Required Qualifications (Non‑Negotiable)- U.S. citizenship
- Must reside within 50 miles of the nearest VA Medical Center
- Active credential from AHIMA (RHIA, RHIT, CCS, CCS‑P, CCA, CDIP) or AAPC (CPC, CPC‑H, or successor)
- Completion of an accredited program in coding, HIM, or HIT
- Minimum 6–8 years of coding experience (outpatient or inpatient)
- This is significantly higher than typical requirements; 2–3 years does NOT qualify
- Current CEUs required to maintain credential
- Ability to pass a National Agency Check (NAC), local file check, and obtain a PIV card
- Cannot be a current VA employee — federal conflict‑of‑interest restriction
Preferred Qualifications- Prior VA/VHA coding experience
- Surgical, anesthesia, or pathology coding experience
- History of tracking/reporting personal accuracy and productivity metrics
Medical Records Technician (Coder)
VA Central Iowa Health Care System (VACIHCS) – Des Moines, IA Remote Contract Position — Must Reside Within 50 Miles of a VA Medical Center
Position TypeSchedule Expectations- Training Phase: Fixed schedule, 08:00–4:30 PM CST, Monday–Friday
- Post‑Training: After sustaining 95% accuracy and meeting productivity standards for a full bi‑weekly pay period (~4 weeks), coders may move to a flexible 8‑hour shift between 06:00 AM–5:00PM CST
Key ResponsibilitiesOutpatient Coders - Code outpatient encounters, ancillary services (radiology, lab), prosthetics, and ambulatory surgical episodes
- Apply ICD‑CM, CPT, and HCPCS
Inpatient Coder - Code inpatient facility episodes
- Assign ICD‑CM diagnoses, ICD‑PCS procedures, and POA indicators
- Additional Requirements for Inpatient Role
- Proven ICD‑10‑PCS experience
- Strong understanding of POA indicators, DRG logic, and inpatient professional fee coding
- Experience creating encounters in the Patient Care Encounter (PCE) application preferred
All Coders- Work within VA systems: VistA/CPRS, national encoder, and required VA applications
- Apply NCCI bundling rules and correct modifier usage
- Flag insufficient documentation
- Re‑review and correct coding within 1 business day when questioned due to billing edits or denials
- Submit daily coded‑status reports and weekly summaries
- Maintain 95% minimum accuracy — audited monthly and strictly enforced