Summary The incumbent serves as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant in the VA Care Community Section (VACC) at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, Michigan, under Nursing and Patient Care Service. The incumbent's work impacts the administrative aspect of patient care, including: access, scheduling/ coordinating patient appointments using advanced clinic access principles, collecting and updating demographics and insurance information and customer service. Responsibilities Duties: The Advanced MSA works collaboratively in an interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery model. The incumbent provides administrative support to clinicians and other administrative and professional staff throughout the medical staff office for purposes of coordinating VACC medical care for Veterans when the inpatient or outpatient provider has deemed such care necessary. The VACC program requires administrative scheduling and appointment coordination for diagnostic testing, and consultative appointments for many clinical services. Incumbent must receive phone calls in a courteous and timely manner, determine the nature of requests, provide the information desired using privacy rules and established processes. A caring, compassionate and sensitive manner is essential when explaining procedures to Veterans and their family both in person and on the phone. The Advanced MSA is able to independently manage position responsibilities with little supervision as well as set priorities and deadlines adjusting the flow and sequencing of work to meet team and patient needs. This position is responsible for generating authorizations for pre-authorized outpatient, unauthorized and emergency care claims, while making eligibility determinations for the various programs in VACC. Works closely with utilization review to ensure proper authorizations are issued and appropriate correspondence is sent to vendors. He/She acts as a liaison between the veteran and the vendors with regard to the VACC section and VA clinical services and/or primary care services. Obtains requested reports, x-rays, labs and any pertinent information required to complete the VACC Coordination consult in CPRS. Ensures all necessary components and documentation is distributed to appropriate services at the private institution where service will be provided. Prioritizes requested procedure based on urgency. The incumbent is responsible for the coordination of all administrative information between the professional staff and the patient. This includes data entry, administratively managing consult requests, and making and notifying the patient of his/her scheduled appointment with the outside providers. Responsible for maintaining a current directory of contact information in Excel, to include name, address, phone, and fax numbers of institution, contact person. The incumbent is responsible for generating correspondence to the Veterans and various providers and managing all received correspondence related to their Community Care. Provides advisory and technical assistance to Veterans and staff in answering questions. Determines the nature of Veterans' needs, questions or complaints. Provides necessary information to the staff and the patient, dealing with a wide range of problems including atypical and complex situations. Incumbent utilizes HSRM and VISTA to manage and coordinate appointment management with the creation of authorizations as outlined by the Office of Integrated Veteran Care (IVC) Field Guidebook. Other duties as assigned. VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday- Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized Recruitment Incentive (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) Selected applicants 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: This is not a telework position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 09367F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. 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. Education or Training: 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 One year above high school; OR Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical per VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency: MSA's must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE, YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING GRADE REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY FO
