Coder

Oncology Surgical CoderDuration: 6 months +Location: REMOTEMust be US Citizen or Green Card Holder Description Position Summary The Surgical Coder – Oncology is responsible for accurately reviewing operative documentation and assigning CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II codes for surgical and procedural encounters in both inpatient and outpatient hospital settings. This position supports surgical specialties common to a comprehensive cancer center, including surgical oncology, thoracic, neurosurgery, gynecologic oncology, colorectal, urologic, and reconstructive procedures. The coder ensures compliance with official coding guidelines, payer-specific rules, and institutional policies to optimize reimbursement and maintain audit-ready documentation. Key ResponsibilitiesReview operative and procedural notes to assign accurate CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II codes for professional and/or facility billing.Apply appropriate modifiers (e.g., -51, -59, -62, -80, -22) in accordance with CPT and NCCI guidelines.Code oncologic surgeries such as tumor resections, biopsies, lymph node dissections, and reconstruction procedures across multiple surgical specialties.Validate documentation for medical necessity, completeness, and compliance with regulatory and institutional requirements.Distinguish between professional and facility components; ensure accurate global period management and postoperative follow-up coding.Identify and resolve NCCI/OCE edits and documentation discrepancies prior to billing.Collaborate with surgeons, physician liaisons, and compliance staff to clarify ambiguous or incomplete operative notes.Participate in coding quality audits and implement corrective actions as necessary.Maintain current knowledge of oncology-specific coding updates, bundling edits, and payer guidelines.Support revenue integrity initiatives, including charge reconciliation and workflow optimization.Qualifications Education:High school diploma or equivalent required.Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management, Nursing, or related field preferred.Experience:Minimum of 3 years of recent surgical coding experience in a hospital or multi-specialty environment.Experience coding oncologic, reconstructive, and complex multi-service surgical procedures preferred.Familiarity with both inpatient and outpatient surgical billing environments strongly desired.Certification:Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), or equivalent credential required.Certified Outpatient Coder (COC) or Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC) preferred.Certified General Surgery Coder (CGSC) or Certified Oncology Coder (COC-A) a plus.Skills and CompetenciesExpert knowledge of CPT surgical coding, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II standards.Strong understanding of NCCI, CMS, and payer bundling/unbundling rules.Ability to interpret complex operative reports and apply coding conventions accurately.Familiarity with oncology and reconstructive surgical procedures and related terminology.Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and written communication skills.Performance IndicatorsMaintain ≥95% E/M coding accuracy, while completing a requisite number of encounters per working hour. Inpatient and outpatient productivity benchmarks are required.Reduce E/M-related denials through proactive documentation clarification and follow-up audit.