Medical Support Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Memphis, TN

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The incumbent serves as a Medical Support Assistant in the Business Office for the Memphis VA Medical Center, providing administrative support to the Inpatient Ward, Emergency Room, Baggage Claims, Environmental Care, and Call Center. The position is part of a team responsible for the day-to-day administrative operations of the assigned location.

This is an open continuous announcement through September 30, 2027. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications is November 6, 2026; applications may be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur until positions are filled. The work schedule is Thursday through Monday, 3:30 p.m. to midnight, with Tuesday and Wednesday off. Telework may be approved on an ad hoc basis at the supervisor's discretion; this is not a virtual position. The position is permanent and at the GS-05 level. Recruitment/relocation incentives and permanent change-of-station assistance are not authorized.

The position requires U.S. citizenship, proficiency in spoken and written English, a background/security investigation, a pre-employment physical evaluation, and participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program. A one- or two-year trial period is required. The basic education requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent. GS-05 qualification requires one year of experience equivalent to GS-04 or two years of education above high school, along with the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities. The work is mainly sedentary, with some bending, walking, standing, and carrying patient records, supplies, or inter-office mail.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship; non-citizens may be appointed when recruitment of qualified citizens is not possible under 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• High school diploma, GED equivalency certificate, or proficiency certificate from a State or territorial-level Board or Department of Education.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-05 qualification, one year of experience equivalent to GS-04 or two years of education above high school.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of medical terminology sufficient to understand diagnoses and procedures and communicate clinical staff instructions to patients.
• Customer-service skill, including identifying customer concerns and referring them to appropriate staff for resolution.
• Ability to use computerized programs and systems to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive medical and personally identifying information in electronic health records, scheduling systems, and/or reports.
• Ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting.
• Ability to work independently while performing a wide variety of patient-support duties.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and/or by telephone with internal and external customers.
• Applicants must fully document relevant experience on their resumes, including job title, duties, month and year start/end dates, and hours worked per week.
• Selected applicants must complete onboarding requirements, a background/security investigation, a pre-employment physical evaluation, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• A one- or two-year trial period is required.
• If using post-high-school education to substitute for experience, provide a college transcript with the application; education must be from an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Responsibilities

• Interpret and verify provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.
• Schedule, cancel, and reschedule patient appointments and/or consults.
• Enter no-show information and prepare for clinic visits.
• Monitor inpatient and outpatient appointments for assigned areas.
• Verify encounter forms are completed by appropriate clinic staff to obtain appropriate workload credit.
• Verify and update patient demographics and insurance information.
• Perform basic eligibility, copay, and preauthorization requirements for specific coverage.
• Encourage and support Veterans' enrollment/authentication in the My HealtheVet program.
• Assist with clinic access contingency plans by adjusting appointment times, locations, or dates, and shifting patients to other healthcare providers when staffing or coverage conflicts occur.
• Communicate the VA's mandate to collect insurance information from Veterans, their families, and other eligible patients.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on higher or unique qualifications or VA needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service experience.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income, child eligibility, and monthly maximum limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED