What are the responsibilities and job description for the Advanced Medical Support Assistant position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) is under the direct supervision of the Assistant Chief - VA Care in the Community (VACC) and is responsible for administratively supporting the VACC Program. The AMSA will perform work in conformance with all directives - guidelines - local policies and procedures. They will provide technical information and assistance concerning entitlement to medical benefits - as well as information related to policies and procedures of the various service programs.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/30/2026. Medical Support Assistant
Basic Requirements
The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) is under the direct supervision of the Assistant Chief - VA Care in the Community (VACC) and is responsible for administratively supporting the VACC Program. The AMSA will perform work in conformance with all directives - guidelines - local policies and procedures. They will provide technical information and assistance concerning entitlement to medical benefits - as well as information related to policies and procedures of the various service programs.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/30/2026. Medical Support Assistant
Basic Requirements
- Citizenship: Citizen of the United States
- (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance to 38 U.S.C.
- 7407(a)
- Experience and Education: Experience: None
- OR Education: High school diploma - General Education Development equivalency certificate - or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education
- Licensure/Certification/Registration: None
- Grandfathering Provision: Employees in VHA in this occupation - under a permanent - appropriate - and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard - are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held - including positive education and registration/certification where applicable
- For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed - the following provisions apply: Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
- Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
- NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/placements
- Foreign Education: To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials
- Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
- English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C.
- 7403(f)
- Grade Determinations: Creditable Experience: To be creditable - the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with current MSA responsibilities or an equivalent administrative patient support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting
- Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as an MSA or an equivalent position in a non-VA hospital or clinic setting
- Part-Time Experience: Part-time experience as an MSA or equivalent administrative patient support in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting is creditable according to its relationship for the full-time workweek
- For example - an MSA employed 20 hours a week - or on a 1/2-time basis - would receive one full-time workweek of credit for each two weeks of service
- Quality of Experience: Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MSA experience or equivalent administrative clinical support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting at the next lower grade level
- For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) - and range of varieties as described in this standard - at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
- In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements - candidates must possess the required specialized experience and be able to demonstrate all Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs) as summarized below
- GS-5 Grade Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level that equips the candidate with the following: Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): Candidates must demonstrate all of 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 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
- AND GS-6 Grade Requirements: Candidates must be able to also demonstrate all of the knowledge - skills and abilities below (KSAs): Advanced knowledge of the technical health care process (including - but not limited to - scheduling across interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community models and patient health care portals) as it relates to access to care
- Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures associated with interdisciplinary coordinated care delivery and/or care in the community operational activities that affect patient flow - and patient support care administrative functions to include - but not limited to appointment cycles - outside patient referrals - follow-up care - overbooking - provider availability - etc
- Advanced knowledge of medical terminology due to the technical nature of language utilized by clinicians
- Ability to collaborate and communicate with a wide range of medical clinicians across multiple disciplines (e.g. - medical doctors - nurse practitioners - physician assistants - psychologists - psychiatrists - social workers - clinical pharmacists - and nursing staff) to accomplish team goal setting to ensure medical care to patients is met
- Ability to independently set priorities and organize work to meet deadlines - ensuring compliance with established processes - policies - and regulations
- Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively - electronically - by phone - in person - and in writing - with internal and external customers
- This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to various organizational levels - as well as resolving patient concerns
- References: See Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) website for VA specific qualification standards: VA Qualification Standards - Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO)
- The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6 You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
- Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.
- VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELoTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include (but not limited to): Follows both oral and written instructions and/or directives as given by the management
- Requests updated Veteran information by telephone and written correspondence as needed
- Assist in training new employees
- Conduct reviews and reports as assigned in relation to Community Care activities
- Provide technical information and assistance concerning entitlement to CITC medical benefits - as well as information related to policies and procedures
- Maintain all tracking logs as required
- Input data in individual tracking logs - VA systems and third-party payor systems accurately
- Collaborates with the external and internal vendor's and employees to facilitate prompt Veteran care
- Schedules appointment information into the scheduling system
- Follow procedures to obtain medical records and documentation as outlines per VA policy
- Clear copier of faxed medical records/documents daily
- Verify services performed - matches the services authorized - and scan the records through computerized medical systems
- Scan a minimum number of medical records weekly
- Maintains appropriate spreadsheets and reports for tracking and productivity purposes to meet performance measures
- Annotate in medical data systems to show proper follow-up on consults that can't meet all directives - guidelines - local policies and procedures
- Utilize correct correspondence - including various forms - letters - and reports
- Review accuracy of all authorizations - consult information - and scanned medical records
- Demonstrate thorough knowledge and proficiency in the use of assigned computer programs
- Coordinate with medical providers on behalf of Veterans and obtains medical data
- Coordinate with clinical staff for approval/disapproval of non-VA outpatient medical care
- Respond to email and phone messages on a direct line and a customer service line
- Participate in team huddles and team meetings designed to help manage consults
- Independently follow up on team huddles by sharing information and collaborating with the team to ensure Veterans receive timely care
- Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): MAY BE authorized to highly qualified candidates Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Student Repayment Program: This occupational series may be eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) - and participation is available for highly qualified candidates
- Repayment is limited to $40 -000 annually - up to $100 -000 in lifetime awards
- Participants must sign a three-year service agreement and maintain an acceptable level of performance to remain eligible for this program
- Contact VHAV23SLRP@va.gov for more information
- 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: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Functional Statement #: 000000
Salary : $45,863 - $59,621