Nicole Atkinson

• Assess provider documentation and coding competency to identify opportunities to improve clinical documentation, coding accuracy, compliance, reimbursement, and revenue integrity.

• Perform second-level reviews for auditors and coders, analyzing coding and documentation issues and providing guidance and clarification on complex account-processing questions.

• Review medical records to validate provider queries for compliance and accuracy before submission.

• Evaluate documentation and coding information to support accurate and compliant diagnosis and procedure coding.

• Conduct follow-up on provider query responses and address outstanding documentation questions.

• Maintain clear communication with coding and corporate responsibility teams regarding coding education, documentation expectations, and guidance provided to providers and coders.

• Develop and deliver coding education and training related to coding processes, documentation, compliance, and regulatory requirements.

• Monitor regulatory changes and collaborate with leadership to support coding compliance and revenue integrity.

• Participate in coding audit projects and quality metric reporting to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.

• Used coding audit results to monitor coding quality, identify coding accuracy and documentation improvement opportunities, and provide targeted education to coding professionals.

• Created and delivered coding education presentations for targeted specialty areas and coding groups.

• Led coding improvement initiatives, including development and tracking of coding quality and performance metrics.

Functioned as a coding subject matter expert on coded data and reimbursement outcomes, researching coding questions and providing precise guidance.

• Served as a coding subject matter expert regarding coded data and reimbursement outcomes, researching coding questions and providing accurate guidance.

• Maintained current knowledge of regulatory requirements, including CMS, OIG, and HIPAA, and communicated applicable updates to stakeholders.

• Managed daily operations for 21 facility and professional coders and 5 charge integrity analysts, overseeing coding quality, compliance, productivity, documentation, and revenue integrity.

• Conducted documentation audits and coder reviews to identify coding accuracy, documentation, and compliance opportunities.

• Collaborated with providers and CDI staff to ensure accurate, complete, and regulatory-compliant clinical documentation.

• Monitored DNFB and developed reports to identify trends, process deficiencies, and opportunities to improve coding workflows and billing outcomes.

• Implemented audit-informed workflows that improved turnaround time and reduced billing issues.

• Applied coding audit findings and documentation review results to support coding process improvement and quality assurance.

• Oversaw accurate and compliant recording of patient charges, including chargemaster maintenance and charge audit processes.

• Provided coaching, education, performance management, and professional development for coding staff.

• Partnered with 3M, Waystar, nThrive, and R1 to optimize coding, revenue cycle, and related technology tools.

• Conducted routine and targeted coding quality audits to assess coding accuracy, compliance, and adherence to requirements.

• Analyzed audit findings and delivered feedback and education to enhance coding accuracy and consistency.

• Analyzed audit findings and provided direct feedback and coding education to improve accuracy and consistency.

• Created coding education tools and documentation best practices to facilitate ongoing coder improvement and maintain coding quality.

• Abstracted and validated diagnosis and procedure codes with greater than 95% accuracy for inpatient and outpatient account types, including observation, same-day surgery, emergency department, and clinic accounts.

• Reviewed patient health records to validate diagnosis and procedure coding and support accurate, compliant code assignment.

• Queried providers regarding missing, unclear, or conflicting health record documentation using approved query templates.

• Resolved coding and billing edits and managed coding denials across multiple patient types using Waystar, FinThrive, and Midas.

• Maintained working knowledge of current ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, and CPT coding requirements.

• Applied documentation review, coding validation, and denial-management knowledge to support accurate reimbursement and reduce billing issues.