The incumbent is assigned as a Transportation Assistant for the Beneficiary Travel Program within the Health Administration Service (HAS) of the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VATVCBHCS). Maintains responsibility for processing Beneficiary Travel Claims utilizing the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), Veterans Health Information & Technology Architecture (VistA), local Beneficiary Travel Dashboard, local tools and other VHA software programs.

Duties

Major Duties: Responsible for determining eligibility for Beneficiary Travel benefits to include application of any deductibles, processing denials for ineligible claims, and forwarding travel vouchers to Fiscal Service for processing. Responsible for reviewing and approving special mode consults utilizing the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), Veterans Health Information & Technology Architecture (VistA), local tools and other VHA software programs. Responsible for arranging all modes of transportation via air ambulance, commercial air, taxi, ambulance, bus and/or independent transports. Corresponds with physician, traveler, and vendor to determine the most dependable and economical mode of transportation. Prepares appropriate documentation and/or scheduling for traveler according to government rates or substantial rates. Makes special arrangements per physician documentation according to traveler's medical condition and/or preference. Secures reservations and tickets from carriers. Forwards correspondence to receiving facility travel department and/or physician via itinerary or stated preferences with destination and time. Maintains contact with traveler in route to resolve potential problems. Maintains communications with receiving facilities regarding beneficiaries return travel arrangements. Reviews requests for reimbursement of travel costs for the purpose of assuring compliance with regulations and procedures, completeness, accuracy, internal consistency, and agreement with basic authorization. Reconciles vouchers against authorizations for accuracy prior to preparing certifications for payment. Acts as liaison between vendors and Fiscal Service for travel vouchers pending payment. Writes or selects appropriate letters explaining disposition of denied travel claims. Responsible for explaining the regulatory guidelines to beneficiaries or vendors seeking payment for reimbursement of travel expenses or transportation services. Responsible for balancing, reconciling, and adjusting payment of Beneficiary Travel Claims for Special Mode. Dispatching and schedule transportation, special mode and transplant request. Communicates and interacts with patients in a manner which is appropriate to cognitive, emotional, and chronological maturation needs of the adult and/or geriatric patient. Adheres to fire, safety, and security requirements. In the performance of official duties, the employee has regular access to printed and electronic files containing sensitive data which must be protected under. the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA statutes and policy, and VHS&RA policy. Maintains responsibility for (1) protecting those data from unauthorized release of form loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion, and (2) following applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files and user ADP security as set out in the computer access agreement which the employee signs. Maintains regular and recurring contact with personnel external to the agency for the obtainment of services, sharing of information and authorization, clarification or denial of payments. Maintains responsibility for preparing reports, conduct audits and analysis of Beneficiary Travel fund control point(s) activity at the direction of the Supervisory Mobility Transportation Specialist. Serves as a fund control point clerk for Beneficiary Travel fund control points, obligate funds, maintain manual and electronic accounting records, perform regular reconciliations and adjusting account balances. Maintains responsibility for notifying approving official(s) to authorize obligations and requests for additions, deductions, and/or movement of funds. Makes necessary changes to fund control points at the direction of Supervisory Mobility Transportation Specialist. Corresponds with Fiscal Service at the direction of Supervisory Mobility Transportation Specialist upon any clarification of posting on control points. Maintains responsibility for maintenance and compliance of vendor files for providers of transportation services. Maintains and controls filing system for Beneficiary Travel Program in accordance with VA regulations. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Transportation Assistant/PD01048A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required This is a Bargaining Unit Position

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/08/2023. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: knowledge and application of an extensive body of transportation regulations, methods and practices to perform a wide variety of interrelated or nonstandard transportation support assignments and resolve a wide range of problems; validation, control and maintaining accounting records for many travel accounts and make frequent dollar amount adjustments of those accounts; organize and maintain documentation and records supporting beneficiary travel reimbursements and vendor payments; and, office automation abilities, to include knowledge of email system, MS Office, spreadsheets and other equipment. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) 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 beyond High School. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education as described above. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Auditing Clerical Customer Service Data Management 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: Incumbent will be exposed to stressful working situations that will require a mature attitude and collective reasoning to overcome. The incumbent is subject to a great deal of stress because of the high volume of work, the need for accuracy, frequency of interruptions and ever changing demands due to program changes. 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: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application

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 VA TX Valley Coastal Bend HCS 2601 Veterans Drive Harlingen, TX 78550 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]