Total 24 job vacancies by Veterans Health Administration

Major duties include, but may not be limited to:

• Receives telephone calls from Veterans through the automated call distribution system. Answers Veteran inquiries related to process questions.
• Documents all Veteran interactions using progress notes and other reports as needed.
• Uses the highest level of customer service at all times to provide patient education via telephone on the medication refill process.
• Follows-through on all prescription problems by phone or EHR progress note to the provider to avoid Veterans being out of medications.
• Participates in telephone notification of class 1 medication recalls as necessary.
• Guides Veterans on how to return medicine to the pharmacy if needed and how to obtain replacement medications.
• Seeks to solve Veteran's concerns at first contact.
• Independently inputs refill prescriptions into EHR computer system for immediate or mail-out processing.
• Processes batch refill prescription ordering for mail-out processing and ultimate fulfillment of Veteran requests.
• Interacts personally with Veterans or their representatives to assure medication profiles are updated, reviewed, and needed prescriptions items or prosthetics supplies are appropriately processed.
• Accurately fills prescriptions orders by selecting correct product based on label requirements and assures each item is filled and labeled according to all applicable standards.
• Answers questions from pharmacy and non-pharmacy personnel regarding outpatient procedures.
• Performs other duties as required.

Duties Include:

• Applies comprehensive knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, disease processes, treatment modalities, diagnostic tests, medications, procedures, as well as, the principles and practices of health services and the organization structure to ensure proper code selections
• Adheres to accepted coding practices, guidelines and conventions when choosing the most appropriate diagnosis, operation, procedure, ancillary, or Evaluation and Management (E&M) codes to ensure ethical, accurate, and complete coding
• Applies codes based on guidelines specific to certain diagnoses, procedures, and other criteria (inpatient and outpatient settings) used to classify patients under the Veterans Equitable Resource
• Monitors ever-changing regulatory and policy requirements affecting coded information for the full spectrum of services provided by the VA
• Assists facility providers with documentation requirements to completely and accurately reflect the patient care provided
• Provides technical support in the areas of regulations and policy, coding requirements, resident supervision, reimbursement requirements, workload, accepted nomenclature and proper sequencing of diagnoses
• Monitors the Physician Query Tracking (PQT) process, providing analysis of coded information and queries sent to providers, makes recommendations, as well as, monitors for potential query opportunities
• Ensures provider documentation is complete and supports the diagnoses and procedures coded
• Directly consults with the providers for clarification of conflicting and or ambiguous clinical data
• Reports the need for improved clinical documentation or ICD codes to the appropriate service chief for training and provider documentation/coding education classes
• Expertly searches the patient health record to find provider documentation justifying ICD code assignment based on an expanded knowledge of the organization and structure of the patient record
• Develops and conducts seminars, workshops, short courses, informational briefings, and conference concerned with health record documentation, educational and functional training requirements to ensure the CDIP objectives are met for clinical and coding staff
• Directly supports physicians, residents, nurses and all other ancillary clinical providers and administrative staff
• Performs documentation audits and coding of providers, provides feedback, and prepares formal reports for meetings, medical providers, nurse managers, Service Chiefs, and Pentad members
• Facilitates improved overall quality, completeness and accuracy of health record documentation, as well as, promotes appropriate clinical documentation through extensive interaction with physicians, other patient caregivers, HIM coding staff, and CDIP staff and ensures clinical documentation and services rendered to patients are complete and accurate
• Ensures the accuracy and completeness of clinical information used for measuring and reporting physician and medical center outcomes with continuing education to all members of the patient care team on an ongoing basis
• As a technical expert in health record documentation matters, provides advice and guidance in relation to issues such as documentation requirements, liability issues, advance directives, informed consent, patient privacy and confidentiality, state reporting, etc.
• Analyzes situations or processes and recommends improvements or changes in documentation as deemed necessary
• Compiles, reviews, abstracts, analyzes, and interprets medical data incidental to a variety of patient care and medical treatment activities
• Participates in clinical rounds and may, where appropriate, offer information on documentation, coding rules and reimbursement issues
• Provides basic education in the areas of clinical documentation, encounters, coding, copy/paste, telephone encounters and resident supervision guidelines
• Assists with reviews including but not limited to external coding audits, Joint Commission, Privacy Compliance and Assurance (PCA), Office of Inspector General (OIG), EPRP, Compliance and VISN reviews

Duties include but not limited to:

• GS-04:
  • Reviews record documentation to abstract all required medical, surgical, ancillary, demographic, social, and administrative data with guidance and instruction from supervisor or senior coder to develop knowledge of the organization and structure of an electronic patient record.
  • Applies knowledge of medical record content, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, diseases processes, and official coding guidelines to assign codes to the most basic and routine inpatient services.
  • With instruction from a senior coder or supervisor learns to select diagnosis, operation, or procedure codes based on the accepted coding practices, guidelines, conventions and policy.
• GS-05:
  • Maintains current knowledge of regulatory and policy requirements affecting coded information.
  • Assigns codes to documented patient care encounters (inpatient and outpatient); encounters are routine and less complex or for only one specialty or subspecialty.
  • Reviews health record documentation to abstract all required medical, surgical, ancillary, demographic, social, and administrative data. Patient health records may be paper or electronic.
• GS-06:
  • Assists facility staff with basic documentation requirements to reflect the patient care provided; provides support in the areas of regulations and policy, coding requirements, resident supervision, reimbursement, accepted nomenclature, and proper sequencing.
  • Uses skill and knowledge of the organization and structure of the patient health record to capture and justify code assignment.
  • Uses a variety of computer applications in day to day activities and duties, such as Outlook, Excel, Word, and Access; competent in use of the health record applications (VistA and CPRS) as well as the encoder product suite.
• GS-07:
  • Assists facility staff with documentation requirements to completely and accurately reflect the patient care provided; provides technical support in the areas of regulations and policy, coding requirements, resident supervision, reimbursement, workload, accepted nomenclature, and proper sequencing. Insures provider documentation is complete and supports the diagnoses and procedures coded.
  • Utilizes the facility computer system and software applications to correctly code, abstract, record, and transmit data to the national VA database in Austin.
  • Performs a comprehensive review of the patient health record to abstract medical, surgical, ancillary, demographic, social, and administrative data to ensure complete data capture. Patient health records may be paper or electronic. The abstracted data has many purposes, for example, to profile the facility services and patient population, to determine budgetary requirements, to report to accrediting and peer review organizations, to bill insurance companies and other agencies, and to support research programs.
• GS-8:
  • Code all inpatient stays (facility and professional fees), all write-in diagnoses and procedures for outpatient encounters and laboratory, radiology, surgical and outpatient encounters that are billed to insurance companies. Codes information from the medial records of patients to generate a clinical care patient care database for the Medical Center. Assures the maintenance and accuracy of the diagnostic and procedural statistics for the facility as well as optimum appropriate reimbursement from the third party payers, by the timely and accurate coding of diagnoses and procedures utilizing the required classification system.
  • Captures data through the Ambulatory Care Data Capture Superbill Form (both printed and electronic), electronic visit notes, the Quadramed/DSS Complaint Coding Module (CCM) and the Patient Treatment File (PTF) in Vista and in Quadramed/DSS. Converts narrative electronic visit notes to ICD, CPT and HCPCS codes.
  • Manually code from the medical record documentation and enter into the appropriate software packages. Inpatient data is captured by the Coders reading the electronic and paper medical record then converting the narrative to ICD, CPT and HCPCS codes.

CDISs must be able to perform all duties of an MRT (Coder-Inpatient). The CDI Specialist serves as a consultant to various medical staff and ad hoc committees related to medical documentation activities, including compliance. They serve on various workgroups and teams as assigned. They are also responsible for reports preparation and presentation of data to the committee(s). Serves as a consultant in the development and updating of Medical Center policy memoranda pertaining to document function and medical record activities. Ensures that medical record documentation activities are consistent with the requirements established by VA manuals and directives and the Joint Commission standards and Scoring Guidelines.

They are responsible for facilitating improved overall quality, education, completeness, and accuracy of health record documentation through extensive interaction with clinical, coding, and other associated staff to ensure clinical documentation supports services rendered to patients, appropriate workload is captured, and resources are properly allocated. The CDI Specialist analyzes, interprets, and trends findings of quality improvement monitors and prepares monthly/quarterly reports for presentation to the medical staff and/or management. Based on these findings, makes recommendations, and persuades physicians/service chiefs to adopt proposals that result in necessary policy or procedural changes. The CDI Specialist must possess thorough knowledge of medical, terminology, anatomy and physiology and practical knowledge of medical treatment modalities, procedures, surgeries, and disease processes. They review documentation and facilitate modifications to the health record to ensure accurate severity of illness, risk of mortality, complexity of care, and utilization of resources. They identify opportunities for documentation improvement by ensuring that diagnoses and procedures are documented to the highest level of specificity, accurately address all acute and chronic conditions, and reflect the true health status of patients. Serves as Subject Matter Expert for HIMS regarding medical record documentation. Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with physicians, service chiefs, and other medical center staff at all organizational levels. Must possess effective interpersonal skills.

Responsible for determining the need for and extent of training medical staff personnel regarding medical record document and requirements. May be required to develop training materials and continuing education programs. Training programs may include legal and ethical documentation practices, Evaluation and Management Code assignment, medical record documentation requirements, etc. In cases where additional medical record documentation is necessary, incumbent advises and/or discusses the issue with the responsible physician(s) via query. Queries sent to clinical staff to clarify ambiguous, conflicting, or incomplete documentation. They review appropriateness of and responses to queries through review of query reports. Evaluates, monitors, and reports on data from a variety of sources in relation to inpatient and outpatient reimbursement. These sources include Data Validation outputs and data provided from the local VISTA and VA Central Office. Incumbent will conduct monitors, summarize data, and prepare reports in a variety of areas, including a variety of special projects for the HIMS section.

Performs other related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Chief, HIMS or designee.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00AM-4:30PM
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 554-60217-0 Medical Records Technician Clinical Document Improvement Specialist (Inpatient) GS-0675-09
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

CDISs must be able to perform all duties of an MRT (Coder-outpatient). The CDI Specialist serves as a consultant to various medical staff and ad hoc committees related to medical documentation activities, including compliance. They serve on various workgroups and teams as assigned. They are also responsible for reports preparation and presentation of data to the committee(s). Serves as a consultant in the development and updating of Medical Center policy memoranda pertaining to document function and medical record activities. Ensures that medical record documentation activities are consistent with the requirements established by VA manuals and directives and the Joint Commission standards and Scoring Guidelines.

They are responsible for facilitating improved overall quality, education, completeness, and accuracy of health record documentation through extensive interaction with clinical, coding, and other associated staff to ensure clinical documentation supports services rendered to patients, appropriate workload is captured, and resources are properly allocated. The CDI Specialist analyzes, interprets, and trends findings of quality improvement monitors and prepares monthly/quarterly reports for presentation to the medical staff and/or management. Based on these findings, makes recommendations, and persuades physicians/service chiefs to adopt proposals that result in necessary policy or procedural changes. The CDI Specialist must possess thorough knowledge of medical, terminology, anatomy and physiology and practical knowledge of medical treatment modalities, procedures, surgeries, and disease processes. They review documentation and facilitate modifications to the health record to ensure accurate severity of illness, risk of mortality, complexity of care, and utilization of resources. They identify opportunities for documentation improvement by ensuring that diagnoses and procedures are documented to the highest level of specificity, accurately address all acute and chronic conditions, and reflect the true health status of patients. Serves as Subject Matter Expert for HIMS regarding medical record documentation. Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with physicians, service chiefs, and other medical center staff at all organizational levels. Must possess effective interpersonal skills.

Responsible for determining the need for and extent of training medical staff personnel regarding medical record document and requirements. May be required to develop training materials and continuing education programs. Training programs may include legal and ethical documentation practices, Evaluation and Management Code assignment, medical record documentation requirements, etc. In cases where additional medical record documentation is necessary, incumbent advises and/or discusses the issue with the responsible physician(s) via query. Queries sent to clinical staff to clarify ambiguous, conflicting, or incomplete documentation. They review appropriateness of and responses to queries through review of query reports. Evaluates, monitors, and reports on data from a variety of sources in relation to inpatient and outpatient reimbursement. These sources include Data Validation outputs and data provided from the local VISTA and VA Central Office. Incumbent will conduct monitors, summarize data, and prepare reports in a variety of areas, including a variety of special projects for the HIMS section.

Performs other related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Chief, HIMS or designee.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00AM-4:30PM
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 554-60096-A Medical Records Technician Clinical Document Improvement Specialist (outpatient) GS-0675-09
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Duties included, but are not limited to:

According to the requirements of the Commission on Cancer, the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System's Cancer Committee, the National VA Oncology Program and the NCI SEER Programs, incumbent identifies required reportable diseases in this facility's patients through the use of the VISTA Oncology Program.

Thoroughly searches the medical record to identify and code all information pertinent to the patient's diagnosis. This includes demographics, diagnosis, site and histology, diagnostic procedures, extent of disease, and treatment.

Coding assignments may involve highly technical, complex diagnoses/procedures. The incumbent utilizes coding references to ensure that complete and accurate data is collected. In addition, uses specific codes required in a cancer registry, stage of disease, morphology and topography using International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, AJCC Staging Manual, and the FORDS manual.

Independently codes a wide variety of medical diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical procedures. These include:

• 1) Codes stages of disease using American Joint Commission on Cancer staging requirements.
• 2) Analyzes the consistency of coding of registry data, cancer diagnosis, histology, treatment, (including surgical procedures, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy and radiation therapy).
• 3) Identifies coding discrepancies.
• 4) Facilitates resolution of coding discrepancies by discussion with providers.
• 5) Codes complicated medical records having diagnostic, surgical and therapeutic procedures that are identified as difficult to classify.
• 6) Reviews records to obtain data.
• 7) Enters data obtained from the record into the registry software.
• 8) Analyzes data retrieved and provides the results to health care staff for research, patient care, protocol studies and trends in cancer.

Duties included, but are not limited to:

According to the requirements of the Commission on Cancer, the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System's Cancer Committee, the National VA Oncology Program and the NCI SEER Programs, incumbent identifies required reportable diseases in this facility's patients through the use of the VISTA Oncology Program.

Thoroughly searches the medical record to identify and code all information pertinent to the patient's diagnosis. This includes demographics, diagnosis, site and histology, diagnostic procedures, extent of disease, and treatment.

Coding assignments may involve highly technical, complex diagnoses/procedures. The incumbent utilizes coding references to ensure that complete and accurate data is collected. In addition, uses specific codes required in a cancer registry, stage of disease, morphology and topography using International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, AJCC Staging Manual, and the FORDS manual.

Independently codes a wide variety of medical diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical procedures. These include:

• 1) Codes stages of disease using American Joint Commission on Cancer staging requirements.
• 2) Analyzes the consistency of coding of registry data, cancer diagnosis, histology, treatment, (including surgical procedures, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy and radiation therapy).
• 3) Identifies coding discrepancies.
• 4) Facilitates resolution of coding discrepancies by discussion with providers.
• 5) Codes complicated medical records having diagnostic, surgical and therapeutic procedures that are identified as difficult to classify.
• 6) Reviews records to obtain data.
• 7) Enters data obtained from the record into the registry software.
• 8) Analyzes data retrieved and provides the results to health care staff for research, patient care, protocol studies and trends in cancer.

Basic Functions:

• Assigns codes to documented patient care encounters (outpatient and/or inpatient professional services) covering the full range of health care services provided by the VAMC. Applies advanced knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, disease processes, treatment modalities, diagnostic tests, medications, procedures as well as the principles and practices of health services and the organizational structure to ensure proper code selection.
• Selects /assigns codes from the current versions of the International Classification of Diseases, Current Procedural Terminology, and/or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System.
• Adheres to accepted coding practices, guidelines and conventions when choosing the most appropriate diagnosis, operation, procedure, ancillary, or evaluation and management code to ensure ethical, accurate, and complete coding. Also applies codes based on guidelines specific to certain diagnoses, procedures, and other criteria used to classify patients under the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation program
• Monitors ever-changing regulatory and policy requirements affecting coded information
• Performs a comprehensive review of the patient health record to abstract medical, surgical, ancillary, demographic, social, and administrative data to ensure complete data capture.
• Assists facility staff with documentation requirements to completely and accurately reflect the patient care provided; provides technical support in the areas of regulations and policy, coding requirements, resident supervision, reimbursement, workload, accepted nomenclature, and proper sequencing.
• Insures provider documentation is complete and supports the diagnoses and procedures coded. Directly consults with the professional staff for clarification of conflicting or ambiguous clinical data. Reports incorrect documentation or codes
• Expertly searches the patient health record to find documentation justifying code assignment based on an expanded knowledge of the organization and structure of the patient record.
• Utilizes the facility computer system and software applications to correctly code, abstract, record, and transmit data to the national VA database in Austin. Corrects any identified data errors or inconsistencies to ensure acceptance in the national VA database within established timelines. Independently researches references to resolve any questionable code errors
• Uses a variety of computer applications in day to day activities and duties, such as Outlook, Excel, Word, and Access; competent in use of the health record applications (VistA and CPRS) as well as the encoder product suite.
• Orients and instructs new personnel and/or students from affiliated health information or medical record technology programs
• Works within a team environment; supports peers in meeting goals and deadlines; flexible and handles multiple tasks; works under pressure; and copes with frequently changing projects and deadlines.
• Conducts re-reviews of codes abstracted for outpatient encounters identified by the VERA committee to determine if based on the documentation the specific VERA coding requirements were followed; corrects coding as needed to ensure proper patient classification in the VERA program.
• Codes inpatient professional fee services for identified inpatient admissions. Code selection is based upon strict compliance with regulatory fraud and abuse guidelines and VA specific guidance for optimum allowable reimbursement.
• Establishes the primary and secondary diagnosis and procedure codes for outpatient encounters following applicable regulations, instructions, and requirements for allowable reimbursement; links the appropriate diagnosis to the procedure and/or determines level of E/M service provided. Understands the nuances of the CPT coding system for Third Party Insurance cost recovery and accurately interprets instructional notations; bundles encounters when appropriate; identifies non-billable encounters.
• Codes all Operating Room procedures reported in the Surgical Package of the VistA hospital system; applies ICD and CPT coding guidelines and selects proper codes using the current code set and the encoder product suite; ensures all procedures file to the appropriate Patient Care Encounter; adds Anesthesia and Pathology codes to the PCE encounter for all billable surgical cases.
• Reviews and codes assigned fee service Care in the Community outpatient encounters using the paper or electronic documentation obtained from non-VA facilities such as Community Hospitals, Emergency Rooms, military facilities, etc.
• Codes diagnoses from paper forms for VA registries such as Agent Orange, Ionizing Radiation, Persian Gulf, Prisoner of War, etc.

Basic Functions:

• Assigns codes to documented patient care encounters (outpatient and/or inpatient professional services) covering the full range of health care services provided by the VAMC. Applies advanced knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, disease processes, treatment modalities, diagnostic tests, medications, procedures as well as the principles and practices of health services and the organizational structure to ensure proper code selection.
• Selects /assigns codes from the current versions of the International Classification of Diseases, Current Procedural Terminology, and/or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System.
• Adheres to accepted coding practices, guidelines and conventions when choosing the most appropriate diagnosis, operation, procedure, ancillary, or evaluation and management code to ensure ethical, accurate, and complete coding. Also applies codes based on guidelines specific to certain diagnoses, procedures, and other criteria used to classify patients under the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation program
• Monitors ever-changing regulatory and policy requirements affecting coded information
• Performs a comprehensive review of the patient health record to abstract medical, surgical, ancillary, demographic, social, and administrative data to ensure complete data capture.
• Assists facility staff with documentation requirements to completely and accurately reflect the patient care provided; provides technical support in the areas of regulations and policy, coding requirements, resident supervision, reimbursement, workload, accepted nomenclature, and proper sequencing.
• Insures provider documentation is complete and supports the diagnoses and procedures coded. Directly consults with the professional staff for clarification of conflicting or ambiguous clinical data. Reports incorrect documentation or codes
• Expertly searches the patient health record to find documentation justifying code assignment based on an expanded knowledge of the organization and structure of the patient record.
• Utilizes the facility computer system and software applications to correctly code, abstract, record, and transmit data to the national VA database in Austin. Corrects any identified data errors or inconsistencies to ensure acceptance in the national VA database within established timelines. Independently researches references to resolve any questionable code errors
• Uses a variety of computer applications in day to day activities and duties, such as Outlook, Excel, Word, and Access; competent in use of the health record applications (VistA and CPRS) as well as the encoder product suite.
• Orients and instructs new personnel and/or students from affiliated health information or medical record technology programs
• Works within a team environment; supports peers in meeting goals and deadlines; flexible and handles multiple tasks; works under pressure; and copes with frequently changing projects and deadlines.
• Conducts re-reviews of codes abstracted for outpatient encounters identified by the VERA committee to determine if based on the documentation the specific VERA coding requirements were followed; corrects coding as needed to ensure proper patient classification in the VERA program.
• Codes inpatient professional fee services for identified inpatient admissions. Code selection is based upon strict compliance with regulatory fraud and abuse guidelines and VA specific guidance for optimum allowable reimbursement.
• Establishes the primary and secondary diagnosis and procedure codes for outpatient encounters following applicable regulations, instructions, and requirements for allowable reimbursement; links the appropriate diagnosis to the procedure and/or determines level of E/M service provided. Understands the nuances of the CPT coding system for Third Party Insurance cost recovery and accurately interprets instructional notations; bundles encounters when appropriate; identifies non-billable encounters.
• Codes all Operating Room procedures reported in the Surgical Package of the VistA hospital system; applies ICD and CPT coding guidelines and selects proper codes using the current code set and the encoder product suite; ensures all procedures file to the appropriate Patient Care Encounter; adds Anesthesia and Pathology codes to the PCE encounter for all billable surgical cases.
• Reviews and codes assigned fee service Care in the Community outpatient encounters using the paper or electronic documentation obtained from non-VA facilities such as Community Hospitals, Emergency Rooms, military facilities, etc.
• Codes diagnoses from paper forms for VA registries such as Agent Orange, Ionizing Radiation, Persian Gulf, Prisoner of War, etc.

The Pharmacy Technician, GS-0661-07, with the Clinical Contact Center is expected to strive to achieve First Contact Resolution (FCR) whenever possible. They are expected to maintain a high degree of accurate productivity and performance while being extremely sensitive to their specific contribution to the overall patient care provided. As required and assigned, the incumbent is expected to accomplish all duties normally performed by general VISN Clinical Contact Center pharmacy technicians at the lower grade level.

Specialized duties, in addition to the generalized duties include, but are not limited to the following:

Medication Management:

• Works collaboratively with VISN programs, services, and interdisciplinary team members to provide access to care and meet the need of Veterans, their family members and/or legal representatives via various available contact modalities to include, but not limited to, telephone calls, secure messaging, chat, text messaging, and video regarding a broad range of topics including medication refills and renewals, basic billing inquiries, and procedural pharmacy activities.
• Routinely reviews medication profiles for therapeutic duplication, prescription non­ compliance, allergies, and drug interactions. Seeks assistance with identified individuals from a Clinical Pharmacist or supervisor for further evaluation, if needed.
• Processes and submits patient requests for new prescription orders and renewal requests, including controlled substances, into the VISN Clinical Contact Center software and/or Electronic Health Record (EHR) accurately, thoroughly, and in a timely manner. Uses approved VISN Clinical Contact Center Pharmacy protocols when appropriate to satisfy patient medication requests.
• Consistently documents patient contact and resolution in VISN Clinical Contact Center software and/or the EHR to include, but not limited to, what was requested, what action was taken, and any other information which may be pertinent during future research. Assists in the documentation of medication variances.
• Assists in training of lower graded technicians and technician students.
• Assists in the completion of workload for other VISN Clinical Contact Center Pharmacy Services in the event of natural disasters, low staffing, or other contingency needs.
• Performs all duties of lower graded technicians, if required.

• Actively and diligently treats all Veterans with respect and utmost dignity. Seeks to resolve Veteran's concerns at first contact independently. When required, refers to other VA resources to assist in the resolution process. Always resolves all Veteran issues in a timely and caring manner with emphasis on providing first contact resolution (FCR).
• Seeks assistance from designated Lead Technician, Clinical Pharmacist or Supervisor when responding to unusual questions or when reasonable attempts to satisfy a caller have been unsuccessful.
• Participates in continuous daily improvement and VISN VA Health Connect initiatives.
• Completes additional duties as assigned.

As a Pharmacy Technician you will work within Pharmacy Customer Care under the direct supervision of the Supervisory Contact Representative for Pharmacy Customer Care. The incumbent accepts case referrals and provides guidance and assistance to Pharmacy Customer Care Contact Representatives. The Pharmacy Technician is responsible for Tier 2 activities associated with clinical medication questions that require clinical communications with staff such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other members of the health care team. The incumbent must perform pharmacy related clinical calculations associated with interpretation of physician instructions, quantities dispensed, day's supply, availability of refills, and related calculations to identify inaccuracies, oversights, and misinterpretations of medication information. The incumbent will answer escalated Veteran inquires involving a broad range of topics, related to medication refills, medication renewals, medication tracking, backordered medications, medication recalls, emergency refills, medications not received or on hold. The incumbent gathers, evaluates, analyzes data, and applies management and leadership principles in researching the accuracy of Veteran medication inquiries. The incumbent evaluates clinical information from patient records and provide written communication to providers using progress notes that become a permanent part of the Veterans patient record.

Work Schedule: This call center operates 24/7/365 and your shift will be anytime between Sunday through Saturday, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Hours are TBD.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Remote: This is a remote position. Selectee must reside within 50 miles of a VA Medical Center (does not include Outpatient Clinics (CBOC), Vet Clinics, etc.) in the continental U.S. or a Member Services location in the following cities: Topeka, Kansas; Canandaigua, New York; and Waco, Texas.
Functional Statement #: 06855-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

MRTs (Coder) perform the full scope of inpatient and outpatient coding duties. These coding practitioners analyze and abstract patients' health records and assign alphanumeric codes for each diagnosis and procedure. MRT's possess expertise in International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), and the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS). MRTs (Coder) select and assign codes from current versions of ICD CM, PCS, CPT, and HCPCS classification systems to both inpatient and outpatient records. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provide coding guidance to various levels of staff to promote consistency in practice and compliance with coding rules and regulations.
• Initiate, prepare, and maintain various reports, and analyze data.
• Coordinate, assign, and monitor workflow.
• Provide input for performance evaluations and hiring.
• Orient and instruct new coding personnel and/or students on coding, abstracting, and use of the electronic health record and encoder software.
• Ensure audit findings and claim denials related to coding errors are resolved and/or daily coding rejects corrected for accurate billing and data collection.
• Monitor trends and/or changes in regulatory and policy requirements affecting coding practices and identify educational needs.
• Develop coding training materials and present a curriculum encompassing ongoing training initiatives.
• Provide assistance with coding inquiries from providers, MRTs (Coder), billers, and other facility staff.
• Select and assign codes from current versions of ICD CM, PCS, CPT, and HCPCS classification systems.
• Directly consult with the clinical staff for clarification of conflicting, incomplete, or ambiguous clinical data in the health record.
• Abstract, assign, and sequence codes into encoder software to obtain correct diagnosis-related DRG, support medical necessity, resolve encoder edits, and ensure codes accurately reflect services rendered.

The Clinical Documentation specialist will provide active concurrent/retrospective review, provide feedback, and educate clinical care providers to improve the documentation of all conditions, treatments, and care plans within the health record to accurately reflect the condition of the patient and promote patient care. In addition, documentation should reflect documentation associated with MS-DRG assignment, case mix index, severity of illness, risk of mortality, physician profiling, hospital profiling, and reimbursement rules.

As a Clinical Documentation Specialist, incumbent is responsible for providing ongoing education to our providers and coding team members by conducting initial and extended-stay concurrent review on selected admissions and document findings identifying missed opportunities and clinical documentation improvements which will both enhance the quality of the health record documentation, maximize VERA and 3rd Party Collections. Incumbent identifies co-morbidities and complications and documents appropriately. Incumbent queries the medical staff and other clinical caregivers as necessary via written/verbal communication to obtain accurate and complete documentation. Provides ongoing education to physicians and other clinical care providers, related to documentation, changes in coding, compliance issues, profiling concerns, and reimbursement changes according to VA regulations and policies.
Orients and instructs new personnel and/or students from affiliated health information or medical record technology programs, at the direction of the supervisor, on unit operations, coding, abstracting, and use of an electronic medical record.
Advise and assist the Health Information Management section in the identification of training, in-services or educational needs of personnel. In addition, Clinical Documentation Specialist will present educational resources to the health information management staff and the professional staff as needed or provide goals as requested.
Works within a team environment; supports peers in meeting goals and deadlines; flexible and handles multiple tasks; works under pressure; and copes with frequently changing projects and deadlines.
Conducts re-reviews of codes abstracted for patient encounters identified by the VISN VERA Committee to determine if based on the documentation the specific VERA coding requirements were followed; corrects coding as needed to ensure proper patient classification in the VERA program.
For all assignments above the journey level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.
Performs other related duties as assigned.


Work Schedule: Full time 7:00am to 3:30pm (Can be negotiated at time of interview)
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: F 1480
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

The Clinical Documentation specialist will provide active concurrent/retrospective review, provide feedback, and educate clinical care providers to improve the documentation of all conditions, treatments, and care plans within the health record to accurately reflect the condition of the patient and promote patient care. In addition, documentation should reflect documentation associated with MS-DRG assignment, case mix index, severity of illness, risk of mortality, physician profiling, hospital profiling, and reimbursement rules.

As a Clinical Documentation Specialist, incumbent is responsible for providing ongoing education to our providers and coding team members by conducting initial and extended-stay concurrent review on selected admissions and document findings identifying missed opportunities and clinical documentation improvements which will both enhance the quality of the health record documentation, maximize VERA and 3rd Party Collections. Incumbent identifies co-morbidities and complications and documents appropriately. Incumbent queries the medical staff and other clinical caregivers as necessary via written/verbal communication to obtain accurate and complete documentation. Provides ongoing education to physicians and other clinical care providers, related to documentation, changes in coding, compliance issues, profiling concerns, and reimbursement changes according to VA regulations and policies.
Orients and instructs new personnel and/or students from affiliated health information or medical record technology programs, at the direction of the supervisor, on unit operations, coding, abstracting, and use of an electronic medical record.
Advise and assist the Health Information Management section in the identification of training, in-services or educational needs of personnel. In addition, Clinical Documentation Specialist will present educational resources to the health information management staff and the professional staff as needed or provide goals as requested.
Works within a team environment; supports peers in meeting goals and deadlines; flexible and handles multiple tasks; works under pressure; and copes with frequently changing projects and deadlines.
Conducts re-reviews of codes abstracted for patient encounters identified by the VISN VERA Committee to determine if based on the documentation the specific VERA coding requirements were followed; corrects coding as needed to ensure proper patient classification in the VERA program.
For all assignments above the journey level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.
Performs other related duties as assigned.


Work Schedule: Full time 7:00am to 3:30pm (Can be negotiated at time of interview)
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: F 1480
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Duties include, but may not be limited to the following:

• Serving as facility technical payroll expert to VAMC staff and provide data, reports, guidance, and resolution to payroll issues across the VAMC.
• Independently researching, resolving, and responding to routine and occasional non-routine verbal and written pay and leave inquiries from employees, supervisors, Financial Service Center (FSC), HR, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) and VA Central Office (VACO) staff.
• Determining proper application of pay and leave regulations, laws, rules and agency policies, guidelines, coding, etc. for each separate pay plan involved and appropriate leave system impacted.
• Interpreting and apply regulations and policies regarding appointment entitlements, leave earnings, charges of leave, leave w/o pay, advance sick leave and compensatory time.
• Using knowledge of varying premium pay and benefit entitlements for employee specific pay plans when implementing tours of duty regulations and/or policies to include 24-hour coverage, irregular, compressed and/or flex tours, etc.
• Performing full range of payroll actions under multiple automated systems for employees appointed under different personnel systems with each having unique pay accounts and governing regulations/policies relating to the Federal Wage System, (FWS) General Schedule (GS) title 5 including special salary rates, title 38, title 38 hybrids, law enforcement and firefighter pay, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), title 38 overtime, irregular tours of duty, etc.
• Resolving system discrepancies which may result in initiating the employee debt process or back pay.
• Updating employees' master payroll records to reflect all changes authorized by personnel documents.
• Reviewing and work unique payroll actions, questions, or situations which impact: pay; leave; entitlements; taxes; benefits; other deductions and master pay record information for all employees in the group during the pay cycle.
• Managing annual refresher training for all timekeepers and supervisors.
• Answering routine and occasional non-routine procedural questions relative to time and leave laws, regulations, procedures and resolve problems to ensure accurate and timely pay.
• Assisting in resolving issues with court orders, grievances, and/or public laws.
• Reviewing authorized documents and code appropriate data for input into integrated personnel and fiscal automated systems to properly update employee master records.
• Reviewing all personnel actions in HR Smart related to; hiring appointments; separations; reassignments; promotions; pay adjustments; awards and other authorizing documents that affect pay and benefits of employees.
• Running daily reports to ensure all facility employees' pay is correct.
• Auditing all employee type of pay and leave accounts to identify and correct delinquent and/or erroneous personnel actions or time-keeping errors.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.