Clarification from the agency

Open to U.S. Citizens.

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This position is located at the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO) in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The VHSO is one of 8 medical centers in the upper western market of Veterans Integrated Services Network 16. VHSO is a level 1(c) complexity Health Care System that includes the Fayetteville campus and seven outpatient clinics (CBOCs) covering three states, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. VHSO supports two Vet Centers and three National Cemeteries. VHSO is affiliated with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences for internal medicine and psychiatry and provides support for numerous allied science programs. VHSO has an established research program.

• Performs inpatient and/or outpatient coding on billable and/or non-billable patient care encounters and develops skill and knowledge of medical record coding and has basic knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and diseases.
• Selects and assigns codes from the current version of the International Classification of Diseases- Clinical Modification, Current Procedural Terminology, Evaluation and Management Codes, HCPCS, and modifier assignment.
• Assigns diagnosis or diagnoses and procedure code(s) based on the accepted coding practices, guidelines, conventions, and policy with instruction from a senior coder.
• Reviews record documentation to abstract all required medical, ancillary, demographic, social and administrative data with guidance and instruction from the supervisor or senior coder to develop knowledge of the organization and structure of an electronic patient record.
• Refers questions about coding and documentation from providers to a senior coder or supervisor for resolution or guidance.
• Utilizes the facility computer system and software applications to code, abstract, record, and transmit data to the national VA database in Austin. Any identified data errors are reviewed with a senior coder or the supervisor for corrections as needed.
• Uses a variety of window-based applications in day-to-day activities and duties, such as Outlook, Excel, Word, and Access; develops use of the medical record applications (Vista and CPRS) as well as the code selection software. Ensures current versions of all software applications are loaded and functional after any updates or changes.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Experience and Education
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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:
    • 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.
    • 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).
• Certification:Persons hired or reassigned to MRT (Coder) positions in the GS-0675 series in VHA must have either (1), (2), or (3) below:
  • 1. Apprentice/Associate Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC
  • 2. Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC
  • 3. Clinical Documentation Improvement Certification through AHIMA or ACDIS

Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a MRT (Coder) on the effective date of this qualification standard 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. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

• Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the journey level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but will not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• Such employees in an occupation that requires a certification only at higher grade levels must meet the certification requirement before they can be promoted to the higher-grade levels.
• MRTs 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.
• MRTs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
• Employees who are retained as a MRT under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as a MRT.

Grade Determination:
GS-8: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7).
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

References: VA Handbook 5005/122, Part II, Appendix G57

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.

Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary. Employee generally sits to do the work. There may be some walking, standing, or carrying of light items such as patient charts/ records, manuals or files. Employee also extracts information from computer systems which requires ability to utilize keyboards or other similar devices.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.