A Cancer Registrar (CTR) abstracts and codes oncology cases for cancer registries that track cancer incidence, treatment, and outcomes. Cancer registries support hospital cancer programs, state-level cancer surveillance, and national cancer research databases. The work is highly specialized — requiring deep oncology knowledge, mastery of cancer-specific coding (ICD-O

A Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) Specialist works at the intersection of clinical care and coding — reviewing clinical documentation for completeness, accuracy, and the specificity required to support accurate coding and quality measure reporting. Where Coders translate documentation into codes, CDI Specialists improve the documentation itself so coding

A Coding Auditor conducts coding audits — reviewing samples of coded encounters to identify coding accuracy, compliance with coding guidelines, and patterns requiring corrective action. The work supports internal quality assurance, payer audit response, and compliance program operations. Where Coders assign codes, Auditors verify whether codes were assigned

An HCC Coding Specialist focuses specifically on Hierarchical Condition Category coding work — the chart review, gap analysis, and documentation improvement work that supports risk adjustment in Medicare Advantage, ACA Marketplace, and ACO programs. Where Risk Adjustment Coders perform broader risk adjustment coding work, HCC Coding Specialists go

An Inpatient Coder assigns ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes and ICD-10-PCS procedure codes for hospital inpatient stays — the most complex coding work in healthcare. The role requires deep clinical knowledge, mastery of two distinct code sets (ICD-10-CM for diagnoses, ICD-10-PCS for procedures), and the ability to translate complex hospital

An Outpatient Coder assigns CPT and HCPCS procedure codes plus ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes for hospital outpatient services — emergency department visits, outpatient surgery, observation stays, ancillary services, and outpatient clinic visits. The work uses different code sets than inpatient coding and different reimbursement methodology (OPPS APC payments rather

A Professional Fee Coder assigns CPT and ICD-10-CM codes for physician and other professional services — office visits, consultations, surgical procedures, diagnostic procedures, and the full range of professional services billed under CMS Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and equivalent commercial payer fee schedules. The work uses CPT extensively.

A Risk Adjustment Coder specializes in coding for Medicare Advantage, ACA Marketplace, and other risk-adjusted payment programs where coding accuracy directly determines plan reimbursement. The work focuses on Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) coding — capturing all documented chronic conditions that affect risk scores. Strong risk adjustment coding directly

A Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) holds the senior HIM credential awarded by AHIMA — combining health information management expertise with bachelor’s-level education. RHIAs work in senior HIM roles, including HIM Director positions, compliance leadership, health informatics, and senior coding and CDI positions. The credential opens doors to

A Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) holds the foundational HIM credential awarded by AHIMA — combining health information management technical expertise with associate-level education. RHITs work across operational HIM roles, including medical records, ROI, coding, CDI support, and HIM operational roles. The credential is the gateway into AHIMA-credentialed