Summary The position is located at the El Paso VA Health Care System (EPVAHCS), Community Care Service (CCS), in El Paso, Texas. The Incumbent serves as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) in CCS and will be involved in administrative aspects of patient access, consults and scheduling for the service. Their work has a direct effect on patient care, the patient flow, and processes within CCS. Responsibilities VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include: Access, scheduling/coordinating appointments using approved clinic access principles, patient processing, and customer service. Identify and develop ways to resolve problems with the administrative and clinical staff related to access, customer service, patient flow. Determine veteran eligibility for care, receiving, and processing complex health and administrative information, and coordinating Non-VA Care services for Veterans throughout the El Paso service area. Screens each consult request to the Non-VA Care Coordination Program and/or the Choice Program to determine patient's eligibility status, technical completeness, accuracy, and urgency of request. Serves as primary administrative contact and process expert related to the EL Paso VAHCS NVCC and Choice Program. Serves as a trusted resource for patients who are receiving non-VA care. Provides accurate information related to specific non-VA providers (location, office contact, etc.), the NVCC or Choice process, as well as basic payment and authorization information. Establishes constructive and effective working relationships with the office staff and providers to effectively schedule appointments, resolve issues, and ensure ongoing patient (and vendor) satisfaction. Communicates with non-VA care providers to identify clinic and specialty availability. Collaborates with ordering El Paso VAHCS providers, and other clinical staff to expedite and authorize approved Non-VA Care for patients. Contacts health care providers in the community to identify additional providers for program referrals. Provides detailed information regarding the NVCC and Choice program and determines specialty care or services performed by the provider and identifies CPT codes to provide expected reimbursement for requested services. Authorize each episode of non-VA care a variety of software packages. Serves as a subject matter expert related to the NVCC and Choice program. Participates in meetings to identify and resolve issues that impact continuity of care for patients who are receiving non-VA care. Identifies issues for process improvement and actively participates in service or center-level process improvement activities/teams. Orients new service staff to the NVCC and Choice program and serves as a mentor and subject matter expert to these staff. Utilizes various computer equipment (scanners, double screens), software packages and systems (HSRM, VistA, Microsoft Office, CPRS, Triwest Portal) and troubleshoots minor problems. Assists peers in troubleshooting problems or issues with software or systems used on a daily basis. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Telework: Ad hoc. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 52763F 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. 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). 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. 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. Six months experience of clerical, office, customer service, or other administrative work that indicates the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position; OR high school diploma with desire of some post high school education or equivalent experience. 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. Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. 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. 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-6 Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level. Preferred Experience: Customer Service Medical Terminology Ability to @type 50 WPM Ability to work in a team environment Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS06. Physical Requirements: he work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds Education There is no educational substitution at the GS-6 grade level. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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.
