Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)
What you'd do
As an Advance MSA for Patient Benefits at the Washington DC VA Medical Center, the incumbent provides a high level of administrative and data support to the Business Office to include Community Based Outpatient Clinics as well as the DC VAMC. The primary function of this position is to serve as an Enrollment and Eligibility Specialist for the Health and Travel Benefits Section.
Major duties
VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo The incumbent will be assigned work and receive training with the objective of acquiring the qualifications needed to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of Advanced Medical Support Assistant, Health and Travel Benefits. This includes not only entering data and information but also reviewing reports, records and statistical computations for accuracy and propriety. The incumbent must review the Incomplete Encounter management Module report in order to clean up any discrepancies in administrative data that would prevent the transmission of encounters. Reviews, verifies, and analyzes data submitted for consistency with financial and program objectives, and adherence to VA directives.1) Incumbent must enter all information into the data base for determination of eligibility status for healthcare: Patient Demographic Data Patient Data Emergency Contact Data Employment Data Insurance Data Military Service Data Eligibility Status Data Family Demographic Data and Income Screening Data Ineligible/Missing Data Eligibility Verification Data 2) Incumbent will also ensure that all new veterans to the system are registered within 7 days of receipt of their application. New eligible applicants will be given the appropriate new patient appointment and receive proper notification either by letter or postcard.3) The incumbent is expected to provide exceptional customer service by exceeding the customer's expectations.4) Accurately generate patient data cards for veterans applying for care using the Veterans Health Identification Card system. Benefit Travel Program - process Beneficiary Travel Claim requests, arrange modes of transportation (example; ambulance, commercial air, taxi, ambulance), makes special arrangements per physician documentation according to travelers medical condition. Patient Funds - Responsible for verification of patient funds for appropriate and accurate deposit and withdrawal of funds in accordance with VHA policies, removal of patient funds from the safe which were acquired during off duty hours and assuring funds of deceased veterans are disposed of properly and timely. General Duties - Provide specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. Work involves specialized administrative judgement and the flexible use of a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and care in the community resources. Coordinates with the patient care team to review clinic appointment availability to ensure the clinic schedules are closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinics and makes adjustments as necessary. Maintain effective and efficient communication with the patients. Employees must acquire knowledge of internal organizational procedures, knowledge of various facility services, knowledge of commonly used medicak terminology and abbreviations. Supports patient safety standards using the correct Veterans Affairs identification of all patients through the use of two forms of identification. Responsible for accurate new patient appointment management. Explain the VA's mandate to collect insurance information to veterans, their families, and other eligible patients. As front-line contact with patients and other staff the incumber sets the tone for perception concerning quality of healthcare services at the VA. Assist and train new staff. Must have a solid knowledge of multiple electronic systems and current computer technology regarding applications, Vista application, CPRS, Microsoft Office Suite applications. Work Schedule: 7:00 am - 3:30 pm, 7:30 am - 4 pm: Monday - Friday Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 26563 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Experience. No experience required. Education. High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education. Licensure/Certification: None required May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grandfathering Provision. All MSAs employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, which are a part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:(1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted, or changed to a lower grade within the occupation.(2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.(3) If an employee who was converted to Title 38 hybrid status under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: GS-6 In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level; Experience is defined as experience that includes, but is not limited to: scheduling, canceling, re-scheduling patient's appointments and/or consults; entering no-show information; monitoring the electronic wait list; preparing for clinic visits; monitoring both inpatient and outpatient appointments for areas of responsibility; ensuring encounter forms are completed in order to obtain appropriate workload credit; verifying and updating demographics and insurance information; processing all emergency and non-emergency transfers to other VA facilities or private hospitals; performing basic eligibility, co-pays and pre-authorization requirements for specific coverage (i.e., TRICARE, sharing agreements, etc.). Assignment: The Advanced MSA provides specialized and expert administrative patient support while working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. Work involves specialized administrative judgment and the flexible use of a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or care in the community resources. Recommends changes to existing clinic procedures based on current administrative guidelines. Expertise in utilizing numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics involved in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. Coordinates with the patient care team to review clinic appointment availability (utilization) to ensure that clinic schedules are closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinics, and makes adjustments as necessary. MSAs at this level develop and/or maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model teams , VA medical centers, and other agencies (e.g., assist with communications during the inpatient to outpatient discharge; communicate with non-VA medical facilities; prepare correspondence to notify patients of normal lab results; manage a system for follow-up care such as consults, tests, etc.). Other assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: processes incoming patient secure messaging through MyHealthyVet and coordinates with care team as appropriate; participates in team huddles and team meetings to manage, plan, problem solve, and follow-up with patient care by sharing information and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team; setting priorities and deadlines, adjusting the flow and sequencing of the work to meet team and patient needs; identifies incomplete encounters and communicates findings to providers; as needed; assists the team to reinforce the plan of care and self-help solutions; enters appropriate information into the electronic record; monitors preappointment information and/or requirements to assure readiness for patient visit/procedure; manages patient systems to verify and validate accuracy and resolve issues; evaluates patient information and clinic schedule lists to determine whether the patient requires an immediate appointment; informs team members about shared patients (i.e)., those who receive their care at multiple VA centers or those who receive care in the community. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: i. Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities in order to meet deadlines ii. Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect, ensuring compliance with established policies and regulations. iii. Ability to provide staff development and training iv. Ability to manage staffing requirements, manage priorities, and coordinate with staff in the unit in order to complete duties in an accurate and timely manner. This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of incomplete work. v. Ability to review and monitor data to ensure all reports are complete and accurate. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 6. Physical Requirements: VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Work is partially sedentary, with frequent walking, standing, bending. carrying of light items such as papers and books, or small parts. Some slight physical effort may be required. Incumbent may be susceptible to eyestrain from working long hours on the computer. ???????CRITICAL Shortage LIST OIG: 38 U.S.C. 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference to external applicants for appointments made during the fiscal year to hybrid title 38 occupations among those reported to have the largest staffing shortages.
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