About this role

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. Education or Experience: (1) Experience. Three years of [creditable] experience in the field of medical records that included the preparation, maintenance, and management of [health] records and health information systems [demonstrating a knowledge of medical terminology,] medical records [procedures, medical coding, or medical, administrative, and legal requirements of health care delivery] systems.

OR (2) Education. [Successful completion of a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university [recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, with a major field of study in health information management, or a related degree with a minimum of 24 semester hours in health information management or health information technology.] OR (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of [creditable] experience and education that equals 100 percent may be used to meet basic requirements.

[For example, two years above high school from an accredited college or university, with 12 semester hours in health information technology/health information management, plus one year and six months of creditable experience that included the preparation, maintenance, and management of health records and health information systems meets an equivalent combination. c. Certification. Persons hired or reassigned to MRA positions in the GS-0669 series in VHA must meet one of the following: 1) Coding Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.

NOTE. See paragraph 2a above for a detailed definition of Coding Certification. OR (2) HIM Certification through AHIMA. NOTE. See paragraph 2d above for a detailed definition of HIM Certification. OR (3) Health Data Analyst Certification through AHIMA. NOTE. See paragraph 2c above for a detailed definition of Health Data Analyst 4 Certification. NOTE. HIMs Certification is required for all positions above the full performance level.

d. Loss of Credential. Following initial certification, credentials must be maintained through rigorous continuing education, ensuring the highest level of competency for employers and patients. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required certification must be removed from the occupation which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies, if a placement opportunity exists.

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). Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA [as an MRA] are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including positive education, and [registration and/or] certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed , the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to, and including, the full performance ([journeyman]) level, or [changed to lower grade] within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the [journeyman] level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.

(2) Employees who [were] appointed on a temporary basis, prior to the effective date of the qualification standard, may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/[registration/]certification[, and] meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

(4) MRAs who are converted to title] 38 [hybrid status] under this provision [and subsequently leave the] occupation [lose] protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry [, as a medical records administrator]. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates Preferred Experience: Minimum of 2 years recent MRA experience in a VHA setting within the last 2-3 years (2023 or more recent).

2-3 years of experience in VHA, DoD, or public health settings in the following areas: Coding, CDI, ROI, Scanning, HIT, and MRAS-type duties. Experience performing analyst-level work and conducting quality reviews of documentation for compliance with policies, TJC standards, and related regulatory requirements. Candidates should have recent (2023 or newer) experience and/or experience in more than one HIM functional area, such as Coding, CDI, ROI, Scanning, HIT, or MRAS duties, in any setting.

This is not an entry-level position; applicants must demonstrate solid, hands-on experience across multiple HIM domains. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Source listing: usajobs