The John J Pershing VA Medical Center is currently seeking Health Benefits Assistants for the Sikeston CBOC.

Duties

Serves as the Veteran's initial contact within the Medical Center and performs multiple duties related to the enrollment and eligibility determination of Veterans, such as advising applicants of the health benefits to which they are legally entitled; responding to technical questions regarding patients administrative rights and situational eligibility for healthcare; and providing patients with administrative advice and guidance. Collaborates with the facility Primary Care Management Module (PCMM) Coordinator managing the New Enrollment Appointment Request (NEAR) list by reviewing the PCMM provider log for scheduling new patient appointments; provides follow up with the PCMM coordinator for assignment to the Primary Care team after initial appointment is scheduled. Performs program support work such as collecting, researching, and tracking data and program information. Provides training and education to staff in all matters under purview of their position, i.e., eligibility and entitlement, etc. Performs educational briefings and presentations for military units, Veterans, Veteran Service Organizations, community partners, and the general public. This includes disseminating information, in person, such as providing information about programs, benefits, and/or other requirements of these programs. Outreach provides a greater degree of understanding about the Department of Veteran Affairs and the benefits that are offered. Responsible for Decedent Affairs duties through advising surviving relatives of burial benefits and other potential benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, reviews eligibility and entitlement of burial and death allowances, and assists in the process for applying for those benefits. Duties are split through collaboration with the Medical Center Agent Cashier to maintain integrity of the patient funds program. The HBA is responsible for oversight of accounts, completes daily reconciliation to ensure funds are correctly and appropriately secured, deposited, and withdrawn and prepares final disposition of funds through written response to Fiscal audits of PFOP account transactions as per VHA policy. Analyzes Agent Cashier records to ensures transactions are authorized, signatures are authentic, patient transactions are documented, arithmetic computations are correct. Collaborates with treatment team when patients are determined incompetent to handle funds. Prepares correspondence to Veterans, next of kin, legal guardians, the Agent Cashier, and Regional Counsel to coordinate the appropriate disposition. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8am - 4:30pm Position Description/PD#: Health Benefits Assistant/PD09870A Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Travel Required: Occasional travel may be required up to 75%. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. ADHOC telework approved. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination programs are requirements for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/02/2023. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-5 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: providing customer service to patients/veterans; performing clerical and technical work; performing routine administrative procedures; establishing and maintaining filing and reference systems; utilization of office automation software and establishing priorities and setting deadlines NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 4 years of education above high school level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school. . OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond 2 year post high school. GS-6 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: providing customer service to patients/veterans; performing clerical and technical work; performing routine administrative procedures; establishing and maintaining filing and reference systems; utilization of office automation software and establishing priorities and setting deadlines NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Computer SkillsCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Technical Competence 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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: This is primarily a sedentary position, but the work requires some walking, bending, stooping and carrying of light objects such as manuals, documents, etc. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address John J Pershing VA Medical Center 1500 North Westwood Boulevard Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 US
• Name: David Baldridge
• Phone: (573) 712-7485
• Email: [email protected]