Inpatient Medical Coder (ICD-10 / DRG) – Acute Care Hospital Location Requirement: ****** Candidates must reside in one of the following states: AL, CA, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MI, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV ****** Position Overview We are seeking a highly experienced Inpatient Medical Coder with a deep background in acute care hospital coding . This role is strictly focused on inpatient coding (ICD-10-CM/PCS and DRG assignment) and requires expertise handling high-acuity, complex hospital cases . The ideal candidate brings a strong command of MS-DRG/APR-DRG methodologies , UHDDS guidelines , and regulatory compliance , with proven success coding in fast-paced inpatient environments such as large hospitals, trauma centers, or academic medical centers . Core Responsibilities (Inpatient-Focused) Perform full-scope inpatient coding for acute care hospital encounters using ICD-10-CM/PCS Accurately assign and sequence principal and secondary diagnoses and procedures in accordance with UHDDS standards Ensure precise MS-DRG and APR-DRG assignment for complex inpatient cases Apply Present on Admission (POA) indicators and identify Hospital-Acquired Conditions (HACs) Review entire inpatient medical records (admission through discharge) for accuracy, completeness, and compliance Analyze documentation across complex, high-acuity cases (e.g., ICU, trauma, surgical, transplant) Initiate and manage compliant provider queries for missing, unclear, or conflicting documentation Resolve pre-bill edits (DNFB) to ensure accounts are coded accurately prior to final billing Abstract and input clinical and coding data into hospital systems Partner closely with HIM and CDI teams to improve inpatient documentation integrity and DRG accuracy Maintain high productivity and accuracy standards in a production-driven inpatient coding environment Required Qualifications (Inpatient REQUIRED) 5+ years of dedicated inpatient coding experience in an acute care hospital setting Advanced expertise in: ICD-10-CM/PCS coding MS-DRG and APR-DRG assignment UHDDS guidelines and inpatient regulations Proven experience coding complex inpatient cases (e.g., trauma, ICU, surgical, transplant) Strong understanding of CMS guidelines and compliance standards Active certification required: RHIA, RHIT, CCS (or equivalent) Demonstrated ability to meet strict inpatient coding productivity and accuracy benchmarks Highly Preferred Background Experience in large acute care hospitals (500+ beds) Background in teaching hospitals or university-affiliated health systems Exposure to high-acuity, multi-specialty inpatient populations Experience with coding platforms such as Epic, 3M 360, or similar Broad inpatient specialty experience, including: Medical/Surgical Cardiology / Cardiothoracic / Vascular Orthopedics Neurology Gastroenterology Behavioral Health Transplant (kidney, liver, pancreas) Schedule Flexible scheduling within 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM Why This Role Work exclusively on inpatient acute care cases — no outpatient mix Exposure to complex, high-acuity hospital coding scenarios Join a team prioritizing DRG accuracy, compliance, and documentation excellence Strong, stable opportunity with immediate impact and team support