- Position Title
- Medical Records Technician (Coder) Auditor (Outpatient and Inpatient)
- Agency
- Veterans Health Administration
- Announcement Number
- CBST-11111497-21-AH Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Friday, May 7, 2021 to Friday, May 28, 2021
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Are you currently employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs?
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
2.
Are you an employee of the facility indicated for this position?
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
3.
Are you a current permanent Federal employee from an agency other than Department of Veterans Affairs?
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form.
Preferences
1.
Which of the following items describes your current or recent (within the last five years) political appointee service?
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in the Medical Records Technician (Coder-Auditor (VERA)) position at the Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We will evaluate your resume, supporting documents, and responses to this Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for this position. Your responses are subject to verification and must be supported by your resume and other application documents. All information and documents are due at the time of application.
Please answer the following questions by selecting the most appropriate response. NOTE: You must submit the required documentation to verify your eligibility as indicated below. Failure to provide the required documents will render you ineligible for consideration. See instructions under the "How to Apply" tab for submitting documentation.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
1.
English Language: To be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in the VHA, applicants must be proficient in written and spoken English.
Are you proficient in spoken and written English?
Are you proficient in spoken and written English?
2.
BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR EXPERIENCE OR EDUCATION: The following section is used to determine if you meet the basic requirements for this occupational series. From the selections below, please choose the response that describes how you meet the basic education and experience requirement.
Note: If using education to qualify, transcripts must be provided at time of application.
Experience and Education
(1)Experience. One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical coding, and the structure and format of a health records.
OR,
(2)Education. An associate's degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education with a major field of study in health information.
technology/health information management, or a related degree with a minimum of 12 semester hours in health information technology/health information management (e.g., courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical coding, and introduction to health records);
OR,
(3)Completion of an AHIMA approved coding program, or other intense coding training program of approximately one year or more that included courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, basic ICD diagnostic/procedural, and basic CPT coding. The training program must have led to eligibility for coding certification/certification examination, and the sponsoring academic institution must have been accredited by a national U.S. Department of Education accreditor, or comparable international accrediting authority at the time the program was completed;
OR,
(4)Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements. The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable experience:
(a)Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, general understanding of medical coding and the health record, and one year above high school, with a minimum of 6 semester hours of health information technology courses.
(b)Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces or the U.S. Maritime Service, under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to six months of experience provided the training program included courses in anatomy, physiology, and health record techniques and procedures. Also, requires six additional months of creditable experience that is paid or non-paid employment equivalent to a MRT (Coder).
NOTE: IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY, YOU MUST PROVIDE TRANSCRIPTS AT TIME OF APPLICATION.
Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a MRT (Coder-Auditor) on the effective date of this qualification standard (12/10/2019) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.
Note: If using education to qualify, transcripts must be provided at time of application.
Experience and Education
(1)Experience. One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical coding, and the structure and format of a health records.
OR,
(2)Education. An associate's degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education with a major field of study in health information.
technology/health information management, or a related degree with a minimum of 12 semester hours in health information technology/health information management (e.g., courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical coding, and introduction to health records);
OR,
(3)Completion of an AHIMA approved coding program, or other intense coding training program of approximately one year or more that included courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, basic ICD diagnostic/procedural, and basic CPT coding. The training program must have led to eligibility for coding certification/certification examination, and the sponsoring academic institution must have been accredited by a national U.S. Department of Education accreditor, or comparable international accrediting authority at the time the program was completed;
OR,
(4)Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements. The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable experience:
(a)Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, general understanding of medical coding and the health record, and one year above high school, with a minimum of 6 semester hours of health information technology courses.
(b)Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces or the U.S. Maritime Service, under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to six months of experience provided the training program included courses in anatomy, physiology, and health record techniques and procedures. Also, requires six additional months of creditable experience that is paid or non-paid employment equivalent to a MRT (Coder).
NOTE: IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY, YOU MUST PROVIDE TRANSCRIPTS AT TIME OF APPLICATION.
Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a MRT (Coder-Auditor) on the effective date of this qualification standard (12/10/2019) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.
Certification: Persons hired or reassigned to MRT (Coder) positions in the GS-0675 series in VHA must have either (a) (b), or (c) below:
a. Apprentice/Associate Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.
b. Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.
c. Clinical Documentation Improvement Certification through AHIMA or ACDIS.
Note: Documentation of current certification must be provided at time of application.
a. Apprentice/Associate Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.
b. Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.
c. Clinical Documentation Improvement Certification through AHIMA or ACDIS.
Note: Documentation of current certification must be provided at time of application.
3.
From the selections below, please choose the response that describes how you meet the basic certification requirement.
In addition to the basic requirements for this position, applicants must meet the GS-9 Grade level requirements as follows.
Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the journey grade level of a MRT (Coder), GS-8.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
i. Advanced knowledge of current coding classification systems such as ICD, CPT, and HCPCS for the subspecialty being assigned (outpatient, inpatient, outpatient and inpatient combined).
ii. Ability to research and solve complex questions related to coding conventions and guidelines in an accurate and timely manner.
iii. Ability to review coded data and supporting documentation to identify adherence to applicable standards, coding conventions and guidelines, and documentation requirements.
iv. Ability to format and present audit results, identify trends, and provide guidance to improve accuracy.
v. Skill in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution to deal with individuals at all organizational levels.
Note: KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level.
4.
From the selections below, please choose the response that describes how you meet the grade level requirement for this position.
Certification: Employees at this level must have a mastery level certification.
Mastery Level Certification: This is considered a higher-level health information management or coding certification and is limited to certification obtained through AHIMA or AAPC. To be acceptable for qualifications, the specific certification must represent a comprehensive competency in the occupation. Stand-alone specialty certifications do not meet the definition of mastery level certification and are not acceptable for qualifications. Certification titles may change and certifications that meet the definition of mastery level certification may be added/removed by the above certifying bodies. However, current mastery level certifications include: Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), Certified Coding Specialist - Physician-based (CCS-P) ,Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Outpatient Coder(COC), Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC).
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
5.
Do you possess the mastery level certification as described above in order to qualify for this position?
Note: Current mastery level certification must be provided at the time of application.
Note: Current mastery level certification must be provided at the time of application.
*RESUME REQUIREMENT: YOUR RESUME MUST INCLUDE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FOR EACH POSITION LISTED: JOB TITLE, DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES, BEGINNING AND ENDING DATE (MONTH/YEAR), AND AVERAGE HOURS WORKED PER WEEK.