Summary As Lead Medical Support Assistant, Travel Benefits, for the Health Administration Service (HAS) at the W.G. Hefner VA Medical Center, Salisbury, NC, the incumbent{s) provides a high level of administrative and data support to the HAS to include the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) as well as to the Salisbury VAMC. Responsibilities VA Careers - Lead Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/UJO_XH5uCLs The duties listed below are not all inclusive of the duties associated with this position. The Lead MSA monitor(s) and distributes work assignments for lower graded positions, provides input on performance, resolve daily workplace issues and .maintains efficient workflow. Assignments at this level include, assuring coverage of all areas of responsibility, conducting ongoing reviews to ensure a quality work product, ensuring accurate and timely processing of Beneficiary Travel reimbursement claims, providing guidance to lower graded staff to include changes in policy and procedures, creating and maintaining employee work schedules; distributing and balancing workload, orientating and providing on the job training for new and current employees, ensuring training requirements are met, organizing the work structure of his or her area, and active as a liaison between staff and Supervisory MSA in order to resolve any day to day conflicts. Incumbent(s) will serve as subject matter experts and support the management information components of all Beneficiary Travel related programs. The incumbent will be assigned work and/or receive training with the objective of acquiring the qualifications needed to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of a Lead MSA. The Beneficiary Travel program provides transportation or reimbursement for transportation to beneficiaries and their attendants traveling to and from VA facilities and other places for the purpose of examination, treatment or care. Major responsibilities include correctly determines eligibility for program, and processing reimbursement within the Beneficiary Travel Self Service System (BTSSS). The Beneficiary Travel office requires management of incumbent perform the following specific duties: Reviews, verifies, and analyzes data submitted for consistency with financial and program objectives, and adherence to VA directives. lncumbent(s) must enter all information into the data base for determination of the eligibility status for healthcare: Maintains communications with receiving facilities regarding beneficiaries return travel arrangements. Reviews request for reimbursement of travel costs for the purpose of assuring compliance with regulations and procedures, completeness, accuracy, internal consistency, and agreement with basic authorization. Reconciles vouchers against authorizations for accuracy prior to preparing certification for payment within BTSSS. Responsible for balancing, reconciling, and adjusting invoices for payment. Determines legal entitlement to travel reimbursement, applies deductible requirements and computes amount to be paid to beneficiaries. Maintains a master control of deductibles met for each month on every patient that visits this facility and authorizes or denies reimbursement accordingly. Process request for reimbursement utilizing various media to determine service connection eligibilities, hardship qualifications, appointment verification at the local and outside facilities, proof of address, and other criteria. Will correctly determine which of several fund control points to utilize, obligating funds, maintaining manual and electronic accounting records, performing regular reconciliations and adjusting account balances. Contacts approving official ta authorize obligations and requests for additions, deductions, and/or movement of funds. When records are received, the incumbent will be responsible for ensuring that all necessary health/administrative information are integrated into Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) by sending the documents utilizing established procedures to the scanning unit of the Health Information Management Section (HIMS). The Beneficiary Travel program provides transportation at Government expense to beneficiaries and their attendants traveling to and from VA facilities and other places for the purpose of examination, treatment or care. This will include correctly determining eligibility for the program, and processing requests. It will also include correctly determining which of several fund control points to utilize, obligating funds, .maintaining manual and electronic accounting records, performing regular reconciliations and adjusting account balances. Contacts approving official to authorize obligations and requests for additions, deductions, and/or movement of funds. Work Schedule: Various Tours Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification 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). 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. 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 qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. 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 for employment listed following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Lead Medical Support Assistant, GS-7 Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the [GS-6] grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Candidates must demonstrate [all of] the KSAs below: [Advanced knowledge of medical terminology and a wide range of clinical flow processes relating to access to care across multiple clinics, specialties, and/or community resources. Ability to utilize numerous advanced patient systems in support of multiple clinics in an interdisciplinary setting.] Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities in order to meet deadlines. Skill in communicating with individuals to obtain the desired effect [and coordinating with a variety of interdisciplinary care team staff]. Ability to provide staff development and training. Ability to manage staffing requirements, manage workflow priorities, and adjust the flow of work to meet team and patient needs. This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrate an understanding of the impact of incomplete work across multiple clinics. Knowledge of [ ] MSA Practices: To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with current MSA responsibilities [or an equivalent administrative patient support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting]. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as [an] MSA or [an equivalent position in a non-VA hospital or clinic setting]. Quality of Experience: Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MSA experience [or equivalent administrative clinical support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting] at the next lower grade level. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty), and a range of [varieties] as described in this standard, at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Part-Time Experience: Part-time experience as [an MSA or equivalent administrative patient support in] a [non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting] is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, [an] MSA employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive [one] full-time workweek of credit for each [two] weeks of service. 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-7. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. -- The duties and responsibilities of the position requires some mobility, but generally the job is sedentary with some standing, stooping, reaching, and lifting up to 20 pounds. Incumbents are required to work with computer equipment. 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 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.
