Medical Support Assistant

Medical Support Assistant

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Lyons, New Jersey

Salary Range: $38223 - $62407 Per Year

Job Summary: The Medical Support Assistant (MSA) is a staff position located under the Medical Administrative Service (MAS) at VA New Jersey Health Care System (VA NJHCS). The VA NJHCS is an integrated level 1B system comprising of two (comprehensive healthcare) facilities: East Orange and Lyons, and ten Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) located throughout the State.

Major Duties:

• VA Careers - Medical Support Assistant: https://youtube.com/embed/EE9c4XkaELo Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The MSA is responsible for a variety of customer service functions including data entry, data retrieval and records processing. The incumbent is also responsible for scheduling appointments, recall scheduling and verifying provider orders for scheduling purposes.The MSA schedules Outpatient Clinic appointments using Veteran Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) scheduling options. The MSA complies with established business rules to schedule and/or create provider and patient requested visits, consultations and recall scheduling, makes reminder calls and sends appointment letters to veterans. The incumbent complies with all mandatory training requirements. The incumbent's duties include but are not limited to: scheduling, cancelling, re-scheduling and/or recalling patients' appointments, consults and/or compensation & pension (C&P) examinations; appointment reconciliation including pulling clinic lists; appointment cancellation; retrieving and re-filing patient charts: assembling patient records; printing medication profiles; providing administrative support to Outpatient Clinics (OPCs) as needed; re-scheduling patient's appointments and/or consults; maintaining and entering no-show information; monitoring the electronic wait list and clinical availability; preparing for clinic visits; monitoring both inpatient and outpatient appointments for areas of responsibility; ensuring encounter forms arc completed in order to obtain appropriate workload credit; performing data validation audits and quality care data retrieval oversight in order to obtain appropriate workload credit. He/she is responsible for verifying and updating demographics and insurance information; processing all emergency and non-emergency transfers to other VA facilities or private hospitals; performing eligibility, co-pay and preauthorization requirements for specific coverage; acquiring knowledge of travel and all related duties for providing treatment; authorizing and calculating reimbursement of travel expenses for qualified outpatients: collecting data necessary to prepare monthly AMIS reports; Communicates scheduling and consult issues with clinical staff as needed. The MSA determines prima facie eligibility of veterans for care as part of the admissions process by screening documents provided by the veteran regarding his/her discharge from military service. If no evidence of discharge status is readily available, the incumbent initiates a search for the patient's eligibility by creating a HINQ inquiry and/or contacting the appropriate Regional Office. The MSA also elicits information from the veteran necessary to complete Insurance capture, as well as procure all required consent forms from the veteran. The MSA may at times advise the veteran on his/her eligibility for care and provide a meaningful explanation to an ineligible veteran based on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulations and applicable law and refers the veteran to an appropriate source for further information when appropriate. Perform other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). Experience. No experience required. Education. High school diploma, General Education Development equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education. Licensure/Certification/Registration. None Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Medical Support Assistant, GS-3 Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. Medical Support Assistant, GS-4 Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade OR, Education. One year of education above high school. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 1. Ability to meet, communicate, and interact with individuals from varying backgrounds and other health care team members in a courteous and helpful manner in order to facilitate medical care for patients. 2. Ability to use, and navigate between, various types of office automation equipment and software (i.e. computer systems, web based scheduling programs; insurance collection system; scanning software, multiple line phone systems; electronic faxing programs) to support patient care. 3. Knowledge of basic medical terminology to assist in the provision of care to patients. 4. Skill in recording patient messages and understanding physician requests pertaining to follow-up medical care in internal or external clinics. Medical Support Assistant, GS-5 Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade. OR, Education. Two years of education above high school. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 1. Ability to operate computerized programs and systems in order to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive medical and patient identifying information (PII) into or from electronic [health] records, scheduling systems, and/or reports. 2. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients. 3. Ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting. 4. Ability to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties performing patient support work. 5. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and/or by telephone, with internal and external customers.6. Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns, and refer to the appropriate staff, as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS05 . Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/08/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12946831. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-08