This position is located in the Health Information Management (HIM) section at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center. The MRT (ROI) reviews and processes complex medical legal requests, including, but not limited to, subpoenas, depositions, testimony, tortfeasor (Third Party Liability), Workers' Compensation, Labor and Industries, and court orders for information from attorneys, courts, local law enforcement agencies, public defenders, or insurance agencies.

Duties

Duties for this position include but are not limited to: Processes requests for Release of Information (ROI) along with information required by the VA Regional Office through the Automated Medical Information Exchange (AMIE). Processes medical legal releases of information to attorneys and courts pertaining to Tort Feasor (Third Party Liability), Workman's Compensation, Labor and Industries and subpoenas. Screens incoming telephone calls from attorneys and insurance representatives regarding legal cases and requests under the Privacy Act.. Reviews and analyzes written and telephone requests. Develops and prepares cases for release to Regional Counsel and other appropriate parties. Maintains files for all Privacy Act requests and subpoena cases. Compiles tort cases for the Regional Office. Investigates to track down x-rays and health records to compile a complete health record. All computer health records are downloaded to a CD including documents in VistA Imaging. Interviews veterans and insurance agents requesting information for Third Party Liability, Workman's Compensation, and Privacy Act cases for referral to Medical Cost Recovery and/or the Regional Counsel's Office. Evaluates validity of requests. Determines information to be released in compliance with existing laws (Privacy Act of 1974, Freedom of Information Act, and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Ensures proper authorization exists before release is made. Processes the request to the request. Inputs all requests into the ROI computer package for logging and tracking of these requests. Receives and directs callers Assist with the completion of forms or documents. Responds to questions from patients concerning services. Provides advisory and technical assistance to patients, administrative staff and professional staff regarding release of information. Searches records or files to compose responses, including electronic searches, to retrieve and summarize hard-to-locate data. Reviews paper and computerized health records (i.e., scanned notes, reports, special tests, etc.) to identify material to be photocopied/printed/written to electronic media and released. Composes responses to requests for release of patient information. Selects and compiles information from health records and prepares correspondence. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 08:00am-04:30pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Experience and Education Experience. One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of health records. Six months of the required one year of creditable experience must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed to perform MRT (ROI) work, OR Education. An associate's degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education with a major field of study in health information technology/health information management, or a related degree with a minimum of 12 semester hours in health information technology/health information management (e.g., courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, legal aspects of health care, and introduction to health records), OR Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying towards meeting basic experience requirements. The following experience and educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable experience:(a) Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, privacy and release of information, the health record, and one year above high school with a minimum of six semester hours of health information technology/health information management courses.(b) Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, privacy and release of information, the health record, and successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces or the U.S. Maritime Service under close medical and professional supervision. The training program may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to six months of experience provided the training program included courses in anatomy and physiology, and health record techniques and procedures. English Language Proficiency. MRTs (Coder) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). In addition to the basic requirement you must meet the grade determination and knowledge, skill and abilities: Grade Determinations: Medical Records Technician (ROI-Legal), GS-7 Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-6 level. Examples of experience are: apply, interpret, and analyze laws and regulations related to the disclosure of health information; educating requestors on requirements for submitting requests for health information; receive and validate authorization forms and requests for information and prioritize requests according to policies and regulations; use various computer applications to track and release all authorized release of information requests; process and release health information to authorized first- and third-party requestors; initiate and maintain the accounting of disclosure for all records disclosed from a Privacy Act system of records; communicate with internal and external stakeholders to provide technical expertise regarding the release of information process; and ensure compliance with policies, procedures, laws, and regulations governing privacy and release of information. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of the laws and regulations related to the authorization and disclosure of health information. Ability to apply laws and regulations related to the disclosure of health information (e.g., Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, HIPAA, and 38 U.S.C. § 7332, Confidentiality of Certain Medical Records). Ability to investigate the contents of paper and electronic health records and systems that contain health information to compile the legal health record based on existing standards and requirements. References: VA Handbook 5005/123, Part II, Appendix G58, Medical Records Technician (Release of Information) Qualification Standard Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary. Employee generally sits to do the work. There may be some walking, standing, or carrying of light items such as patient charts/ records, manuals or files.

Education

IMPORTANT: 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 Corporal Michael J Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 3900 Woodland Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19104 US
• Name: Nicholas Gentile
• Email: [email protected]