Medical support assistant Jobs in USA

Summary

Medical Support Assistants provide 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.

Duties

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The MSA works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model and assists the clinical providers in coordinating certain administrative details, appointment schedules and clinic consult services; customer service and other duties assigned for the proper and timely treatment of patients and maintain appointment schedules for multiple services.

Duties include but are not limited to :

• Responsible for answering phones, greeting patients, relaying messages to appropriate staff inside or outside of the unit, scheduling appointments, including interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.
• Scheduling, canceling, re-scheduling patient appointments and / or consults; entering no-show information; monitoring appointment requests from multiple electronic sources.
• Participating in huddles with other MSAs and / or clinic staff to determine the daily needs of the clinic.
• Monitoring both inpatient and outpatient appointments in areas of responsibility.
• Verifying and updating demographics and insurance information when patients check-in for appointments.
• Coordinates administrative functions relating to emergency and non-emergency transfers to other VA facilities or private hospitals and determines appointment type based on the patient's eligibility status, (i.e., TRICARE, sharing agreement, collaterals, research patient, VA employee, etc.)
• Supports patient safety standards using the correct Veterans Affairs identification of all patients using two forms of identification, name and full Social Security Number. He / she must use each interaction with the patient to validate and update patient demographic information, to decrease the incidence of returned mail due to incorrect addresses and inability to contact patient by phone due to incorrect number.
• Explains the VA's mandate to collect insurance information to veterans, their families, and other eligible patients.
• Promotes veteran registration for and utilization of My HealtheVet (MHV).As first line contact with patients and staff, the incumbent sets the tone for perception concerning quality of healthcare services at the VA. A high degree of tact and diplomacy is required when dealing with veterans who have multiple health problems and who may be frustrated with the administrative process associated with diagnosis and treatment. A caring, compassionate and sensitive manner is essential when explaining procedures to veterans and their family members.
• Ensure that all necessary health / administrative information are integrated into Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) by sending the documents to scanning.
• Screen / receive phone calls in a courteous and timely manner, determine the nature of requests and provide the information desired using privacy rules and established processes.
• Responsible for generating authorizations for pre-authorized outpatient, unauthorized, inpatient and emergency care claims, while making eligibility determinations for the various programs in Community Medical Care. Required fund of knowledge for generation of authorizations is multi-faceted in that incumbent must generate authorizations across several systems : the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA), the Fee Basis Claim System (FBCS), Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and Health Share Referral Manager (HSRM). Works closely with utilization review to ensure proper authorizations are issued and appropriate correspondence is sent to vendors.
• Acts as a liaison between the veteran and the vendors with regard to Community Medical Care section and VA clinical services and / or primary care services.
• Utilizes FBCS and VistA to manage and coordinate appointment management with the creation of authorizations as outlined by the Community Care Coordination national SOPs.
• Works to resolve issues with veterans, vendors and clinical staff to ensure appropriate care is scheduled and authorized at Community Care facilities.

Work Schedule : 8 : 00 AM - 4 : 30 PM Monday - Friday (schedules will vary; may be required to work weekends, evenings, and holidays depending on department need)

Compressed / Flexible : Not Authorized

Telework : Not Authorized

Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Fi nancial Disclosure Report : Not required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider :

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements :

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 (August 1, 2019) 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 Determination :

Medical Support Assistant, GS-5 (Full Performance Level) : To qualify candidates must meet either :

OR ,

2. Education . Four years of education above high school; AND Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below :

References : August 1, 2019 VA HANDBOOK 5005 / 117 PART II APPENDIX G45The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5.

Physical Requirements : Operate a computer terminal and be able to manage multiple activities at one time. Work is generally sedentary; however, there may be some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items. Work Environment : The work may be stressful due to the accelerated pace for several hours at a time during peak hours or on days that have a large volume of activity. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Education

IMPORTANT : A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note : Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here : If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit :

Additional information

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration / Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA / OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.