Medical Support Assistant (Primary Care)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Caldwell (ID); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Boise Healthcare System is seeking a Medical Support Assistant at the Caldwell, ID Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).

The role supports clinical staff by managing patient information, scheduling appointments, and performing essential administrative tasks to assist in Veterans' care. Positions span GS-3 to GS-5 levels; the GS-3 requires no experience, GS-4 requires one year, GS-5 requires one year at GS-4 or two years above high school.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience not required for GS-3; one year at GS-3 to advance to GS-4; two years above high school for GS-5.
• Ability to communicate with diverse patients and health care staff.
• Ability to use office automation and scheduling software to support patient care.

Responsibilities

• Support administrative tasks for clinical staff and patients.
• Schedule appointments and manage clinic flow according to national guidelines.
• Verify demographics and insurance information in electronic records.
• Maintain medical charts and administrative records for outpatient and inpatient services.
• Handle basic eligibility and preauthorization requirements.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Office automation

EHR / scheduling systems

Insurance information handling

Medical terminology

Message taking

Education

High school diploma / GED

Tools

Office software & systems

Scheduling programs

Insurance systems

Scanning software

Electronic faxing

Job description

Summary

The VA Boise Healthcare System is looking to fill a Medical Support Assistants at the GS 3/4/5 level at the Caldwell - ID Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) location. The list generated from this announcement can be used for up to 90 days.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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 Proficient


• Experience: No experience required Education: High school diploma - General Education Development equivalency certificate - or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education


• 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: GS-3 MSA (Entry Level) Experience or Education


• None beyond the basic requirements


• GS-4 MSA (Developmental Level) Experience


• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-3)


• OR Education: One year of education above high school


• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities


• Candidates must demonstrate the KSAs below: Ability to meet - communicate - and interact with individuals from varying backgrounds and other health care team members in a courteous and helpful manner in order to facilitate medical care for patients


• Ability to use and navigate between - various types of office automation equipment and software - i.e


• computer systems - web based scheduling programs


• insurance collection system


• scanning software - multiple line phone systems


• electronic faxing programs - to support patient care


• Knowledge of basic medical terminology to assist in the provision of care to patients


• Skill in recording patient messages and understanding physician requests pertaining to follow-up medical care in internal or external clinics


• GS-5 MSA (Full Performance Level) Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-4) OR Education: Two years of education above high school


• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities


• Candidates must demonstrate the KSAs below: Ability to operate computerized programs and systems in order to enter - modify and retrieve sensitive medical and patient identifying information (PII) into or from electronic health records - scheduling systems and/or reports


• Advanced knowledge of basic medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients


• Ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting


• Ability to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties - performing patient support work


• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person - electronically and/or by telephone with internal and external customers


• Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns and refer to the appropriate staff - as necessary - to ensure a satisfactory resolution


• 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-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Medical Support Assistants provide administrative support to our clinical colleagues in the care of our Nation's Veterans


• Our mission is to provide efficient and effective healthcare services by promoting and enabling the delivery of timely - accurate - accessible health care


• VA is committed to cultivating a dedicated workforce of highly skilled employees who understand - believe in - and take pride in VA's mission


• MSAs are essential to the success of this mission and may be assigned to many areas of the medical center


• GS-3 Level: This is the entry level of the position


• The MSA will receive more frequent guidance from experienced MSAs to: interacting with both internal and external customers


• establishing and maintaining medical outpatient and inpatient charts as well as administrative records


• verifying third party insurance and updating information in the Insurance Capture Buffer (ICB) system


• obtaining medical information from patients


• coordinating information and actions related to patient care and services


• and scheduling appointments in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines


• GS-4 Level: This is a developmental level MSA position


• It is expected that MSAs will receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more difficult tasks and require frequent and direct contact from the assigned lead and/or supervisor


• Assignments at this level include but are not limited to: interacting with both internal and external customers


• establishing and maintaining medical outpatient and inpatient charts as well as administrative records


• verifying third party insurance and updating information in the Insurance Capture Buffer (ICB) system


• obtaining medical information from patients


• coordinating information and actions related to patient care and services


• and scheduling appointments in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines


• The MSA refers all questions requiring immediate medical attention to appropriate health care team member


• GS-5 Level: This is the full performance level MSA position


• 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 - re-scheduling patient's appointments and/or consults


• entering no-show information


• monitoring the electronic wait list


• preparing for clinic visits


• monitoring both inpatient and outpatient appointments for areas of responsibility


• ensuring encounter forms are completed in order to obtain appropriate workload credit


• verifying and updating demographics and insurance information


• processing all emergency and non-emergency transfers to other VA facilities or private hospitals


• performing basic eligibility - co-pays and preauthorization requirements for specific coverage


• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position


• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized