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Medical Support Assistant

Department of Health and Human Services
Indian Health Service
Public Health Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is a Medical Support Assistant, Division of Dental, located at the White Earth Health Center, Naytahwaush, MN. This position reports to the Chief Dentist or designee.

This is an Open Until Filled Announcement and applications will be referred when vacancies occur.

Frequent travel to the White Earth Service unit to complete MSA (Dental) tasks may be required.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/24/2023 to 04/30/2024
Salary
$28,880 to - $57,354 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 2 - 6
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Naytahwaush, MN
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
6
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
IHS-23-BJ-12062621-ESEP.MP
Control number
738963700

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Duties

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  • Works closely with IHS Purchased and Referred Care, other insurance or government services personnel; with local and surrounding transportation teams for patient's medical appointments.
  • Contacts and arranges appointments and procedures for patients who need further care within medical facility or contract facilities by phone or via email.
  • Works closely with both patients and dentists obtaining results and discharge summaries from other facilities.
  • Type correspondences, reports, dental schedule; maintains correspondence; prepares correspondence for patients who fail to keep appointments and for patients whose appointments are cancelled by the department.
  • Serves as the receptionist and performs routine front desk duties.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Must pass pre-employment examination.
Selectee may be subject to a probationary/trial period
ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
Selectee(s) are required to have a viable bank account at a financial institution for electronic direct deposit of salary payment.

This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.

Measles and Rubella immunization required for selectees born after 1957 and seasonal influenza immunization is required for all staff working in Indian Health Service health care facilities.

COVID-19 vaccination is required for all selectees prior to entrance on duty.

Frequent travel to the White Earth Service unit to complete MSA (Dental) tasks may be required.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

Background Investigation: If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges. You may be subject to a credit check as a part of the background investigation process.

Qualifications

OPEN UNTIL FILLED: THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS OPEN UNTIL THE VACANCY IS FILLED. IT MAY BE EXTENDED OR CLOSED PRIOR TO THE CURRENT CLOSING DATE. APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 11:59 EST TUESDAY TO BE CONSIDERED, FIRST CUT OFF DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS EVERY TUESDAY THERE AFTER.

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

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; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks:

GS-02: Three (3) months of General Experience OR High school graduation or equivalent.
GS-03: Six (6) months of General Experience OR High school graduation or equivalent.
GS-04: One (1) year of General Experience OR Two (2) years above high school.
GS-05: One (1) year of Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level. OR Four (4) years above high school.
GS-06: One (1) year of Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level.

Specialized Experience Defined:
GS-05: Experience obtained in a hospital or clinic setting performing all aspects of patient registration that includes interviewing patients, experience obtained with billing and prior authorization of insurance, updating patient registration information, verifying third-party resources, utilizing patient registration systems, and working with various health benefit programs and health insurance programs having different benefits, deductibles and eligibility requirements.

GS-06: Experience and expertise obtained with billing and prior authorization of insurance, hospital or clinic setting performing all aspects of patient registration that includes interviewing patients, updating patient registration information, verifying third-party resources, utilizing patient registration systems, and working with various health benefit programs and health insurance programs having different benefits, deductibles and eligibility requirements.

General Experience: Progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position to be filled.

Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience, as indicated in the table, are not required by this standard to have general experience, education above the high school level, or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements.

Time In Grade
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).

Education

There are no education requirements.

Additional information

Per IHS policy (SGM 21-04) IHS selectees to positions located in Federally operated hospitals, health centers, and clinics must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before entry on duty or have IHS approve a medical or religious exemption. If an exemption is approved then wearing a face mask and regular testing for COVID-19 will be required. Your Human Resources Specialist will provide a list of documents acceptable as vaccination proof and instructions on how to submit your vaccination documentation or how to request a medical or religious exemption, if needed.

Additional selection(s) of candidates may be possible within 90 days from the date the certificate of eligibles was issued for this announcement.

Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.

This position is covered by a Bargaining Unit.

Frequent travel to the White Earth Service unit to complete MSA (Dental) tasks may be required.

This position has promotion potential to the GS-06 grade level. Promotion to the next grade level is at management's discretion and is based on your demonstrated ability to perform the higher level duties, the continuing need for the higher level duties, and "Regulatory/Administrative" approval. Promotion to the next higher grade level is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied.

How you will be evaluated

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

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

To determine if you are qualified for this position, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against the qualifications as defined in the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement and your responses to the assessment questions.
You will be further evaluated/rated based on the information provided in your resume (your resume must state specific duties that relate to this position) and your responses to the assessment questions to determine your competency in the following.

  • Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
  • Patient Registration
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Technology Application


You will receive a numeric rating based on your responses to the assessment questionnaires. If after reviewing your resume and responses to the assessment questions, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration.

The following links below provide information on how you may be eligible for various hiring authorities. If you are a Veteran, qualified CTAP and ICTAP eligible, or an individual with a disability, please refer to the following links below for additional guidance. CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Workforce Restructuring Career Transition website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. OPEN UNTIL FILLED: THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS OPEN UNTIL THE VACANCY IS FILLED. IT MAY BE EXTENDED OR CLOSED PRIOR TO THE CURRENT CLOSING DATE. APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 11:59 EST TUESDAY TO BE CONSIDERED, FIRST CUT OFF DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS EVERY TUESDAY THERE AFTER.

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