10.9.09 – The RAC Coordinator: Roles and Responsibilities

Facing the RAC is a challenge for hospitals! Key personnel assigned to coordinate all RAC related activities needs to have specific attributes to successfully perform this duty. A RAC coordinator should be organized and detail-oriented. In addition, he/she must have outstanding interpersonal skills to handle a wide variety of personalities in the day-to-day activities.

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) suggests the following roles and responsibilities for a RAC coordinator:

  • Conduct and oversight of all RAC functions
  • Develop the internal training program
  • Track status of all RAC activity using an automated tracking system
  • Coordinate all activities associated with RAC requests, appeals, etc.
  • Manage and track hand-offs between departments
  • Invoice submitted records requests, if applicable
  • Manage and track RAC timelines for requests and RAC responses
  • Communicate with all affected external entities involved in the RAC process
  • Analyze audit and RAC findings
  • Follow all RAC activity to closure
  • Coordinate the RAC committee with reports to corporate compliance
  • Maintain an open communication with:
    • Administration/CFO
    • HIM/coding/release of information
    • Business office/financial services
    • Case management/physician advisor for clinical review
    • RACs/CMS

In order to prepare for the program, entities should designate one person as the main point of contact for all RAC activities. The RAC coordinator will help ensure compliance with this permanent program. More information is available at the AHIMA webpage.