Director, Coding Services

Hiring Department: Health Information Management

Location: Chicago, IL USA

Requisition ID: 1043427

Pay Range: The previously determined pay range for this position is $130,303 - $181,740. Pay is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity

About the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health)

The University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health) provides comprehensive care, education, and research to the people of Illinois and beyond. UI Health comprises a clinical enterprise that includes a Joint Commission-accredited tertiary care hospital and outpatient clinics, and the Mile Square Health Center network of federally qualified health centers.

It also includes the seven UIC health science colleges: the College of Applied Health Sciences; the College of Dentistry; the School of Public Health; the Jane Addams College of Social Work; and the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing, including regional campuses in Peoria, Quad Cities, Rockford, Springfield, and Urbana. UI Health is dedicated to the pursuit of health equity. Learn more: https://hospital.uillinois.edu/about-ui-health

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Description:

Position Summary

The Director of Coding Services provides strategic leadership for UI Health's Coding Services in support of the organization's quality, revenue integrity, regulatory compliance, and performance improvement goals. Engages in strategic planning with the CQO to establish coding priorities, improve coding quality & operational performance, & support organizational initiatives related to clinical documentation, reimbursement, quality reporting, and regulatory compliance.

Collaborates with CDI, HIM, Revenue Cycle, Finance, Information Services, Quality Performance and Improvement, Risk Management, physician leadership, and external vendors to optimize coding accuracy, data integrity, operational efficiency, and financial performance. Leads the strategic and operational oversight of inpatient and outpatient hospital facility coding services while ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, payer, and accreditation requirements. Responsible for the leadership of inpatient & outpatient coding services.

Duties & Responsibilities

Provides the strategic direction and leadership for Coding Services in alignment with UI Health's organizational quality, financial, and operational goals.

Engages in strategic planning with the Chief Quality Officer to establish coding priorities, develop operational roadmaps, and support enterprise clinical documentation and coding initiatives.

Develops departmental goals, key performance indicators, and performance improvement plans that support organizational objectives.

Serves as the organizational subject matter expert for hospital coding, coding compliance, documentation requirements, reimbursement methodologies, payer requirements, and applicable federal and state regulations.

Provides executive oversight of inpatient and outpatient hospital facility coding operations, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant code assignment.

Oversees coding productivity, quality, turnaround time, coding compliance, and coding audit programs.

Develops, monitors, and reports coding performance metrics, operational dashboards, and departmental performance indicators.

Collaborates with the Director of Clinical Documentation Improvement to improve documentation quality, coding accuracy, and clinical data integrity.

Partners with Quality Performance and Improvement, Risk Management, Revenue Cycle, Finance, and physician leadership to support accurate quality reporting, regulatory reporting, reimbursement, and revenue integrity.

Collaborates with Information Services and external vendors to optimize Epic coding workflows, computer-assisted coding (CAC), encoder applications, and other coding technologies.

Evaluates and implements new technologies and process improvements that enhance coding accuracy, operational efficiency, and clinical data integrity.

Oversees internal and external coding audits and ensures implementation of appropriate corrective actions to maintain coding quality and regulatory compliance.

Develops and maintains departmental coding policies, procedures, and quality standards consistent with federal regulations, payer requirements, and industry best practices.

Directs a high-performing Coding Services team by establishing employee goals, conducting annual performance evaluations, supporting professional development, and fostering employee engagement.

Conducts operating and capital fiscal planning, ensures financial performance per established budget plan.

Manages coding-related contracts, vendors, and outsourced coding services.

Participates in organizational committees and multidisciplinary initiatives supporting quality, patient safety, clinical documentation, and revenue integrity.

Other duties as assigned.

Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Health Information Management, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or a related healthcare field required.

Minimum seven (7) years of progressively responsible hospital facility coding experience.

Minimum five (5) years of leadership experience managing hospital coding operations.

RHIA, RHIT, CCS, or equivalent nationally recognized coding credential required.

Extensive knowledge of ICD-10-CM/PCS, CPT, HCPCS, MS-DRGs, APCs, Official Coding Guidelines, CMS regulations, payer requirements, and hospital reimbursement methodologies.

Demonstrated knowledge of coding compliance, clinical documentation improvement, revenue integrity, quality reporting, and healthcare regulatory requirements.

Strong understanding of Epic, computer-assisted coding (CAC), encoder technology, and healthcare coding systems.

Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and leadership skills.

Ability to build collaborative relationships across multidisciplinary teams and lead organizational change and continuous performance improvement initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree preferred.

Experience within an academic medical center or large integrated healthcare system preferred.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.