Lead VHA Contract Coder

Job Summary

Lead VHA Contract Coder

Location: Remote

Serves as working lead responsible for outpatient and/or inpatient facility coding, audits, and coding team oversight in support of the VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS). This position is part-time with flexible hours, ideal for a credentialed VHA coder seeking supplemental work.

• Perform outpatient and/or inpatient facility coding including ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT/HCPCS, DRG, and E&M for all encounters assigned by VAPORHCS
• Access and review health record documentation in VA's VistA/CPRS system; enter codes into the approved coding application
• Apply modifiers, CCI bundling guidelines, and Reason Not Billable (RNB) designations as appropriate
• Code all standard cases within 7 calendar days of receipt/discharge; priority cases within one business day
• Clarify conflicting, ambiguous, or nonspecific documentation; consult VHA coding guidance as appropriate.
• Comply with all HIPAA, VA/VHA privacy, security, and records management directives, and complete all required VA training prior to system access and annually thereafter
• Comply with AHIMA Standards of Ethical Coding
• Conduct coding audits covering not less than 5% of coded services; provide written feedback to team members, track quality trends, and report metrics to Arrow ARC PM on a weekly cadence
• Ensure team coding production meets contract and program office standards, including a minimum of 70 outpatient or 13 inpatient encounters per coder per 8-hour day, and a 95% accuracy rate per HIMS program office requirements
• Serve as primary point of contact for contract team coding questions and VA coding-related inquiries, including documentation clarification, VHA policy, and contract compliance matters
• Mentor and support coders transitioning into VA/VHA coding environments; assist with onboarding and ongoing education as needed
• Participate in VA-directed coding reviews, pre-bill re-reviews, or RAC/MAC audits as applicable

• Active coding credential from AHIMA (RHIA, RHIT, CCS, or CCS-P) or AAPC (CPC or CPC-H); credential must be maintained for the duration of the contract
• Proficiency with ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT/HCPCS, DRG assignment, and E&M guidelines
• Experience working within VA systems (e.g., VistA/CPRS, VIRR) and complying with HIPAA/VA directives
• Minimum 3 years of VHA facility coding experience, including current or recent experience (within the past 12 months) in a lead, supervisory, or senior coding role
• Experience conducting coding audits and delivering feedback
• Experience mentoring or training other coders

• Experience developing or delivering coding education or training materials for team members or peers
• 5+ years of VHA facility coding experience, including lead or supervisory responsibility