WHO WE ARE:
AC3 was founded by a group of oncologists who built solutions to optimize their own practices. Now, we give specialty health practices the power to make decisions with better data. Our mission is to help them thrive through people, purposeful technology, and collaboration. The work we do empowers healthcare practitioners and their teams to provide the highest quality of care in a sustainable way. That’s what motivates us. We’re looking for passionate, driven innovators to join our mission. If you thrive on challenge, love taking action, and get up every day ready to make a difference, apply now. Learn more at www.ac3health.com. COMPANY MISSION: To help specialty practices thrive. POSITION SUMMARY: The Coding Subject Matter Expert is the technical authority for AC3's coding team. This person is the first stop for coding questions, workflow problems, payer and system issues, and quality concerns across every client and system the team supports. This is not a people-management role. It is a senior, high-impact position: the team's accuracy, consistency, and ability to adapt to new clients and systems depend on it. The SME partners with the Coding Team Manager, who owns people leadership, and the Director of Revenue Cycle, who owns strategy and client outcomes. The SME owns technical expertise. The SME also carries a defined production workload, initially set at 75% of a full coder's standard, so they stay hands-on and current. Essential Function and Job Responsibilities Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Subject matter expertise and team support
- Serve as the primary resource for coding questions, problem accounts, and workflow issues across all clients and systems.
- Respond to team questions promptly and accurately; track recurring questions to spot training or process gaps.
- Interpret coding guidelines (cpt, hcpcs, icd-10-cm), oncology-specific coding rules, payer policies, and client-specific requirements, and translate them into clear guidance.
- Maintain working knowledge of each client's emr and billing systems, including epic, and support coders through system changes.
QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY
- Partner with the coding team manager on quality audits and calibration so standards are applied the same way across coders and clients.
- Provide technical input on audit findings; the coding team manager owns any resulting performance conversations.
- Review error trends and denials tied to coding; recommend and help implement corrections.
KNOWLEDGE, DOCUMENTATION, AND TRAINING
- Build and maintain coding reference materials, client-specific guides, and workflow documentation.
- Deliver technical training to new hires and to the team when guidelines, payers, clients, or systems change.
- Capture and share best practices from higher-performing coders.
PROJECTS AND ESCALATIONS
- Act as the coding technical lead on client onboarding, system implementations, and process changes.
- Escalate complex payer, client, or compliance issues to the coding team manager and director of revenue cycle with a clear summary and recommendation.
- Stay current on annual code set updates and regulatory changes; brief the team and leadership on impact.
PRODUCTION
- Complete assigned coding work at the production target defined below, meeting the same quality standards as the team.
WORKLOAD EXPECTATIONS: The SME is expected to complete 75% of the standard coder production target, measured by the team's productivity metrics, while meeting the same quality standard as the rest of the team.
- The remaining 25% of time is reserved for SME duties: answering questions, troubleshooting, training, documentation, calibration, and project work.
- SME support should be visible in metrics where possible (for example, questions resolved, training delivered, documentation published).
- The 75% target is an initial setting. It will be re-evaluated after the new system is implemented and actual SME workload is measured and may be adjusted up or down.
SCOPE OF AUTHORITY: The SME owns technical answers; the Coding Team Manager owns people decisions. The SME has no direct reports and does not supervise, evaluate, or discipline team members. Area Coding SME Coding Team Manager
Coding questions and technical guidance Owns Supports
Training content and documentation Owns Approves priorities
Quality audits and calibration Provides technical input Owns
Work assignment and scheduling Advises on complexity Owns
Performance reviews and ratings No role Owns
Coaching, discipline, and conduct issues No role; raises concerns to manager Owns
Hiring, pay, and time-off approvals May give technical input on candidates Owns
Client and system escalations Recommends and supports Owns with Director of Revenue Cycle
QUALIFICATIONS
REQUIRED
- Active coding credential (CPC, CCS, COC, or equivalent).
- 5+ years of professional or hospital-based coding experience, including oncology or hematology/oncology.
- Consistently strong production and quality results in a coding role.
- Experience coding across multiple clients, specialties, or payer mixes.
- Working proficiency in at least one major EMR (Epic preferred) and the ability to learn new systems quickly.
- Clear, patient communicator who can explain complex rules simply, in writing and live.
PREFERRED
- Oncology-specific credential (e.g., CHONC).
- Experience training coders or building reference materials.
- Experience supporting a system conversion or new-client onboarding.
- Familiarity with denial management and payer appeals as they relate to coding.
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS AND SUCCESS MEASURES
- Coding Team Manager: daily partner; shares observations on skill gaps and quality trends so the manager can act on them.
- Director of Revenue Cycle: technical advisor on client requirements, system changes, coding risk, and process improvement.
- Coding team: trusted go-to resource who is approachable, consistent, and fair.
SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE IS MEASURED BY:
- Meeting the 75% production target and the team quality standard on personal work.
- Team quality and consistency improving over time, including fewer repeat errors and coding-related denials.
- Timely, accurate answers to team questions.
- Current, usable documentation for every client and system the team supports.
- Smooth coding readiness during client onboarding and system implementations.
WORK LOCATION: This is a full-time hybrid/remote position; meaning, there may be required onsite training and a combination of remote and onsite work. The ideal candidate will reside within a 30-mile radius of the office located in South Bend, IN. Work is completed in a general office environment, sedentary in nature but may require standing and walking for up to 10% of the time. The work environment is favorable with adequate lighting and temperature, and no hazardous or unpleasant conditions caused by noise, dust, etc. Must be able to operate standard office equipment and keyboards. Why Work at AC3? When you become an AC3 Team member, you can expect ongoing training, support, and a work culture like no other. We offer our Full-Time Team Members medical, dental and vision health and wellness benefits, along with employer paid life insurance, long and short-term disability policies. Because our team’s health and wellness are our priority, we start new hires off with an above average paid time out plan and offer a comprehensive wellness program, including onsite biometrics and ongoing mental and physical wellness support. We also provide all Team Members with access to company sponsored financial wellness counselors, employee assistance services and the opportunity to enroll in our company-matched, 401k plan. Come join our Winning Team!