The Medical Coding Team Lead will oversee a team of medical coders, ensuring accurate and timely coding of medical diagnoses, procedures, and services for healthcare facilities. The role involves managing day-to-day operations, ensuring compliance with industry standards (e.g., ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS coding), and acting as the primary point of contact between the coding team and other departments. The Team Lead will also mentor and train coding staff, monitor performance metrics, and ensure the department meets organizational goals and regulatory requirements
Key Responsibilities:
1. Team Management:
- Supervise a team of medical coders, ensuring workload distribution and deadlines are met.
- Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide feedback to team members.
- Serve as the primary point of escalation for coding-related issues or complex cases.
- Foster a collaborative and productive team environment by providing guidance, support, and training opportunities.
2. Quality Assurance:
- Ensure coding accuracy and compliance with industry standards such as ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS codes.
- Perform random audits of coded claims to ensure accuracy and adherence to organizational and regulatory guidelines.
- Implement corrective actions and training plans when discrepancies are identified during audits.
3. Training and Development:
- Organize and conduct regular training sessions on updates to coding standards, regulations, and software tools.
- Mentor junior coders and help develop their skills to improve performance.
- Keep the team updated on regulatory changes and best practices in medical coding.
4. Operational Oversight:
- Manage day-to-day operations of the coding team, ensuring tasks are completed on time and meet quality standards.
- Track and report team performance metrics, including coding accuracy, productivity, and turnaround times.
- Collaborate with other departments such as billing, compliance, and healthcare providers to resolve coding and reimbursement issues.
5. Compliance and Documentation:
- Ensure that coding practices are in compliance with HIPAA regulations, organizational policies, and state/federal guidelines.
- Maintain accurate documentation of all coding processes and updates for auditing purposes.
- Assist in preparing the department for internal and external audits.
6. Process Improvement:
- Identify areas of inefficiency in the coding process and recommend improvements.
- Implement new processes, tools, or systems to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of medical coding operations.
7. Client/Stakeholder Relations:
- Act as a liaison between the coding team and other internal and external stakeholders, including physicians, administrative staff, and external auditors.
- Address and resolve any queries related to coding from insurance companies, providers, or billing departments.