Advanced Medical Support Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Hillsboro (OR); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Medical Support Assistant within a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) in the Primary Care Division at the VA Portland Health Care System.

The role focuses on intake, indexing of health and administrative information, and ongoing coordination with the care team. The position involves scheduling appointments, verifying orders and demographics, and using Vista applications to support clinic operations.

Qualifications

• Experience handling scheduling and patient information in a healthcare setting.
• Ability to verify insurance data and demographics per guidelines.
• Familiarity with VA clinical workflows and Vista-based systems.

Responsibilities

• Schedule, cancel, or reschedule patient appointments per guidelines.
• Assist team with verification of provider orders and clinic utilization.
• Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive health information.
• Coordinate with PACT and other VA staff to support care delivery.

Skills

Scheduling appointments

Demographics updates

Insurance verification

Interdisciplinary coordination

Patient communication

Use of Vista applications

Tools

Vista applications

PC applications

Job description

The incumbent serves as a Medical Support Assistant in a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) of the Primary Care Division, at the VA Portland Health Care System.

The incumbent performs duties related to the receipt, intake, and indexing of health and administrative information.

The incumbent will interface with personal computer (PC) applications as well as numerous Vista applications.

Duties

Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties:

50% Medical Support Assistant: The MSA is responsible for scheduling appointments, including interpreting and verifying provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to: scheduling, canceling, rescheduling patient's appointments; monitoring the electronic wait list; Assists other PACT team members in identifying appointments are verified as checked out or no showed; verifying and updating demographics; and discussing basic eligibility and co-pays with patients. The MSA verifies that insurance information is accurate and complete at time of visit or as requested by veteran and is updated using current software. Complies with the mandatory training requirements for the outpatient scheduling process.

50% Advanced Scope: Advanced Scope: In addition to the full performance duties of the GS-679-5 MSA, the Advanced MSA works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model in a Primary Care setting. The Advanced MSA coordinates with the PACT to review the clinic utilization by using various reports (e.g., Clinic Utilization Statistical Summary), ensure that the clinic setup is closely monitored to effectively support the needs of the clinic, and make any necessary adjustments to the provider matrices by means coordinating with supervisors. They develop/maintain effective and efficient communication with the patient, interdisciplinary team, VA medical centers, and other agencies. (e.g., assist with communications; communicate with non-VA medical facilities; facilitate/process secure messaging with the patient and team).

Supervisory Controls: Employee plans and organizes work with general assistance of the supervisor as to meet local and VA-wide time frames to complete analysis requirements, reports and special assignments and only refers to the non-routine and high technical problems to his/her supervisor. The incumbent is responsible for reporting backlogs, difficulties in meeting deadlines, uncooperative physicians, or difficulty in securing information from clinicians or the record. Is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of information obtained to carry out required duties.

Work Schedule

Compressed/Flexible: No

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When 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) Highly qualified selected applicants with exceptional skills and experiences 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: No

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized