Medical Support Assistant (Health Benefits Advisor) at Alexandria

JOB SUMMARY:

Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 925579 

To fulfill President Lincolns promise – "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" – by serving and honoring the men and women who are Americas Veterans. 

How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?

 

As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries.

 

NOTE:  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-04 to GS-05.  The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate’s education and experience and recommend the grade and step at which the candidate will be placed.  The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidate.

Special Employment Consideration:  VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.

TheAlexandria VA Health Care System is seeking one (1) Medical Support Assistant (Outpatient).  The Alexandria VA Health Care System, Alexandria,Louisiana  is a Joint Commission accredited, complexity level 3 facilityserving Veterans within 23 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes.  The Alexandria VAHealth Care System is located in Pineville, Louisiana with community basedoutpatient clinics (CBOCs) in Jennings, Lafayette, Fort Polk, and Natchitoches,Louisiana.

TheAlexandria VA Health Care System is located in the Heart of Louisiana. Alexandria is quickly emerging as one of the nations best places to start abusiness, raise a family, and explore the great outdoors. It is a nationalleader in new and expanded business development and was recently named one ofthe twenty best cities in the country to find a job. National GeographicTraveler ranks Alexandria as one of Americas top ten "wildernesstowns" because of its incredible access to the one of the countrys mostbeautiful and expansive national forests.

CentralLouisiana has become known as "The Crossroads," a place where all ofLouisiana comes together - from culture to food and music. With a population ofover 46,342, Alexandria continues to grow in every sector of our society. The city of Alexandria is adjacent to the city of Pineville and separated bythe Red River.  Alexandria sits on the central corridor of I-49 whichmakes it a quick access to several major Metro cities.  Alexandria is only2 hours from Shreveport, LA, 3 1/2 from New Orleans, LA, 4 1/2 from Dallas andHouston, TX.

NewOrleans is the home of the Saints Pro football team and the Hornets Probasketball team.

The NationalGeographic has identified Alexandria as one of two Louisiana cities among thetop 100 "Best Adventure Towns" in the country.  New Orleans alsomade the National Geographics list.

Come join usin the Heart of Louisiana where we have a lot to offer visitors, from arts andculture to fine dining and shopping to outdoor activities such as hiking,biking, camping,

 

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• U. S. Citizenship
• Must pass pre-employment examination
• English Language Proficiency required
• Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required
• Background and-or Security Investigation required

DUTIES:Back to top

Medical Support Assistants at grade GS-5 are responsible for a range of duties which include responsibility for interviewing patients, applying for medical benefits.  Applications may be received in person, by telephone, by mail, on-line or referral from another VA or MTF.  Incumbent is responsuble for entering demographic, insurance and income information into the Vista System.  This information serves as a basis for determining entitlement to medical care as well as bill preparation and collections on all billable episodes of inpatient and outpatient care.  Accurate and complete data collection is essential to proper processing of third party collection requirements as mandated by law.  Verifies eligibility/entitlement for benefits of all applicants using various methods including income assessments, military discharge documents, computer hospital inquiry (H1NQ), Veterans Information Solution (VIS) and other means, such as communications with VA Regional Office or VA Records Processing Centers.  The process of verifying eligibility is complicated and complex and criteria differ for each type of benefit applied for.  The incumbent advises the Veterans for their entitlement to various medical benefits and dicusses co-payment requirements of Veterans in discretionary categories.  Extereme tact, diplomacy and privacy are required to explain complicated laws in this area.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

· U.S. Citizenship

· English Language Proficiency - Individualsappointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken andwritten English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d)

· Experience/ Education:

1. Experience - Six months experience of clerical, office or otherwork that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skillsneeded to perform the duties of the position; OR

2. Education - One year above high school; OR

3. Experience/Education Combination - Equivalent combination ofexperience and education are qualifying for entry level for which botheducation and experience are acceptable

GRADE DETERMINATIONS:

GS-3 MSA (Entry Level)

Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements

Assignment: This is an entry level MSA position. It is expectedthat MSAs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and requirefrequent and direct supervision.

GS-4 MSA (Developmental Level)

Experience or Education: One year of experience in clerical oroffice work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge andskills needed to perform the duties of the position or two years of educationabove high school.

Assignment: This is a developmental level MSA position. It isexpected that MSAs receive guidance from more experienced staff members formore difficult tasks and require frequent and direct contact from the assignedlead and/or supervisor. Assignments at this level include but are not limitedto: interacting with both internal and external customers; establishing andmaintaining medical outpatient and inpatient charts as well as administrativerecords; verifying third party insurance and updating information in theInsurance Capture Buffer (ICB) system; obtaining medical information frompatients; coordinating information and actions related to patient care andservices; and scheduling appointments in accordance with VHA nationalscheduling guidelines. The MSA refers all questions requiring immediatemedical attention to appropriate health care team member.

Candidates must demonstrate the KSAs below (applicants do notneed to provide narrative responses to KSAs):

1. Ability to meet, communicate and interact with individualsfrom varying backgrounds and other health care team members in a courteous andhelpful manner in order to complete job assignments

2. Ability to use various types of office automation equipmentand software

3. Ability to set up, organize, and maintain record systems

GS-5 MSA (Full Performance Level)

Experience or Education: One year of experience equivalent tothe next lower grade level or 4 years of education above high school.

Assignment: This is the full performance level for MSAs. At thislevel, the MSA performs a full range of duties. The MSA is responsible forscheduling appointments, including interpreting and verifying provider ordersin accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines. Assignments at thislevel include, but are not limited to: scheduling, canceling, re-schedulingpatient’s appointments and/or consults; entering no-show information;monitoring the electronic wait list; preparing for clinic visits; monitoringboth inpatient and outpatient appointments for areas of responsibility; ensuringencounter forms are completed in order to obtain appropriate workload credit;verifying and updating demographics and insurance information; processing allemergency and non-emergency transfers to other VA facilities or privatehospitals; performing basic eligibility, co-pays and preauthorizationrequirements for specific coverage (i.e., TRICARE, sharing agreements, etc.)

Candidates must demonstrate the KSAs below (applicants do notneed to provide narrative responses to KSAs):

1. Ability to operate computerized programs and databases inorder to enter, modify and retrieve sensitive information/data into or fromelectronic medical records, scheduling systems and/or reports

2. Knowledge of basic medical terminology

3. Ability to make appointments in a clinical setting

4. Ability to work independently in the accomplishment of a widevariety of duties, including setting priorities and coordinating work

5. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally withemployees at varying grade

6. Ability to identify customer’s concerns, perform the tasksrequired to resolve the issue accurately and timely, and follow-up as necessaryto ensure a satisfactory resolution

References : VA Handbook 5005/53,Part II, Appendix G45, MEDICAL SUPPORT ASSISTANT QUALIFICATION STANDARD, dated June 2012, VA Handbook 5005 at http://www.va.gov/ohrm/joblistings/VAQualStds.doc(also available in the local Human Resources Office). Additional/PreferredQualifications

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

 

APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE:  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.)  Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.  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.

Veterans Preference:

When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on their application or résumé. Applicants claiming preference based on service-connected disability, or based on being the spouse or mother of a disabled or deceased Veteran, must complete an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference. Veterans who are still in the service may be granted tentative preference on the basis of information contained in their applications, but they must produce a DD Form 214 or other proof prior to appointment to document entitlement to preference.  For more information on Veterans Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.   You may also be evaluated based upon the question responses you provide during a structured interview. In responding to structured interview questions you should be sure to cite specific examples of experience, explain exactly what you did, and the outcome.

Country: USA, State: Louisiana, City: Alexandria, Company: Department of Veterans Affairs - Agency Wide.