Medical Support Assistant

Medical Support AssistantThe purpose of this position is to serve as a Medical Support Assistant (MSA) in VISN 1, VA New England Healthcare System. The incumbent is responsible for a wide range of assignments and provides administrative support to increase scheduling and communication integrity across all services. Work is performed collaboratively in an Interdisciplinary Coordinate Care delivery model (Patient Aligned Care Team, or Specialty Care Setting).Functions:Collects and updates insurance information from Veterans, family members and other eligible patients.Prepares correspondence and memos as needed.Screens/receive phone calls in a courteous and timely manner, determine the nature of request and provide the information desired using privacy rules and established clinic processes.Ensures data is entered into VISTA accurately and scans documents into VISTA Imaging within 24 hours of entering the data into VISTA if applicable.Promotes Veteran registration for and utilization of HealtheVet (MHV)Stocks basic office supplies for the clinical area.Enters Veterans seeking emergent/urgent care, scheduling appointments accurately.Utilizes call lists and telephones Veterans to pre-register them before their scheduled visits. Incumbent updates all patient demographics.Communicates and interacts with patients in a manner which is appropriate to cognitive, emotional, and chronological maturation needs of the adult and/or geriatric patient.Assures that all appropriate VA forms are used correctly, and regulations followed.Additional duties or tasks may be assigned by the supervisor to ensure efficient daily operations.Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pmCompressed/Flexible: Not available.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 $416.66Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VAInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)Telework: Not authorized.Virtual: This is not a virtual position.Functional Statement #: F1390Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Notifications:This position is covered by a special rate.This position is not a Bargaining Unit position.Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement.Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.