Assigned to the Veterans Service Center (VSC), the incumbent performs a broad range of complex administrative activities in support of a business unit that administers healthcare and related benefits within an integrated system of VA health care resources and health care access points. Reports to Manager of Veterans Service Center and leadership thereof.

Duties

Health Benefits Enrollment and Eligibility Advisor The incumbent has varied range of duties related to the enrollment and eligibility determination of Veterans and other eligible entities. The incumbent advises applicants of the health care benefits they are legally entitled to in person and over the phone, initiates administrative processes for establishing care, adjudicates eligibility when discrepancies exist, and notifies appropriate healthcare personnel accordingly. The incumbent receives, reviews, and processes new and recurring paper, in-person and electronic applications for Medical, Dental, Behavioral Health, Geriatrics and Extended Care, Diagnostic and Therapeutics, outpatient, inpatient, and Long Term Care services, independently applying and the interpretation of the appropriate unique regulatory authority to each program in accordance with often conflicting regulations and guidance. Special Program Administration Personal Funds of Patients (PFOP) Duties: The incumbent manages personal funds of patients on deposit at a VA Medical Center. Program management requires thorough knowledge of PFOP program regulations, policies, and procedures as determined by the Fiscal service and the local Medical Center. Responsibilities include determining whether requests for depositing and withdrawal are authorized, signatures are authentic, posting of patient deposits and withdrawals into an automatic accounting system, and verifying that arithmetic computations are correct, daily/monthly reconciliation of accounts, and the final disposition of funds of the patient when s/he leaves the hospital or demises. The incumbent deposits/withdraws funds to and from appropriate accounts, and prepares written response to Fiscal audits of PFOP account transactions as per VHA policy. Decedent Affairs Duties: Incumbent is responsible for all administrative functions related to the Decedent Affairs program including details of patient death cases occurring within the Medical Center. S/he determines eligibility for death benefits according to eligibility requirements, provides information and advisement regarding death and burial benefits, prepares VA forms and correspondence to finalize patient business including death certificates and other related forms for the release of the patient's body for burial and/or organ donation. Beneficiary Travel Advisor: The incumbent will independently manage the Medical Center's Beneficiary Travel program. The incumbent demonstrates working knowledge and technical proficiency in Beneficiary Travel program administration using eligibility criteria and regulatory authorities to appropriately administer program benefits to eligible Veterans and caretakers. Incumbent determines eligibility for government­ sponsored travel using applicable federal regulations and policies for program benefits. Fugitive Felon Program: Incumbent is required to assist and/or support the Fugitive Felon Program. Tasks include collaboration with medical center security officers to determine active felony warrant status, maintaining logs through updates from reports, drafting letters of notification to identified Veterans, faxing supporting documentation to the Health Eligibility Center (HEC), flagging the patient's electronic medical record and communicating Fugitive Felon status to CPAC staff for appropriate billing actions. HOPTEL: Incumbent has administrative responsibilities in management of Hoptel services. Incumbent ensures guest meet eligibility requirements and are able to independently function in the Hoptel environment according to the CPRS Hoptel note. Admissions: The incumbent is responsible for monitoring and processing admissions and transfer of inpatients from clinics and the Emergency Room accurately and in a timely manner. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Program Support Assistant (OA)/PD21T53A Physical Requirements: The work involves mostly administrative processing which requires standing, walking, sitting, stooping, bending, lifting light objects, answering the telephone and retrieving and entering data into various computer programs and databases. 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
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. GS-05 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-04 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Assist with special projects or studies used to analyze, evaluate, and provide recommendations on administrative issues; Plan and prepare for meetings including scheduling travel and lodging arrangements and special events; Prepare responses to correspondence; Maintain management calendar to include scheduling appointments and meetings; Maintain paper and electronic files; Answer phone and communicate appropriately; Prepare agendas and minutes; OR, Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-05 level. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have four (4) years above high school. OR, Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-05 level. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-05. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. GS-06 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Conduct special projects or studies used to analyze, evaluate, and provide recommendations on administrative issues; Prepare reports; Plan and prepare for meetings including scheduling travel and lodging arrangements and special events; Prepare responses to a wide variety of correspondence; Maintain management calendar to include scheduling appointments and meetings; Monitor/track action items; Maintain paper and electronic files; Prepare agendas and record and prepare meeting minutes. Has experience providing administrative support such as preparing responses to correspondence, scheduling appointments and meetings, tracking time and attendance and answering phones There is no educational substitution for the GS-06 level. 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.

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.

Contacts

• Address VA Western New York Healthcare System 3495 Bailey Avenue Buffalo, NY 14215 US
• Name: Victoria Anthony
• Phone: (973) 676-1000 X201471
• Email: [email protected]