Medical Support Assistant

Medical Support Assistant

This Medical Support Assistant (MSA) position is in the Clinical Practice Management of the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) located in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Medical Support Assistant performs support work relating to the care and treatment given to patients, serving as an initial point of contact for the Clinical Practice Management. The primary duties of the Medical Support Assistant may include but are not limited to :

• Performs duties related to the receipt, intake, and indexing of health and administrative information.
• Responsible for scheduling appointments, interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.
• Schedules, cancels, reschedules patient's appointments and / or consults. Enters no-show information.
• Monitors the electronic wait list.
• Prepares for clinic visits.
• Monitors both inpatient and outpatient appointments for areas of responsibility.
• Ensures encounter forms are completed in order to obtain appropriate workload credit.
• Verifies and updates demographics and insurance information.
• Processes all emergency and nonemergency transfers to other VA facilities or private hospitals.
• Performs basic eligibility, travel benefits, co-pays, and preauthorization requirements for specific coverage.
• Responsible for panel management for the assigned PACT, assisting with communication to and from the team and patient, tracking vesting requirements, and other clinic / panel management strategies.

Physical Requirements : Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment : Work is performed in an office / clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Work Schedule : Monday - Friday, 8 : 00 a.m. - 4 : 30 p.m. CST; the work schedule will be discussed during the interview process and is subject to change based on Agency needs.

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 # : 598-00368-F, 598-00369-F, 598-00370-F

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

Requirements Conditions of Employment :

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12 / 31 / 1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a trial period. 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.

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 :

United States Citizenship. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

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 qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.

Certification. None required.

English Language Proficiency. Medical Support Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Policy.

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 the Basic Requirements, your resume must demonstrate you possess the required experience necessary to possess the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) required for each grade level.

GS-03 : (a) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. (b) Assignment. This is an entry level MSA position. It is expected that MSAs at this level receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision.

GS-04 : (a) Experience. One year of experience in 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, (b) Education. Two years of education above high school. Transcript must be submitted.

GS-05 : (a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-04 grade level. OR, (b) Education. Four years of education above high school. Transcript must be submitted.

Preferred Experience :

Ability to type and operate computer

Ability to work independently

Ability to communicate effectively and professionally

Has skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns

Experience scheduling appointments

Demonstrates knowledge of clinic management

Ability to multitask

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-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05.

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 : 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 / .

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