Associate Vice President, Charge Capture and Coding Operations (Finance)

Associate Vice President, Charge Capture and Coding Operations

Position Summary:

UTHealth Houston is seeking an Associate Vice President (AVP), Charge Capture and Coding Operations to provide strategic leadership and oversight for the organization's charge capture, coding, and billing operations. The AVP will be responsible for managing and optimizing all aspects of revenue cycle operations for UT physicians across multiple locations, with the primary objective of achieving 100% charge capture. This role also involves the leadership of a team of 125 coders, as well as overseeing various revenue cycle initiatives that support the organization's broader objectives.

The ideal candidate will bring a minimum of nine (9) years of demonstrated experience in large team management, particularly within a healthcare or medical revenue cycle context. The AVP should possess a strong track record in overseeing charge capture and coding operations, ideally in a multi-specialty environment. Experience with the EPIC Billing System is strongly preferred, as is familiarity with the integration of AI and automation technologies in revenue cycle processes, ensuring the success and growth of UTHealth Houston's revenue cycle operations.

Position Key Accountabilities:

• Serves as the executive leader and subject matter expert for all coding, charge capture (including interfaced transactions) processes for the practice plan into UTHealth's practice management system to ensure timely processing of professional fee charges.
• Identifies, analyzes, evaluates, solves, and anticipates complex problems related to charge capture and coding operations. Applies advanced analytical thinking skills to solve complex problems, recommend improvements, garner consensus, and make informed decisions that align with organizational goals.
• Sets strategic patient/customer-oriented priorities and goals to achieve the highest possible patient and customer satisfaction outcomes.
• Identifies, implements, measures, optimizes, and creates improvements in the revenue charge capture coding process and front-end billing functions across the clinical enterprise to optimize revenue capture.
• Monitors regulatory environment, anticipates changes, collaborates with Billing Compliance and Managed Care Contracting to ensure governmental regulations and payer requirements are being implemented and maintained.
• Develops, implements, and monitors productivity standards for coding and charge capture. In addition, performs analyses along the charge capture process as well as payer denials and manages an action plan for performance improvement in an effort to improve revenue, reduce charge lag and payer denials.
• Participates in the development, implementation and maintenance of new features and functionalities in the practice management's charge capture and coding processes with a keen understanding of their downstream effect.
• Act as the lead for Revenue Cycle in implementing automated systems and processes for the charge capture and coding process (CodeRyte, charge interfaces, etc.).
• Responsible for various revenue cycle initiatives and associated operational support and developing a staffing model that includes workload assessment.
• Accountable for fostering collaborative relationships with all customers of the revenue cycle.
• Manages Human Resources activities for direct reports in regards to: recruiting and selection; hiring and termination, training, development, mentoring, counseling, performance evaluations, and salary planning.
• Responsible for the design, execution and effectiveness of a system of internal controls which provides reasonable assurance that operations are effective and efficient, assets are safeguarded; financial information is reliable and compliant with applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

• Strong leadership, analytical and communication (oral and written) skills.
• Ability to objectively examines situations from various perspectives, enabling effective problem solving and sound decision-making while anticipating obstacles to address organizational challenges and achieve objectives.
• Proficiency in various practice management systems, including EPIC and Athena (GECB), MS Office products as well as various claim scrubber technologies preferred.
• RHIA - Registered Health Information Administrator preferred
• Certified Coding Specialist - Physician-based (CCS-P) preferred
• EPIC - EPIC Certification EPIC Access and Revenue Cycle Readiness (ARCR) preferred

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business Administration or related required May substitute required education with equivalent years of experience beyond the minimum experience requirement.

Minimum Experience:

9 years of related progressive leadership experience in a large multi-specialty practice environment required

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

Security Sensitive: This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code § 51.215

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.