Medical Records Technician (Coder)

Indian Health Service • Warm Springs, OR

22h

About The Position

This position is located within the Portland Area Indian Health Service Medical Records Department. Its primary function is to perform ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS coding for reimbursement and statistical purposes. The technician is responsible for the accuracy and timely completion of medical records.

The position reviews outpatient and observation records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with regulatory and coding requirements, including high-acuity and time-sensitive encounters. It performs quantitative and qualitative analysis of medical records, verifies required documentation, and evaluates records for consistency, accuracy, medical necessity, and appropriate modifier usage. The technician ensures final diagnoses are supported by provider documentation and that documentation corrections are completed within required timeframes to support coding, billing, quality reporting, and performance measurement.

The position may be filled at GS-05, GS-06, or GS-07. Promotion potential is GS-07, but promotion is not guaranteed and is subject to management discretion, demonstrated ability, continuing need, and regulatory or administrative approval. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized, and relocation assistance may be available to qualified candidates on a case-by-case basis. A service agreement of at least one year is required if applicable to the incentive or assistance.

Requirements

• For GS-05, at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, including reviewing medical records, supporting medical coding and health information activities, performing routine coding and data entry, applying medical terminology, and organizing data for compliance, performance improvement, and reporting; or four years of education above high school; or a qualifying combination of education and experience. Only education beyond the first 60 semester hours is creditable toward specialized experience.
• For GS-06, at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, including knowledge of medical coding terminology, chart analysis, ensuring records are complete, accurate, and properly coded, following established medical record procedures, and abstracting data from records.
• For GS-07, at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, including ensuring records are complete, accurate, and properly coded; applying medical terminology to clinical documentation and coding requirements; and working with healthcare staff to resolve documentation deficiencies affecting coding accuracy, compliance, reimbursement, and continuity of care.
• Federal competitive-service merit-promotion candidates must meet the one-year time-in-grade requirement at the next lower grade; this does not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must pass E-Verify and a federal background investigation, including a financial suitability review.
• Must provide two valid forms of identification before appointment; any state-issued identification or driver's license must be REAL ID-compliant.
• Must comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy if duties require work in an IHS healthcare facility; vaccine exemption requests may be available under the policy and facility guidance.
• This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630 and requires contact with or control over Indian children. Certain criminal convictions or pleas may disqualify applicants.
• Selectees may be subject to a probationary period; ESEP appointees typically serve a two-year trial period.
• Applicants must complete required background-investigation forms within five calendar days of issuance and complete required USA Hire assessments within the specified deadlines.
• Applicants using education to qualify must provide transcripts or course information; official transcripts are required from selectees before an official offer. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.

Responsibilities

• Perform ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS coding for reimbursement and statistical purposes.
• Review outpatient and observation records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with regulatory and coding requirements, including high-acuity and time-sensitive encounters.
• Perform quantitative and qualitative analysis of medical records to verify required components, including patient identifiers, signatures, dates, orders, reports, and time-based documentation.
• Evaluate documentation for consistency, accuracy, medical necessity, and appropriate modifier usage.
• Ensure final diagnoses accurately reflect the care provided and are supported by provider documentation.
• Ensure documentation corrections are completed within required timeframes to support timely coding, billing, quality reporting, and performance measurement.
• Depending on grade, review records to gather visit information, support coding and health information programs, perform coding and data-entry tasks, abstract data, and work with healthcare staff to resolve documentation deficiencies.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for employees and their families.
• Annual leave accrual based on federal service, at a rate of 4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period.
• Newly appointed federal employees may receive credit for directly related prior non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized.
• Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates, subject to case-by-case determination.

What This Job Offers

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