Advanced Medical Support Assistant

Full Job Description

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) for the Patient Administration Section (PAS) serves as an Enrollment and Eligibility specialist for the Health and Travel benefits section.

The AMSA will provide record keeping, administrative and data support for Admissions (ED), Eligibility, Decedent Affairs and Special Registry, Beneficiary Travel, Patient Funds, Emergency Department Administrative Support, Special Mode Transportation and Travel.

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: MSAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.j.

Experience and Education: (1) Experience: Six months experience of clerical, office, [customer service], or other [administrative] work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position; OR, (2) Education: One year above high school; OR, (3) Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are.

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).

Grade Determinations: In addition to meeting the basic requirements listed above, you must meet the grade requirements at the GS-5 level to qualify for this position.

GS-6 Medical Support Assistant (Advanced) Specialized Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level.

This includes but is not limited to; independently performs a full range of duties related to the delivery of healthcare services in an inpatient or outpatient setting; 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 agreements, collaterals, research patient, VA employee, etc.).

In addition, you must have experience which demonstrates the following knowledge, skills and abilities: i.

Ability to collaborate [and] communicate [with a wide range of medical clinicians across multiple disciplines (e.g.

medical doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, clinical pharmacists, and nursing staff) to accomplish team goal setting to ensure medical care to patients is met.] ii.

[Ability to independently] set priorities and organize [ ] work to meet deadlines, ensuring compliance with established processes, policies, and regulations. iii.

Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, [electronically, by phone, in person], and in writing, [with internal and external customers].

This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels, [as well as resolving patient concerns]. iv.

Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process [(including, but not limited to, scheduling across interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community models and patient health care portals)] as it relates to access to care.

[v.] Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community operational activities that affect patient flow, and patient support care [administrative functions] to include, but not limited to appointment cycles, outside patient referrals, follow-up care, overbooking, provider availability, etc.

[vi.] Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians.

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-06.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. This is mostly a sedentary position. There was be some light lifting up to 25lbs, bending, standing, stooping, walking.

This position will require you to work in from of a computer screen for 90% of your day. Major Duties:

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) is a foundational role within the Patient Administration Section (PAS) at the Charlotte HCC.

The AMSA provides a high level of administrative and data support to the PAS to include the Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) as well as to the Salisbury VAMC.

The AMSA determines eligibility for VA healthcare and is responsible for running data reports for unverified status of applications, and incomplete encounter management errors due to any administrative data input.

The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring accurate, timely and consistent information is entered into the appropriate database and will support the management information components of all health eligibility related programs.

Duties of the Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) include but are not limited to: Supports patient safety standards by requiring the correct Veterans Affairs identification of all patients Validates, collects, scans and update patient demographic and health insurance information Determines eligibility criteria Registers veterans within a timely manner Provide exceptional customer service Accurately generates patient data cards for Veterans applying for care using the Veterans Health Identification Card system (VHIC) Assists with patient vesting and assuring appropriate monitoring and reporting is accomplished within established time frames Process Beneficiary Travel claim requests using the beneficiary Travel Self Service System (BTSSS) Determines eligibility for the Beneficiary Travel program and process requests Determine which of several control points to utilize Maintain manual and electronic accounting records Perform regular reconciliations and adjusting account balances Contacts approving officials to authorize obligations and requests for additions, deductions and/or movement of funds Arranges modes of transportations Makes special arrangements according to travelers medical condition and preference, with high priority emphasis on spinal cord, brain injury and OEF/OIF/OND patients.

Responsible for scheduling, canceling, re-scheduling patient's appointments and/or consults Screen/ receive calls in a courteous and timely manner and provide information in accordance with privacy rules Ensure that all necessary health/administrative information is integrated into computerized patient record system (CPRS) Have a solid knowledge of multiple electronic systems such as VISTA and Microsoft Office Suite This list of job duties is not inclusive of all duties associated with this position.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized