Clarification from the agency

The IHS is required by law to give absolute preference to qualified applicants who meet the Secretary of the Interior's definition of Indian for appointment to vacancies within the IHS in accordance with established IHS policy as outlined in the Indian Health Manual Part 7, Chapter 3.

Videos

• Plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates the work of the Health Information Management (HIM) Coding Department, including assigning work, establishing and adjusting priorities, preparing work schedules, providing technical and administrative direction, and evaluating employee performance.
• Prepares and analyzes statistical reports and health information data used to support hospital operations, facility statistics, planning, reimbursement, budgeting, and organizational decision-making.
• Coordinates Health Information Management activities with clinical, administrative, compliance, legal, and other organizational stakeholders to resolve complex medical records issues and ensure effective integration of health records services with other hospital functions.
• Evaluates complex medical records operations and recommends improvements to systems, processes, procedures, and protocols in response to changing technology, documentation requirements, regulatory requirements, and organizational needs.
• Provides training on Health Information Management electronic systems and technologies, including Admission, Discharge, and Transfer (ADT), Patient Information Management System (PIMS), Scanning/VistA, electronic health record (EHR), Personal Health Record systems, and automated coding systems.

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.

IHS Selectees whose duties and responsibilities require them to work permanently, temporarily, or occasionally in an IHS healthcare facility must comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy related to vaccine-preventable diseases, consistent with recommendations for healthcare workers. Vaccine exemption requests may be available, as outlined in the IHS Employee Immunization Policy and facility guidance.

Conditions of employment

Selectee may be subject to a probationary 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

A one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.

On-call hours or standby duty 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/.

You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation Requirement:

This position requires the successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment.

A background investigation is a standard process used by the Federal Government to verify an individual's identity, employment history, education, and other relevant information to determine suitability for Federal service.

Upon receipt of instructions, applicants must complete all required background investigation forms within five (5) calendar days of issuance. Timely completion is critical to avoid delays in processing or a determination of unsuitability.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize this requirement and to maintain regular communication with their assigned Personnel Security Specialist throughout the process.

Financial Suitability Requirement:

This position requires a review of the applicant's financial history as part of the personnel security and suitability determination. Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility, maintain good standing with creditors, and satisfy all legal financial obligations prior to applying.

Individuals with substantial delinquent or unresolved financial obligations-including, but not limited to, delinquent federal or state tax liabilities, defaulted federal student loans, court-ordered fines or fees, or child support arrears-may be deemed unsuitable for employment with the Indian Health Service (IHS).

Prior to the appointment, candidates must present two valid forms of identification. If one of the documents is a state-issued ID or driver's license, it must be REAL ID-compliant.

Qualifications

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.

INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
General Schedule Qualification Standards - Medical Records Administration Series 0669

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks:

• Applying Health Information Management (HIM) and medical coding principles, including ICD-10-Clinical Modification (CM)/Procedure Coding System (PCS), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II, and Evaluation and Management (E&M) to support accurate coding, billing compliance, reimbursement, and health records operations.
• Conducting inpatient and outpatient medical record reviews, data quality management, and quality assurance activities to identify deficiencies and support regulatory, accreditation, and coding compliance requirements.
• Directing HIM coding operations, including assigning and prioritizing work, evaluating employee performance, developing staff competencies, and providing training.

OR

A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related (Unofficial college transcripts must be submitted with the application package).

OR

A combination of education and experience that when combined fully meet the minimum qualifications for this position. The total percentage equals at least 100 percent to qualify for this GS-11 grade level (Unofficial college transcripts must be submitted with the application package).

NOTE: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying at this grade level for which both education and experience are acceptable.


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).

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

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

Once the application process is complete, the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications.

Structured Resume Review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required competencies. SMEs will review ONLY the first two (2) pages of your resume. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume).

Once the announcement closes, we will conduct a review of your application package to verify your eligibility and qualifications. If you are found qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process.

To ensure a fair and consistent hiring process, IHS uses a multi-hurdle assessment process. Each "hurdle" must be passed before moving to the next step. This helps us evaluate applicants based on job-related qualifications, competencies, and experience.

Below is what applicants can expect:
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1. Minimum Qualifications Review - Hurdle 1
HR reviews your resume to confirm you meet the eligibility and minimum qualifications for the position (education and/or licensure (if applicable), listed above).
Note: the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the minimum qualifications.
If you meet eligibility and minimum qualifications, you move to the next hurdle.
2. Technical Assessment (Subject Matter Expert Resume Review) - Hurdle 2
A panel of subject matter experts (SME) will review your resume to determine whether you clearly show the required specialized experience listed below.

• Applying HIM and medical coding principles, including ICD-10-CM/PCS, CPT, HCPCS Level II, and E&M, to ensure accurate coding, billing, reimbursement, and health records management; reviewing inpatient and outpatient medical records to maintain data quality, identify deficiencies, and ensure regulatory, accreditation, and coding compliance; and managing HIM coding operations by assigning work, evaluating staff performance, developing employee skills, and providing training.

Note: SMEs will review ONLY the first two (2) pages of your resume. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume).

This assessment is Pass/Fail.

Applicants who demonstrate the required experience will advance.

Demonstration of these specialized experience statements ascertain your competency in the following:

• Planning and Evaluating
• Quality Assurance
• Technical Competence

Click here to view vacancy questions: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13086951.

All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date of, 10/28/2026, to be considered.