Home Health and Hospice Medical Coder

Applied Palliative and Hospice Services,Inc.

Home Health and Hospice Medical Coder

Sacramento, CA
Full Time
Paid
  • Responsibilities

    Benefits:

    401(k)

    401(k) matching

    Company parties

    Competitive salary

    Employee discounts

    Health insurance

    Paid time off

    Training & development

    Vision insurance

    Position Overview

    The ICD-10 Home Health & Hospice Medical Coder is responsible for accurately reviewing, analyzing, and assigning ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes to clinical documentation for home health and hospice services. This role ensures compliance with CMS guidelines, OASIS requirements, and agency policies to support precise reimbursement, high-quality patient care, and regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience in Home Health ICD-10 coding, strong knowledge of OASIS/Evaluation criteria, and a thorough understanding of PDGM (Patient-Driven Groupings Model).

    Key Responsibilities

    Coding & Documentation Review

    Review clinical documentation to identify appropriate and accurate ICD-10-CM codes for home health and hospice encounters.

    Assign primary and secondary diagnoses following CMS, PDGM, and regulatory requirements.

    Validate medical necessity and ensure coding supports the plan of care and services rendered.

    Review and interpret physician orders, clinical notes, OASIS assessments, and other documentation to ensure accurate code selection.

    Quality, Compliance & Auditing

    Ensure all coding aligns with CMS, industry, and agency standards, including PDGM/PEPPER guidelines.

    Conduct self-audits or participate in agency coding audits to maintain accuracy and compliance.

    Assist with corrections and updates based on audit findings or regulatory changes.

    Maintain strict confidentiality and follow HIPAA requirements.

    Collaboration & Communication

    Communicate with clinicians, QA staff, and the billing department to clarify diagnoses, resolve documentation discrepancies, and improve coding accuracy.

    Provide feedback to clinical staff regarding documentation gaps that impact coding or reimbursement.

    Participate in training or educational sessions to enhance coding competency and knowledge of industry updates.

    Data Integrity & Workflow Management

    Complete coding assignments within established departmental timelines.

    Ensure accurate and timely submission of coded encounters for billing and compliance.

    Assist in optimizing coding workflows, documentation processes, and clinical data accuracy.

    Required Qualifications

    Minimum 2 years of Home Health ICD-10 coding experience (required).

    Certification from a recognized credentialing body such as:

    HCS-D (Home Care Coding Specialist–Diagnosis) – preferred

    CPC, CCS, COC, or RHIT/RHIA accepted with Home Health-specific experience

    Strong understanding of PDGM, OASIS documentation requirements, and Medicare regulations.

    Experience with home health EMR systems (e.g., Homecare Homebase, WellSky/Kinnser, MatrixCare).

    Excellent analytical, critical-thinking, and documentation review skills.

    Strong understanding of pathophysiology, medical terminology, and clinical documentation requirements.

    Preferred Qualifications

    Hospice coding experience (ICD-10-CM) strongly preferred.

    Knowledge of HIS (Hospice Item Set) and hospice regulatory requirements.

    Experience working remotely or in a high-volume coding environment.

    Familiarity with PEPPER reports and quality metrics for home health agencies.