Medical Coders

Akicita Federal, LLC • Chicago, IL

14d • $76,960 - $81,120 • Onsite

About The Position

Akicita Federal is hiring Medical Coders to support accurate and compliant clinical documentation for the Department of Veterans Affairs at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Hines, IL. In this role, you will play a critical part in ensuring Veterans receive proper care by translating clinical encounters into precise medical codes that drive reimbursement, reporting, and continuity of care. This is an on-site position supporting one of the VA's major medical centers in the Chicagoland area.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience in medical coding, including proficiency with ICD-10-CM and CPT/HCPCS code sets
• Working knowledge of official coding guidelines (AHA Coding Clinic, AMA CPT guidelines) and compliance standards
• Ability to work on-site at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Hines, IL
• Ability to handle and protect sensitive federal health records in accordance with HIPAA and VA information security requirements
• Familiarity with electronic health record (EHR) systems used in a hospital or clinical setting

Nice To Haves

• Active AHIMA or AAPC certification (e.g., RHIT, RHIA, CCS, CPC, COC) is strongly preferred
• Prior coding experience within a VA, DoD, or other federal healthcare environment
• Experience with inpatient DRG coding and/or outpatient facility coding in a high-volume academic or medical center setting
• Familiarity with VA's VistA or CPRS electronic health record platforms
• Background in clinical documentation improvement (CDI) programs or provider query processes

Responsibilities

• Review and analyze clinical documentation from physician notes, operative reports, discharge summaries, and other health records to assign accurate diagnosis and procedure codes
• Apply ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS coding guidelines to inpatient and/or outpatient encounters in compliance with VA and federal coding standards
• Query providers as needed to clarify documentation deficiencies or ambiguities that impact code assignment
• Ensure coded data supports proper DRG or APC assignment, sequencing, and compliance with official coding guidelines
• Maintain productivity and quality benchmarks aligned with VA Medical Center expectations and coding audits
• Safeguard patient privacy and handle sensitive Veterans' health information in accordance with HIPAA and VA privacy policies
• Collaborate with Health Information Management staff and clinical teams to support coding accuracy and documentation improvement initiatives

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed