Sr Clinical Coding Specialist - OR Surgery

UT MD Anderson Cancer Center•Houston, TX

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Senior Clinical Coding Specialist supports accurate and compliant coding operations that contribute to revenue integrity and timely billing. The role collaborates with internal teams to maintain high-quality coding and documentation standards and supports MD Anderson Cancer Center’s mission through expert application of coding guidelines, communication with clinical teams, and institutional compliance. The specialist supports workflow efficiency, documentation clarification, and coding accuracy. This position focuses on operating-room surgical coding for both physician and facility services. The ideal candidate has surgical coding experience in specialties such as Breast and Plastics, Surgical Oncology, Head and Neck, or Urology, and a strong foundation in ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS, with inpatient and outpatient coding experience. The schedule is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The role is remote, with onsite attendance for meetings as needed. The stated annual salary range is $67,000 to $100,000, with a midpoint of $83,500. Required education is an associate degree in Health Information Management, Healthcare Administration, or a related healthcare field; a bachelor's degree in one of these fields is preferred. Required experience is five years of clinical coding experience for complex or multispecialty work, or three years with the preferred degree. Required education may be substituted with additional years of equivalent experience on a one-to-one basis. Prior experience in a teaching hospital is preferred. One of the listed coding credentials is required upon hire: RHIA, RHIT, CCS, CCA, an AHIMA- or AAPC-certified coder credential, CPC-A, or COC. Candidates must pass a pre-employment skills test administered by Human Resources. The employer describes benefits including medical coverage for employees working at least 30 hours per week, optional dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance, paid time off and other leave options, paid holidays, tuition assistance after six months, wellness and fitness resources, employee resource groups, pension and voluntary retirement plans, and employer-paid life and salary-protection programs. The position may require routine reviews and screening related to maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure; satisfying and maintaining applicable requirements is a condition of hire and continued employment.

Requirements

Associate degree in Health Information Management, Healthcare Administration, or a related healthcare field, or an applicable education substitution through equivalent additional experience.
Five years of clinical coding experience for complex or multispecialty work, or three years with the preferred degree.
One of the following credentials upon hire: RHIA, RHIT, CCS, CCA, AHIMA- or AAPC-certified coder, CPC-A, or COC.
Must pass a pre-employment skills test as required and administered by Human Resources.
Ability to satisfy and maintain any requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of critical infrastructure, if applicable.
Strong foundation in medical coding principles, including ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS.
Practical experience in both inpatient and outpatient coding.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Health Information Management, Healthcare Administration, or a related healthcare field.
Prior experience working in a teaching hospital setting.
Surgical coding experience in Breast and Plastics, Surgical Oncology, Head and Neck, and/or Urology.

Responsibilities

Communicate effectively with coding team members, management, the business office, and external customers.
Provide management with detailed questions and feedback about coding issues, quality reviews, and training.
Support internal and external requests for coding corrections or re-reviews.
Promptly report workflow or system issues to management.
Advance professional growth through continuing education, coding rounds, seminars, and literature review.
Participate in team meetings and provide feedback on documentation challenges and compliance concerns.
Contribute to discussions about coding clinic updates and process improvements.
Maintain discharged-not-final-billed (DNB) and Pre-AR account thresholds as directed by leadership.
Apply official coding guidelines, coding clinics, and departmental policies accurately.
Review medical records and assign ICD-10-CM, CPT/HCPCS, modifiers, and other codes using 3M software, EPIC, and coding references.
Initiate physician queries when documentation is unclear or insufficient.
Uphold AHIMA ethical coding standards and HIPAA compliance rules.

Benefits

Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30 or more hours per week.
Optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
Accruals for paid time off and an Extended Illness Bank.
Paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service.
Wellness and fitness resources and employee resource groups.
Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System.
Voluntary retirement plans.
Employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.
Educational opportunities and individual and team recognition.