Position SummaryThe
Waste & Error Certified Coding Manager is responsible for leading the Certified Coding Analyst and W&E Team Lead roles that conduct medical claim reviews and coding audits to identify billing errors, waste, abuse, fraud, and payment integrity opportunities. The Manager provides direct people leadership, establishes operational priorities, ensures consistent application of coding and billing requirements, and is accountable for team productivity, quality, service levels, compliance, and employee development.
This role partners closely with the W&E team lead, who provides day-to-day technical guidance and subject matter support to the coding team. The Manager retains accountability for staffing, performance management, workload oversight, escalations, audit readiness, process improvement, and delivery of business outcomes. The position also represents the team in discussions with senior leadership, Medical Directors, Legal, Compliance, Analytics, Operations, and other Payment Integrity partners.
Primary ResponsibilitiesPeople Leadership & Team Development- Lead, coach, and develop a team of Certified Coding Analysts and Senior Certified Coding Analysts.
- Establish clear role expectations, performance goals, productivity standards, quality requirements, and accountability measures.
- Conduct regular performance discussions, provide timely feedback, recognize strong performance, and address performance or conduct concerns.
- Oversee hiring, onboarding, training, succession planning, engagement, and retention for the coding team.
- Deliver technical coaching, peer support, quality remediation, and ongoing education.
- Create an inclusive, collaborative team environment that promotes knowledge sharing, sound judgment, and continuous learning.
Coding Audit Operations & Workload Management- Provide operational oversight for medical record reviews coding audits (Initial review, reconsiderations & appeals), and related waste and error activities performed by the coders.
- Assign priorities and manage work queues to ensure production, turnaround time, quality, and service level expectations are met.
- Monitor workload, staffing capacity, inventory, aging, and productivity trends; adjust assignments and resources as needed.
- Ensure analysts conduct comprehensive reviews and accurately apply CPT, HCPCS, ICD-10, modifier, CMS, state, federal, and organizational requirements.
- Oversee escalation pathways for complex coding questions, policy interpretation, Medical Director review, and case decisions.
- Ensure case findings and decision rationales are clear, complete, consistently documented, and supportable.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Quality, Compliance & Audit Readiness- Establish and monitor quality review processes for coding audit work completed by the team.
- Review quality results, identify performance gaps, and implement targeted coaching, training, or corrective action plans.
- Ensure consistent application of coding guidelines, reimbursement requirements, business rules, workflows, and documentation standards.
- Maintain adherence to state, federal, contractual, accreditation, and organizational requirements.
- Partner with Legal, Compliance, Medical Directors, and other subject matter experts to resolve complex or high-risk issues.
- Support internal audits, external audits, regulatory reviews, and documentation requests.
Performance Management, Reporting & Continuous Improvement- Develop and monitor key performance indicators for productivity, quality, inventory, turnaround time, savings, and operational outcomes.
- Analyze team performance, coding trends, recurring billing issues, and root causes to identify improvement opportunities.
- Prepare and present operational updates, performance results, risks, decisions, and recommendations to leadership and business partners.
- Drive process standardization, workflow improvements, automation, system enhancements, and effective use of department resources.
- Participate in system implementations, upgrades, pilots, and new program launches affecting coding audit operations.
- Use audit findings and trend data to support provider education, policy clarification, analyst development, and prevention strategies.
Cross-Functional Partnership & Escalation Management- Collaborate with Senior Leadership, Medical Directors, Legal, Compliance, Analytics, Operations, Technology, and Payment Integrity partners.
- Serve as the management escalation point for complex cases, operational barriers, coding disputes, and stakeholder concerns.
- Communicate difficult or sensitive operational issues clearly, objectively, and with recommended solutions.
- Build alignment across partners while protecting coding accuracy, regulatory compliance, provider experience, and business objectives.
- Represent the Waste & Error coding team in governance meetings, business reviews, implementation activities, and strategic initiatives.
Required Qualifications- Active AAPC Certified Coder CPC, CCS, RHIT or RN license w/significant coding/ auditing experience may be considered.
- 5+ years of experience in medical coding, claims review, auditing, payment integrity, fraud, waste, abuse, or error review.
- 2+ years of people leadership, supervisory, or team management experience, including performance management, coaching, and employee development.
- Experience leading coding quality programs, productivity management, workload oversight, and targeted remediation activities.
- Strong knowledge of CPT, HCPCS, ICD-10, CMS 1500, UB-04, coding compliance, and reimbursement requirements.
- Experience researching and applying state, federal, CMS, and organizational policies.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, resolve complex issues, and meet operational deadlines.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present performance results and case decisions to internal and external stakeholders.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Word; ability to interpret operational and quality data.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience with Medicaid auditing, rules and regulations
- Experience with reconsiderations and appeals for institutional and professional claim reviews.
- Prior experience in fraud, waste, abuse and error, Payment Integrity, or healthcare audit operations.
- Experience partnering with Medical Directors, Legal, Compliance, Analytics, and senior leadership.
- Experience with process improvement, system implementations, operational reporting, and change management.
- EncoderPro or comparable coding research tool experience.
We support a hybrid work environment. If selected and you live near a suitable work location, you may be expected to comply with the hybrid work policy. Under the policy, all hires for in-scope populations should be placed into a hybrid or office-based location, working onsite three days a week.
Aetna Service Operations office/hub locations will be discussed with the selected candidate.
Education• High school diploma or GED.
Anticipated Weekly Hours40
Time TypeFull time
Pay RangeThe typical pay range for this role is:
$60,300.00 - $145,860.00
This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors. This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above.
Great benefits for great peopleWe take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families.
This full-time position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial well-being of colleagues and their families. The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programs, and other resources, based on eligibility.
Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments.
We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on: 10/25/2026
