DRG Clinical Validation Lead

DRG Clinical Validation Lead

Virtual: This role enables associates to work virtually full-time, with the exception of required in-person training sessions, providing maximum flexibility and autonomy. This approach promotes productivity, supports work-life integration, and ensures essential face-to-face onboarding and skill development.

Please note that per our policy on hybrid/virtual work, candidates not within a reasonable commuting distance from the posting location(s) will not be considered for employment, unless an accommodation is granted as required by law.

The DRG Clinical Validation Lead ensures medically appropriate, high quality, cost effective care through assessing the medical necessity of inpatient admissions, outpatient services, focused surgical and diagnostic procedures, out of network services, and appropriateness of treatment setting by utilizing the applicable medical policy and industry standards, accurately interpreting benefits and managed care products, and steering members to appropriate providers, programs or community resources. Works with medical directors in interpreting appropriateness of care and accurate claims payment. May also manage appeals for services denied.

How you will make an impact:

• Conducts pre-certification, retrospective, out of network and appropriateness of treatment setting reviews to ensure compliance with applicable criteria, medical policy, and member eligibility, benefits, and contracts.
• Ensures member access to medical necessary, quality healthcare in a cost effective setting according to contract.
• Consults with clinical reviewers and/or medical directors to ensure medically appropriate, high quality, cost effective care throughout the medical management process.
• Collaborates with providers to assess member's needs for early identification of and proactive planning for discharge planning.
• Facilitates member care transition through the healthcare continuum and refers treatment plans/plan of care to clinical reviewers as required and does not issue non-certifications.
• Facilitates accreditation by knowing, understanding, correctly interpreting, and accurately applying accrediting and regulatory requirements and standards.
• Serves as the team lead and responds to the most complex medical issues.
• Ensures consistency in benefit application. May lead cross-functional teams, projects, initiatives, process improvement activities, and requires previous managed care experience.
• May serve as departmental liaison to other areas of the business unit or as representative on enterprise initiatives.

Minimum Requirements:

• Requires AS in nursing and minimum of 7 years of acute care clinical experience; or any combination of education and experience, which would provide an equivalent background. Prior managed care experience required. Current unrestricted RN license in applicable state(s) required.

Preferred Skills, Capabilities and Experiences:

• One or more of the following certifications are preferred: Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS), Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner (CDIP), Certified Professional Coder (CPC) or Inpatient Coding Credential such as CCS or CIC.
• Experience with third party DRG Coding and/or Clinical Validation Audits or hospital clinical documentation improvement experience preferred.
• Broad knowledge of clinical documentation improvement guidelines, medical claims billing and payment systems, provider billing guidelines, payer reimbursement policies, and coding terminology preferred.
• Lead experience preferred.

For candidates working in person or virtually in the below location(s), the salary* range for this specific position is $89,520 to $161,136

Locations: California; Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada; New York; Washington State