Beneficiary Services Representative (PEBLO) - Hurlburt

Caban Resources•Hurlburt Field, FL

About The Position

The Beneficiary Services Representative serves as the Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer (PEBLO) for a medical treatment facility and its geographic area of responsibility. The role provides Disability Evaluation System (DES) guidance under Department of Defense guidelines and supports Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) processing and Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL) reevaluations. The PEBLO coordinates medical and administrative activities, advises service members, commanders, and other stakeholders about program requirements, benefits, legal rights, and appeals, and tracks cases from referral through final disposition. The position supports active-duty and Reserve Component members and may coordinate aeromedical evacuation, patient travel, fitness-for-duty determinations, line-of-duty processing, and related DES requirements. The representative gathers, assembles, and forwards case records; coordinates evaluations, referrals, and communication among service members, commanders, healthcare teams, military offices, and Department of Veterans Affairs organizations; and assists with appeals, rebuttals, impartial medical reviews, and legal-counsel assignments. The role also maintains case-tracking and program documentation, safeguards medical information, monitors performance against standards, and prepares reports, briefings, and training for stakeholders and senior leaders. Training includes orientation, on-the-job instruction, annual DES refresher or continuing education, computer-based training, monthly teleconferences, and ongoing communications. Travel to an IDES training workshop may be required at the Government’s discretion every two years, with travel and reimbursement governed by task-order requirements. The work is primarily sedentary, with prolonged walking, standing, sitting, or bending required.

Requirements

Associate degree in business administration, management, or healthcare organizations from an accredited college or university.
One of the following experience qualifications: two years as a PEBLO within the DoD military health system in the last six years; five years working in a civilian disability program; or two years as a VA Medical Service Coordinator (MSC).
Ability to plan, organize, and manage functions and staff within a medical treatment facility to meet program objectives.
Knowledge of military healthcare organizational structure, issues, policies, procedures, and healthcare delivery system operations.
In-depth knowledge, experience, and training to handle complex fitness-for-duty and physical disability evaluation cases.
Tact, diplomacy, and restraint when counseling and explaining entitlements, benefits, and responsibilities.
Effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including the ability to motivate, train, and work effectively with a diverse workforce.
Knowledge of customer-service principles, methods, practices, and techniques; analytical methods; research tools; and statistical analysis.
Ability to draw realistic conclusions and recommend viable solutions.
Ability to gather data from varied sources, analyze data, conduct statistical analysis, and prepare statistical reports and recommendations for improvement.
Skill in applying fact-finding, analytical, and problem-solving methods and techniques.
Knowledge of DES processing regulations, instructions, procedures, and policies to ensure timely case processing.
Practical knowledge and understanding of the TRICARE program.
Ability to meet the work-environment demands, including prolonged walking, standing, sitting, or bending.

Responsibilities

Provide DES guidance and support MEB processing and TDRL reevaluations in accordance with applicable DoD guidance, regulations, instructions, and directives.
Guide service members through the DES process and advise service members, commanders, retirees, families, and other stakeholders on rights, benefits, privileges, obligations, and appeals.
Track each assigned case from referral to final disposition, monitor and update cases in the Veteran Tracking Application (VTA) or another tracking tool, and analyze performance against established standards.
Obtain, assemble, and forward required documents and records to the appropriate organizations and IDES stakeholders, including the VA Medical Service Coordinator, local MEB, IPEB, and FPEB.
Ensure line-of-duty processing is completed for each IDES case.
Coordinate evaluation appointments, follow-up appointments, benefit-related referrals, aeromedical evacuation, patient travel, and travel for service members appealing to the FPEB.
When a service member is incapacitated or incompetent to manage legal affairs, guide and assist the legal next of kin regarding the member’s rights and benefits.
Serve as liaison among service members, commanders, healthcare professionals, case managers, patient administration personnel, service-specific offices, PEBs, wounded warrior program representatives, and other agencies.
Process Review-in-Lieu-of MEB cases for assignment limitation codes as directed or required by regulation.
Receive and respond to inquiries from beneficiaries, DoD components, other agencies, and interested parties; connect members with relevant points of contact across the Military Health System, service agencies, and VA.
Assist with appeals, impartial medical reviews, and rebuttals, and coordinate assignment of service members’ legal counsel.
Maintain and update program materials, including patient handouts, training documents, checklists, and operating procedures.
Maintain and safeguard paper and electronic medical information, and disclose medical information only to authorized personnel in accordance with the Privacy Act and HIPAA guidelines.
Advise medical and other staff on regulatory and procedural aspects of profiling and disability processing; provide MEB orientation and on-the-job training to assigned staff as needed.
Analyze IDES data using statistical and other analytical tools; prepare reports, briefings, training, charts, and other materials for stakeholders and senior leaders.
Initiate actions to facilitate emergency family member travel for very seriously ill or injured service members.
Advise service members and medical staff on PEB findings.