Medical Support Assistant

SummaryThe Portland - OR VA Health Care System is looking to fill multiple Medical Support Assistant position at the Portland - OR VA Medical Center and the Vancouver - WA VA Medical Center. The list generated from this announcement can be used up to 90 days to fill any additional vacancies that may arise.QualificationsTo qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.Basic RequirementsUnited States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyEnglish Language ProficiencyMSAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j Preferred Experience: One-year experience working in a medical or clinic setting - scheduling appointments - referring patients to specialty clinics - collecting insurance documentation - documentation in electronic health records - and advanced medical terminologyGrade Determinations:GS-5 MSA (Full Performance Level) Experience or EducationOne year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (experience working in a medical or clinic setting - scheduling appointments - referring patients to specialty clinics - collecting insurance documentation - documentation in electronic health records - and advanced medical terminology) or 4 years of education above high school (must provide Transcripts if using Education to qualify) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesCandidates must demonstrate the KSAs below: Ability to operate computerized programs and systems in order to enter - modify - and retrieve sensitive [medical and patient identifying] information (PII) into or from electronic health records - scheduling systems - and/or reportsAdvanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patientsAbility to [schedule medical] appointments in a clinical settingAbility to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties performing patient support workAbility to communicate effectively and professionally in person - electronically - and/or by telephone - with internal and external customersSkill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns - and refer to the appropriate staff - as necessary - to ensure a satisfactory resolutionReference: VA Handbook 5005/117 - Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standard - GS-679Published August 1 - 2019For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS5Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary but may require periods of standing or walking however - there are no physical requirements for the 0679 Medical Support Assistant occupation.DutiesTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Medical Support Assistants provide administrative support to our clinical colleagues in the care of our Nation's VeteransOur mission is to provide efficient and effective healthcare services by promoting and enabling the delivery of timely - accurate - accessible health careVA is committed to cultivating a dedicated workforce of highly skilled employees who understand - believe in and take pride in VA's missionMSAs are essential to the success of this mission and may be assigned to many areas (service lines) of the medical center that have a needGS-5: This is the full performance level MSA positionThe MSA is responsible for scheduling appointments in accordance with national scheduling guidelines - including interpreting and verifying provider ordersAssignments at this level include - but are not limited to: scheduling - canceling - re-scheduling patient's appointments and/or consultsentering no-show informationmonitoring the electronic wait listpreparing for clinic visitsmonitoring both inpatient and outpatient appointments for areas of responsibilityensuring encounter forms are completed in order to obtain appropriate workload creditverifying and updating demographics and insurance informationprocessing all emergency and non-emergency transfers to other VA facilities or private hospitalsperforming basic eligibility - co-pays and pre-authorization requirements for specific coverageWork Schedule: Typical tour of duty is Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pmAvailable tours will be discussed during the interview processCompressed/Flexible: May be availableRecruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorizedPermanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorizedPay: Competitive salary and regular salary increasesWhen setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)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 experienceParental 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 childChild 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 $416.66Retirement: 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 availableVirtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 0000