Clarification from the agency

Open to Current and permanent Department of Lt. Col. Luke J. Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center employee only (station 614)

The HOD is responsible for all medical-legal administrative functions the Medical Center during irregular hours and as such represents both the Medical Center Director and the Chief, Business Office in this capacity. The HOD maintains the operation of all Business Office activities during these hours, investigates all problems and incidents which may occur during the tour of duty and assumes full administrative responsibility in the event of and emergency or disaster until relieved by the appropriate personnel. Major duties will include but are not limited to:

1. Enters information into VISTA accurately; reports promptly, identifying any negative trends; makes appointments in appropriate clinics and follows the VISN guidelines for scheduling and canceling appointments. Must work in a multi-screen environment, being able to use VISTA and CPRS and Microsoft programs.
2. Performs patient processing activities associated with VA medical benefit programs during irregular tours of duty (e.g.: enrollment, eligibility, verification, beneficiary travel, scheduling, check-in/out, clinic workload, admission/discharge/transfer, compensation and pension, special programs, fee basis, release of information, MCCR, etc.
3. Coordinates tests & procedures that cannot be done at this Medical Center.
4. Interprets a broad range of policies, guidelines and directives, both verbal and written and identify responsible parties for follow up action or communication.
5. Administers proper bed control computer options and arrange for escort of patients to appropriate ward.
6. Performs admissions, discharges, scheduling, beneficiary travel, community bed assignments, death details, and death counseling.
7. Establishes proper priority groups for Veterans. Complete eligibility assessment documents and enter proper financial data in database.
8. Prepares and submits necessary documents for billing purposes for all medical cost recovery cases.
9. Responds to both internal & external customers in a courteous professional manner in all interactions.
10. Communicates both orally and in writing with health care professionals and other medical center personnel and applies proper grammar, vocabulary and spelling.
11. Provides orientation to the physicians regarding VA policies & procedures affecting admissions, treatment and disposition of patients and applicants.
12. Informs and trains irregular tour staff in complex and diverse procedures, concepts, principles and practices.
13. Organizes, plans, set work priorities & meet deadlines while adapting to non-routine variations in workload.
14. Counsels non service connected Veterans and their families to determine their ability to defray cost of medical care.
15. Applies knowledge of a wide range of Medical Center operations and Business Office concepts, principles, administrative functions and practices in order to inform and train staff in complex and diverse procedures.
16. Preforms as a Health Benefits Advisor to determine legal eligibility of applicants for medical benefits and release of medical information.
17. Coordinates administrative matters that arise during irregular tours of duty, i.e, collaborate with Engineering, Laboratory, Radiology, Nursing and Environmental Management personnel, rendering administrative assistance and decisions when required.
18. Manages patient processing activities associated with VA medical benefit programs during irregular tours of duty (e.g.: enrollment, eligibility, verification, beneficiary travel, scheduling, check-in/out, clinic workload, admission/discharge/transfer, compensation and pension, special programs, fee basis, release of information. MCCR)
19. Applies knowledge of Civil Defense program and Medical Center procedures to be followed in case of fire or disaster.
20. Uses a broad knowledge in admission, discharges, scheduling, beneficiary travel, community resources, detail procedures, Compensation & Pension, medical and dental benefits, POW directives and Agent Orange literature.
21. Works independently, using a general understanding of the expected outcomes and the scope of the assignments, and draw upon experience in resolving the more difficult situations which arise.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/03/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

GS-07 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. For the GS-07 you must have 52 weeks at the GS-05.

• Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
• Perform medical-legal administration functions of a comprehensive medical center.
• Interpret laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines governing health care delivery systems (i.e. eligibility for medical benefits, processing of applications, beneficiary travel, patient transfers, inter-facility consults.
• Established effective working relationships that contributed to the attainment of the organization's goals.
• Communicate both orally and in writing with health care professionals, other medical center personnel and outside constituents.
• Apply Federal laws and other regulations to priorities of care, patient processing, entitlements, clinical/admission procedures and other appropriate patient processing activities.
• Investigate and obtain preliminary data involving injuries of patients or employees or employee/patient complaints and take immediate action to Coordinate administrative matters that arise within a medical center/hospital on matters relating to personnel on duty during irregular hours for proper actions, emergency repairs, call-in personnel for emergency repairs or patient care emergency reasons. OR, oversee the proper handling of all non-medical emergencies.
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must possess one full year of graduate level education or Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.). NOTE: The education must have been obtained at an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of education beyond a bachelors degree and specialized experience as described above, to meet the total experience requirements.NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

• Perform medical-legal administration functions of a comprehensive medical center;
• Knowledge of all aspects of the Medical Administration Service programs and how they interrelate to all other Medical Center services and programs;
• Interpret laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines governing health care delivery systems (i.e. eligibility for medical benefits, processing of applications, beneficiary travel, patient transfers, inter-facility consults;
• Established effective working relationships that contributed to the attainment of the organization's goals;
• Communicate both orally and in writing with health care professionals, other medical center personnel and outside constituents;
• Apply Federal laws and other regulations to priorities of care, patient processing, entitlements, clinical/admission procedures and other appropriate patient processing activities;
• Investigate and obtain preliminary data involving injuries of patients or employees or employee/patient complaints and take immediate action to oversee the proper handling of all non-medical emergencies;
• Coordinate administrative matters that arise within a medical center/hospital on matters relating to personnel on duty during irregular hours for proper actions, emergency repairs, call-in personnel for emergency repairs or patient care emergency reasons;
• Identify and analyze complex problems or situations with a range of variables;
• Explain and organize complex issue in writing, complete projects; studies; narrative and statistical reports; and review in a through accurate and timely manner. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-09 level. Master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B, or J.D., if related. Education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation (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 beyond one year of graduate education. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED).

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.


It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.


Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• Other (2)
• Other (3)
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Proof of Enrollment
• Proof of Marriage Status
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include

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