Job Requirements
An inpatient coder typically needs at least an associate's degree in health information technology, although a bachelor's degree may be preferred. They must also have coding certification, such as through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Inpatient coders should have at least three years of coding experience, although more may be preferred. They must also be proficient in using coding software and comfortable working with large amounts of data.
Inpatient Coder Skills
- Medical Terminology
- Anatomy & Physiology
- ICD-9-CM
- CPT
- HCPCS
- Inpatient Coding Guidelines
- 3M Encoder
- Trucode
- QuadraMed
- MediTech
- Cerner
- Soarian
Related: Top Inpatient Coder Skills: Definition and Examples
How to become an Inpatient Coder
Inpatient coding is a process of assigning codes to diagnoses and procedures for inpatients using the ICD-10-CM and CPT manuals. Inpatient coders typically work in hospital settings, and they may also work from home. The steps to becoming an inpatient coder are:
1. Get a degree in medical coding or a related field. Many community colleges offer 2-year associate’s degrees in medical coding. Alternatively, you can get a 4-year bachelor’s degree in health information management, which will give you additional skills such as recordkeeping and management.
2. Pass the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam. This exam is offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). To be eligible to take the CPC exam, you must have at least two years of experience working with ICD-9-CM or ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS coding systems.
3. Start working as an inpatient coder. Once you have your degree and CPC certification, you can start applying for jobs as an inpatient coder. Many hospitals and clinics have online job postings, so you can search for open positions from the comfort of your own home.
4. Stay up to date on coding changes. The ICD-10-CM and CPT manuals are updated every year, so it’s important to stay current on the latest coding changes. You can do this by subscribing to coding newsletters or taking continuing education courses.
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