Advanced Medical Support Assistant

AMSA for the Health Benefits Unit of HAS at the Central Virginia Health Care System (CVHCS), the incumbent(s) provides a high level of administrative and data support, to include Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and the Health Care Center (HCC).

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNED DUTIES:
AMSA for the Health Benefits Unit of HAS at the Central Virginia Health Care System (CVHCS), the incumbent(s) provides a high level of administrative and data support, to include Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and the Health Care Center (HCC). The primary function of this position is to make eligibility determinations for VA healthcare which requires an extensive knowledge of VA laws, directives, policies and procedures. They will also be responsible for running data reports for unverified status of applications, incomplete encounter management errors due to any administrative data input and updating demographic information.

Incumbent(s) will serve as advisors and experts to the HAS Section Chiefs and support the management information components of all health eligibility related programs. The incumbent reviews, verifies, and analyzes data submitted for consistency with financial and program objectives, and adherence to VA directives. The incumbent's responsibilities include management analyst, training, and organizational development. This includes not only entering data and information, when necessary, but also reviewing reports, records and statistical computations for accuracy and propriety. Local input is compared with the Health Eligibility Center (HEC) in Atlanta, GA and will affect data entry for encounter entries that go to Austin for workload credit. The incumbent(s) must review the Incomplete Encounter Management Module (IEMM) report to clean up any discrepancies in administrative data that would prevent the transmission of encounters.

FUNCTIONS OR SCOPES OF PRACTICE:
Incumbent(s) is responsible for performing work to support the Enrollment Coordinator/Supervisory MSA to include all administrative processes, health benefits eligibility determinations, and all aspects of the health benefits package. Performs technical activities involved with screening, processing, and assisting Veterans, non- Veterans, and beneficiaries seeking multiple medical treatment benefits.

Provides information regarding benefits to Veterans and responds to complex questions involving regulations and/or beneficiary entitlement; communicates results to patients, families, agency employees, and Veterans organizations. Reviews and processes VA healthcare eligibility in conjunction with Department of Defense (DoD) Sharing Agreements (TriCare and CHAMPVA) to determine eligibility for VA health care referencing multiple sources, such as the Health Eligibility Center (HEC), Veterans Information System (VIS), Defense Personnel Records Image Retrieval System (DPRIS), Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) and or/military discharge papers to assign a priority group to the Veteran. Reviews and processes new and recurring applications (paper, in-person, and electronic) for medical care (e.g., Dental, Behavioral Health, Geriatrics and Extended Care, Diagnostic and Therapeutic, etc.) through applying the appropriate regulatory authority to each program. Processes re-enrollment into the system and assists Veterans in changing facilities if necessary.

Incumbent(s) may be asked to perform duties in other areas of the Health Administration Service and provide back up as needed



Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00 AM- 4:30PM
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Athorized

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.
• Education. High School diploma, General Education Development equivalency (GED) certificate, or proficiency certificate or territorial-level Board or Department of Education
• 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 3j.

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: Medical Support Assistant (Advanced), GS-06
GS-6 Advanced Medical Support Assistant Requirement. In addition to meeting the basic requirements for the occupation, applicants must also meet the grade level requirements. Applicants must have one year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of these knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs):
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians
4. 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.
5. Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines, ensuring compliance with established processes, policies, and regulations.
6.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.


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: Work is generally sedentary in nature with some walking, standing and bending. Occasionally requires moderate physical activity, e.g. carrying light items such as books and papers, or lifting boxes or records.

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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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.