Veterans Health Administration Logo
Position Title
Medical Records Technician (Coder-Outpatient and Inpatient)
Agency
Veterans Health Administration
Announcement Number
CBTC-12741328-25-AB Opens in new window
Open Period
Friday, May 23, 2025 to Monday, June 23, 2025
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.
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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.
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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.
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4. Are you willing to undergo a pre-employment physical? (limit characters)
5. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Are you proficient in basic written and spoken English? (limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
2. 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.
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By submitting your application, you are certifying, to the best of your knowledge and belief, all the information submitted by you with your application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that you have truthfully and accurately represented your work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and education (degrees, accomplishments, etc.). The information you provide as part of your application may be investigated. You are also certifying, and acknowledging, that misrepresenting your experience or education, or providing false or fraudulent information in, or with your application, may affect your eligibility for appointment and/or continued employment. False or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001). (limit characters)
3. I authorize my application information being shared with hiring managers for similar positions. I understand this option may not result in further consideration for additional positions nor will it impact my application for this announcement. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in a Medical Record Technician (Coder) position with Tampa Veterans Health System. We will evaluate your resume and your responses to this Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you qualified for this position. Your responses are subject to verification. Please review your responses for accuracy before you submit this questionnaire. Choose the one answer that best describes how you meet the qualification requirements for the Medical Record Technician (Coder) position as described in the Qualifications Section of the Vacancy Announcement.
***This announcement is not for insurance coders.***

Full performance level for this position is GS 8. Grade levels that you may be selected for are GS 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.
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BASIC REQUIREMENTS. The following section is used to determine if you meet the basic requirements for this vacancy. Please choose the most appropriate answer in response to the following questions. (limit characters)
1. Basic Experience and Education for all grade levels:

Please identify which of the following you possess to meet the minimum entry level requirement (GS-4).

THIS MUST BE CLEARLY REPRESENTED IN YOUR RESUME TO BE FOUND QUALIFIED. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Select the statement below that best describes your ability to meet the basic requirements for this position.
****If claiming education, You must submit a copy of your transcripts (official or unofficial) with your application. Be sure your name, name of the school attended, dates attended, and degree conferred/graduated, or certificate issued is stated on the transcript. This information is used to verify qualifications and accreditation. We cannot make assumptions regarding your education.
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Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
2. Certification Requirements.  Persons hired or reassigned to MRT (Coder) positions in the GS-0675 series in VHA must have ONE of the following:
  • Apprentice/Associate Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.
    • Current Apprentice/Associate level certifications include Certified Coding Associate (CCA), Certified Professional Coder-Apprentice (CPC-A) and Certified Outpatient Coding- Apprentice (COC-A).
  • Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.
    • 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).
  • Clinical Documentation Improvement Certification through AHIMA or ACDIS.
    • Current Clinical Documentation Improvement Certifications include Clinical Documentation Improvement Practitioner (CDIP) and Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist.
Do you possess one of the above listed certifications?  A copy of your certification MUST be submitted with your application.

Professional Certification Reminder: You must submit a copy of a current active certification. Expired certifications will not be considered. Please make sure you submit all required documentation before the closing date of the announcement. You will not be able to submit documents after the closing date of this announcement. FAILURE TO SUBMIT THE APPROPRIATE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS WILL CAUSE YOU TO BE INELIGIBLE FOR CONISDERATION OF THIS POSITION.
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GRADE DETERMINATIONS for Medical Records Technician (Coder-Outpatient and Inpatient). The following is used to determine the grade requirements at grades GS-04, GS-05, GS-06, GS-07, and GS-08. For Medical Record Technician (Coder) GS-04 nothing beyond the basic requirements listed above is required. Your responses are subject to verification and must be demonstrated in your resume. Be as detailed as possible in your resume and ensure you demonstrate how you meet the specialized experience and knowledge, skills and abilities required for the position. No assumptions will be made. (limit characters)
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
3. Medical Records Technician (Coder-Outpatient and Inpatient), GS-5
Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level;
OR
Education. Successful completion of a bachelor'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 management, or a related degree with a minimum of 24 semester hours in health information management or technology.
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Ability to use health information technology and various office software products used in MRT (Coder) positions (e.g., the electronic health record, coding and abstracting software, etc.).
  • Ability to navigate through and abstract pertinent information from health records.
  • Knowledge of the ICD CM, PCS Official Conventions and Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, and CPT guidelines.
  • Ability to apply knowledge of medical terminology, human anatomy/physiology, and disease processes to accurately assign codes to inpatient and outpatient episodes of care based on health record documentation.
  • Knowledge of The Joint Commission requirements, CMS, and/or health record documentation guidelines.
  • Ability to manage priorities and coordinate work to complete duties within required timeframes, and the ability to follow-up on pending issues.
Do you possess the requirements for the GS-05 grade level described above?  Be detailed in your resume as to how you meet the above experience or education and KSAs requirement. No assumptions will be made.
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4. Medical Records Technician (Coder-Outpatient and Inpatient), GS-6  
Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Ability to analyze the health record to identify all pertinent diagnoses and procedures for coding and to evaluate the adequacy of the documentation.
  • Ability to determine whether health records contain sufficient information for regulatory requirements, are acceptable as legal documents, are adequate for continuity of patient care, and support the assigned codes. This includes the ability to take appropriate actions if health record contents are not complete, accurate, timely, and/or reliable.
  • Ability to apply laws and regulations on the confidentiality of health information (e.g., Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, and HIPAA).
  • Ability to accurately apply the ICD CM, PCS Official Conventions and Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, and CPT Guidelines to various coding scenarios.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of current classification systems, such as ICD CM, PCS, CPT, HCPCS, and skill in applying classifications to both inpatient and outpatient records based on health record documentation.
  • Knowledge of complication or comorbidity/major complication or comorbidity (CC/MCC) and POA indicators to obtain correct MS-DRG.
Do you possess the requirements for the GS-06 grade level described above?   Be detailed in your resume as to how you meet the above experience and KSAs requirement.  No assumptions will be made.
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5. Medical Records Technician (Coder-Outpatient and Inpatient), GS-7
Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Skill in applying current coding classifications to a variety of inpatient and outpatient specialty care areas to accurately reflect service and care provided based on documentation in the health record.
  • Ability to communicate with clinical staff for specific coding and documentation issues, such as recording inpatient and outpatient diagnoses and procedures, the correct sequencing of diagnoses and/or procedures, and the relationship between health record documentation and code assignment.
  • Ability to research and solve coding and documentation related issues.
  • Skill in reviewing and correcting system or processing errors and ensuring all assigned work is complete.
  • Ability to abstract, assign, and sequence codes, including complication or comorbidity/major complication or comorbidity (CC/MCC), and POA indicators to obtain correct MS-DRG.
Do you possess the requirements for the GS-07 grade level described above?  Be detailed in your resume as to how you meet the above experience and KSAs requirement.  No assumptions will be made.
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6. Medical Records Technician (Coder-Outpatient and Inpatient), GS-8
Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
AND 
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Ability to analyze the health record to identify all pertinent diagnoses and procedures for coding and to evaluate the adequacy of the documentation. This includes the ability to read and understand the content of the health record, the terminology, the significance of the comments, and the disease process/pathophysiology of the patient.
  • Ability to accurately perform the full scope of outpatient coding, including ambulatory surgical cases, diagnostic studies and procedures, and outpatient encounters, and inpatient facility coding, including inpatient discharges, surgical cases, diagnostic studies and procedures, and inpatient professional services.
  • Skill in interpreting and adapting health information guidelines that are not completely applicable to the work, or have gaps in specificity, and the ability to use judgment in completing assignments using incomplete or inadequate guidelines.
Do you possess the requirements for the GS-08 grade level described above?  Be detailed in your resume as to how you meet the above experience and KSAs requirement.  No assumptions will be made.
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RESUME REMINDER: Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail. Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications. DO NOT INCLUDE A PHOTO. YOUR RESUME WILL NOT BE REFERRED. 

Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:
* Updated and accurate duties (be as detailed as possible and ensure they demonstrate how you meet the specialized experience and knowledge, skills and abilities required for the position)
* Grade level (applicable for federal jobs)
* Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
* Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week).
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REMINDER Current, permanent federal employees must submit recent SF-50 from the past 12 months which clearly shows current, permanent federal eligibility. Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • General adjustment/Cost of living Increase
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held
  • Promotions SF-50's at the highest grade held within the past year
  • Cash Award, benefit changes or time off Awards 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted.
Please check your electronic official personnel folder (eOPF) for your most recent SF-50. HR will not contact you for more info or documents. You can attach more than 1 SF50. All current, permanent federal employees applicants must ensure that they have included one or more SF50's showing current, permanent employment status in the past 12 months.
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