OPT Health Information Management Jobs
Health Information Management jobs are a strong fit for OPT students with degrees in health informatics, health information technology, or a related field. Most roles qualify as specialty occupations, supporting both 12-month OPT and the 24-month STEM extension for eligible graduates.
Find OPT Health Information Management JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 7+ Health Information Management jobs
See all Health Information Management Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Health Information Management roles.
Get Access To All JobsDescription
Summary:
The Manager Health Information Management Coding oversees daily coding operations to support remote coding associates in meeting and exceeding performance metrics. The Manager HIM Coding reports to the Director of HIM Coding Operations and works collaboratively with customer groups across all levels of the systems organization and facilities. The Manager ensures that Associates follow CHRISTUS standards, policies, and practices along with industry-specific coding guidelines and federal guidelines directing correct coding initiatives. These include American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and American Hospital Association (AHA) practices and coding rules, among other regulatory agencies such as CMS, the Joint Commission, and related to HIM Coding operations. This role ensures that coding operations are standardized, meet regulatory requirements, and support hospital operations and revenue cycle initiatives. The Manager HIM Coding is expected to maintain effective professional relationships to coach, encourage, instruct, share, and implement actions in support of remote Coding Associates and related to coding functions and process improvements. This role monitors and reports barriers to meeting our key performance indicators as requested by the System Director of HIM.
Responsibilities:
- Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
- Analyze internal and external audit results to identify individual and global improvement opportunities.
- Participate in audit discussions and ensure timely updates to billing systems following audit-related rebills.
- Provide coaching and feedback to coding staff based on audit findings and support the Lead in managing audit rebuttals.
- Ensure coding staff attend all required and supplemental training, including inpatient/outpatient coding, APC, MS-DRG/APR-DRG, and Coding Integrity education.
- Deliver education to external coding consultants and contracted entities in alignment with CHRISTUS HIM standards.
- Coordinate and provide training for non-coding staff, including physicians, billing personnel, and ancillary departments, on documentation, coding compliance, and data management.
- Support the Education Manager in serving as a resource for regional staff, department directors, and administration on coding and documentation standards.
- Facilitate cross-training opportunities for coding staff to enhance team flexibility and coverage.
- Serve as a subject matter expert and liaison for coding-related issues across the organization.
- Oversee coder work assignments, manage account reallocation, and monitor coding/billing reports to ensure timely processing.
- Collaborate with corporate and regional departments (e.g., CDI, HIM, Revenue Cycle, IT) to optimize workflows and reduce billing errors.
- Partner with Coding Integrity, Compliance, and Quality teams to analyze coding trends and support educational initiatives.
- Ensure adherence to ethical coding standards (AHIMA/AAPC) and CHRISTUS-wide policies and procedures.
- Monitor regulatory changes affecting documentation, reimbursement, and coding to maintain compliance.
- Support denial management processes related to HIM and coding issues.
- Contribute to discussions and implementations of new systems and processes to improve coding and billing accuracy.
- Lead and support team performance through coaching, documentation, scheduling, and conflict resolution.
- Promote a culture of teamwork, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
- Participate in interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and training new coding associates.
- Produce clinical and statistical reports for use in hospital efficiency, quality assurance, administrative planning, compliance reporting, and medical research.
- Perform other responsibilities as assigned by leadership.
Education/Skills
- Bachelor's degree, medical record science/administration, or equivalent healthcare leadership experience required.
- Extensive knowledge of health information management functions, including coding and compliance (ICD-10/PCS, CPT coding systems, MS-DRGs, and APCs) required.
- Knowledge of internal integrity requirements and procedures.
- Knowledge of governmental, federal, state, and local regulations related to billing rules and compliance.
- Must be proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and other web-based applications).
Experience
- 3+ years of coding supervisory/management experience preferred.
- At least 5 years of experience in a medical record department of a mid-to-large inpatient facility preferred.
- Remote work force operations experience required.
- Centralized staffing model experience preferred.
Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications
- Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), or Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) preferred.
Work Schedule:
5 Days - 8 Hours
Work Type:
Full Time
Description
Summary:
The Manager Health Information Management Coding oversees daily coding operations to support remote coding associates in meeting and exceeding performance metrics. The Manager HIM Coding reports to the Director of HIM Coding Operations and works collaboratively with customer groups across all levels of the systems organization and facilities. The Manager ensures that Associates follow CHRISTUS standards, policies, and practices along with industry-specific coding guidelines and federal guidelines directing correct coding initiatives. These include American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and American Hospital Association (AHA) practices and coding rules, among other regulatory agencies such as CMS, the Joint Commission, and related to HIM Coding operations. This role ensures that coding operations are standardized, meet regulatory requirements, and support hospital operations and revenue cycle initiatives. The Manager HIM Coding is expected to maintain effective professional relationships to coach, encourage, instruct, share, and implement actions in support of remote Coding Associates and related to coding functions and process improvements. This role monitors and reports barriers to meeting our key performance indicators as requested by the System Director of HIM.
Responsibilities:
- Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
- Analyze internal and external audit results to identify individual and global improvement opportunities.
- Participate in audit discussions and ensure timely updates to billing systems following audit-related rebills.
- Provide coaching and feedback to coding staff based on audit findings and support the Lead in managing audit rebuttals.
- Ensure coding staff attend all required and supplemental training, including inpatient/outpatient coding, APC, MS-DRG/APR-DRG, and Coding Integrity education.
- Deliver education to external coding consultants and contracted entities in alignment with CHRISTUS HIM standards.
- Coordinate and provide training for non-coding staff, including physicians, billing personnel, and ancillary departments, on documentation, coding compliance, and data management.
- Support the Education Manager in serving as a resource for regional staff, department directors, and administration on coding and documentation standards.
- Facilitate cross-training opportunities for coding staff to enhance team flexibility and coverage.
- Serve as a subject matter expert and liaison for coding-related issues across the organization.
- Oversee coder work assignments, manage account reallocation, and monitor coding/billing reports to ensure timely processing.
- Collaborate with corporate and regional departments (e.g., CDI, HIM, Revenue Cycle, IT) to optimize workflows and reduce billing errors.
- Partner with Coding Integrity, Compliance, and Quality teams to analyze coding trends and support educational initiatives.
- Ensure adherence to ethical coding standards (AHIMA/AAPC) and CHRISTUS-wide policies and procedures.
- Monitor regulatory changes affecting documentation, reimbursement, and coding to maintain compliance.
- Support denial management processes related to HIM and coding issues.
- Contribute to discussions and implementations of new systems and processes to improve coding and billing accuracy.
- Lead and support team performance through coaching, documentation, scheduling, and conflict resolution.
- Promote a culture of teamwork, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
- Participate in interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and training new coding associates.
- Produce clinical and statistical reports for use in hospital efficiency, quality assurance, administrative planning, compliance reporting, and medical research.
- Perform other responsibilities as assigned by leadership.
Education/Skills
- Bachelor's degree, medical record science/administration, or equivalent healthcare leadership experience required.
- Extensive knowledge of health information management functions, including coding and compliance (ICD-10/PCS, CPT coding systems, MS-DRGs, and APCs) required.
- Knowledge of internal integrity requirements and procedures.
- Knowledge of governmental, federal, state, and local regulations related to billing rules and compliance.
- Must be proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and other web-based applications).
Experience
- 3+ years of coding supervisory/management experience preferred.
- At least 5 years of experience in a medical record department of a mid-to-large inpatient facility preferred.
- Remote work force operations experience required.
- Centralized staffing model experience preferred.
Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications
- Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), or Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) preferred.
Work Schedule:
5 Days - 8 Hours
Work Type:
Full Time
See all OPT Health Information Management Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Health Information Management Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Health Information Management
Confirm your degree supports a specialty occupation claim
Health information management roles require a specific degree connection to qualify as a specialty occupation. A bachelor's in health informatics, health information technology, or a related field strengthens your OPT authorization and future H-1B visa eligibility.
Target employers with existing HIM compliance infrastructure
Hospitals, large physician groups, and health systems with dedicated compliance teams are more experienced with OPT work authorization. These organizations already understand HIPAA-driven hiring and are less likely to treat sponsorship as an obstacle.
Verify your role qualifies for the STEM OPT extension
If your degree is in health informatics or a related STEM-designated field, confirm your CIP code with your DSO before accepting an offer. The 24-month extension adds significant runway and makes you more attractive to employers planning long-term.
Highlight EHR system certifications in your application
Certifications in Epic, Cerner, or similar platforms signal immediate productivity to hiring managers. Employers weighing OPT work authorization costs are more likely to move forward when a candidate reduces onboarding time and technical training investment.
Address OPT authorization proactively with smaller employers
Smaller clinics and outpatient practices may not have hired OPT students before. Come prepared with a one-page summary of OPT timelines, E-Verify requirements, and the authorization period so HR can make an informed decision quickly.
Pursue RHIT or RHIA certification to strengthen your candidacy
AHIMA credentials signal professional credentialing that employers recognize beyond your degree. Holding or actively pursuing RHIT or RHIA demonstrates commitment to the field and offsets any hesitation an employer may have about work authorization complexity.
Health Information Management OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do health information management jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree's CIP code, not the job title itself. Degrees in health informatics or health information technology often carry STEM-designated CIP codes, making graduates eligible for the 24-month extension. Degrees in general health services administration typically do not. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before assuming STEM eligibility.
What types of employers hire OPT students for health information management roles?
Hospitals, integrated health systems, outpatient clinics, health insurance companies, and healthcare IT vendors all hire HIM professionals. Large hospital networks and revenue cycle management firms tend to be the most experienced with OPT work authorization. You can browse OPT-friendly health information management employers directly on Migrate Mate, which filters for roles open to F-1 students.
Can I work as a health information manager at a hospital on OPT without H-1B sponsorship lined up?
Yes. OPT is independent of H-1B sponsorship. You're authorized to work for any qualifying employer during your OPT period without the employer needing to file anything immediately. The E-Verify requirement still applies, so confirm your employer is enrolled before your start date. H-1B sponsorship only becomes relevant if you want to stay after OPT expires.
Does working remotely in health information management affect my OPT authorization?
Remote work is permitted on OPT, but your employment must still be directly related to your major field of study. Your DSO needs accurate employer information in SEVIS, including address details even for fully remote roles. If you're working across state lines remotely, confirm with your DSO how to report the work location correctly to stay in compliance.
What happens if my OPT expires before my employer files for H-1B?
If your employer misses the H-1B filing window or you don't get selected in the lottery, your work authorization ends when OPT expires. A 60-day grace period follows, during which you can't work but can make plans to change status or depart. Starting your job search early and targeting employers with demonstrated H-1B filing history reduces this risk considerably.