Lead Medical Support Assistant

This position is located within the Portland Area Indian Health Service, Yakama Service Unit, in the Nursing Direct Referrals Department. The incumbent serves as a Lead Medical Support Assistant, providing technical leadership to Medical Support Assistants performing patient access, scheduling, referral coordination, registration, records management, and clinic communication functions.

Major duties

• Distributes, balances and monitors the workload among employees.
• Coordinates MSA schedule to ensure coverage of all patient access points
• Provides on the job training to team members and new employees
• Identifies and implements corrective action to resolve discrepancies to process claims/payments
• Coordinates with clinical and administrative staff to support efficient clinic operations and patient access.
• Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job: Medical Support Assistant Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying. 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; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: GS-06: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Experience providing administrative and clinical support in a healthcare setting, including scheduling outpatient services, coordinating staff work, balancing workloads, monitoring progress and productivity, and meeting deadlines.

Time In Grade Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP). You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

There are no education requirements. Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.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 https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

The Indian Health Service (IHS), National Health Service Corps (NHSC), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) have student loan repayment programs for qualifying health disciplines. This is a competitive process separate from the hiring process. Opportunities for LRP are based on agency hiring priorities and availability of funds. For additional information please visit:

• For IHS - http://www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment/
• For NHSC - https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/
• For HRSA Nurse Corps - https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loansscholarships/nursecorps

Requirements

• Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
• ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period
• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.
• A one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.
• Confidential Financial Disclosure Form required.
• The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements. If privileges are not obtained or maintained during employment, the employee will be subject to adverse actions, up to and including removal from Federal service.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.
• You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.
• Background Investigation Requirement: This position requires the successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment. A background investigation is a standard process used by the Federal Government to verify an individual's identity, employment history, education, and other relevant information to determine suitability for Federal service. Upon receipt of instructions, applicants must complete all required background investigation forms within five (5) calendar days of issuance. Timely completion is critical to avoid delays in processing or a determination of unsuitability. Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize this requirement and to maintain regular communication with their assigned Personnel Security Specialist throughout the process.
• Prior to the appointment, candidates must present two valid forms of identification. If one of the documents is a state-issued ID or driver's license, it must be REAL ID-compliant. A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).