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This position has closed. Northwestern Medicine removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 1, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Outpatient Coder II, HB Coding, Full-time, Days (Remote - Must reside in IL, IN, IA, WI, OH, MO, MI, or FL - Sign-on bonus eligible)

Northwestern Medicine · Chicago, IL · Remote available · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 21, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 30, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

How do you keep up when the code sets change?

What they are checking: Coding changes annually, and whether they have a method matters.

This is fully remote but you must live in one of eight named states. Does that work for you?

What they are checking: The posting lists Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Missouri, Michigan and Florida.

How do you structure your day working alone at home?

What they are checking: Remote coding needs self-management that nobody imposes.

Tell me about a coding decision you got wrong and how you found out.

What they are checking: Audit feedback is how coders improve, and whether they welcome it says a lot.

What would you do

The documentation does not support the code you think the physician intended. What do you do?

What they are checking: The integrity test of the profession, and querying is the only right answer.

How do you balance accuracy against a productivity target?

What they are checking: The permanent tension in coding work, and the honest answer is not that they never conflict.

About the work

Tell me about your coding experience in an acute healthcare setting.

What they are checking: The posting requires three to four years in acute care specifically.

Which credential do you hold: RHIT, RHIA or CCS?

What they are checking: The posting requires one of the three, so it is confirmed plainly.

Walk me through coding an outpatient encounter from the documentation.

What they are checking: The posting names ICD-10-CM, HCPCS and CPT as the expert areas.

How do you decide which modifier applies, and when does it change reimbursement?

What they are checking: The posting names modifiers specifically, and they are where outpatient coding goes wrong.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Northwestern Medicine from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

Required: • 3-4 years of coding experience in an acute healthcare setting • RHIT, RHIA or CCS credentialed The Outpatient Coder II reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. Follows ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, Coding Clinics, interprets ICD-10-CM coding conventions and instructional notes to select appropriate diagnoses with a minimum of 95% accuracy. Meets established minimum coding productivity per departmental protocol and guidelines. The Outpatient Coder II is the coding and reimbursement expert with ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding, HCPCS and CPT codes and modifiers. The focus is on complex outpatient encounters that include Observation stays, Same Day Surgery, Surgery Center, and Outpatient in a bed. Should have more in-depth knowledge of disease process, A&P and pharmacology as it relates to the entire body system for accurate coding and reimbursement. Expanded knowledge with HCPCS, Level I, II Chargemaster and CPT soft codes with approved facility modifiers to resolve NCCI Edits. Coder II should also have the knowledge and expertise of Coder Associate and Coder I. Responsibilities: • Utilizes technical coding expertise to assign appropriate ICD-10-CM and CPT-4 codes to outpatient visit types. Reviews the medical record thoroughly, utilizing all available documentation to code appropriate diagnoses and procedures • Interprets health record documentation using knowledge of anatomy, physiology, clinical disease process, pharmacology, and medical terminology to report appropriate diagnoses and/or procedures. • Sends appropriate physician queries when required for documentation clarification. Follows Coding Clinic for HCPCs, CPT Assistant, and interprets coding conventions and instructional notes to select appropriate diagnoses and procedures with a minimum of 95% accuracy • Broad focus of anatomy on entire body system • Provides technical expertise to analyze system related changes and participates in testing of software modifications. Identifies opportunities to enhance CAC (computer assisted coding), i.e. notifying IT liaison of documents filing to Default folder, incorrect system assigned codes, etc. • Resolves NCCI Edits with approved hospital modifiers • Utilizes 3M Encoder resources to ensure optimal coding accuracy • Articulates rationale for coding selections, when necessary, ie. Prompted by results of data quality audit • Meets established minimum coding productivity (90%) and quality standards (95%) for each outpatient encounter type Required: • Credentialed by the AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association). CE requirement to remain credentialed is 20-30 CE's every two years • 3-4 years of coding experience in an acute healthcare setting • RHIT, RHIA or CCS credentialed • Ability to work with minimal supervision Preferred: • Bachelor’s degree in related field • 4 years of coding experience in an acute healthcare setting Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.