Medical Records Technician; Coder Outpatient and Inpatient - External

Summary

This position is located in the Health Information Management Section (HIMS) of the Business Office at the VA Boston Health Care System (VABHCS) Jamaica Plain - MA.

Applicants must be fully qualified by the closing date of this announcement.

• a
• Citizenship:
  Citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA policy) b
• Experience and
  
  Education:
  
  (1)
  
  Experience:
  
  One year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology - anatomy - physiology - pathophysiology - medical coding - and the structure and format of a health records
• OR - (2)
  
  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 - medical coding - and introduction to health records)
• OR - (3) Completion of an AHIMA approved coding program - or other intense coding training program of approximately one year or more that included courses in anatomy and physiology - medical terminology - basic ICD diagnostic/procedural - and basic CPT coding
• The training program must have led to eligibility for coding certification/certification examination - and the sponsoring academic institution must have been accredited by a national U.S. Department of Education accreditor - or comparable international accrediting authority at the time the program was completed
• OR - (4) Experience/Education Combination:
  Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements
• The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and creditable experience: (a) Six months of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology - general understanding of medical coding and the health record - and one year above high school - with a minimum of 6 semester hours of health information technology courses
• (b) 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 - may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to six months of experience provided the training program included courses in anatomy - physiology - and health record techniques and procedures
• Also - requires six additional months of creditable experience that is paid or non-paid employment equivalent to a MRT (Coder)
• c
• Certification:
  Persons hired or reassigned to MRT (Coder) positions in the GS-0675 series in VHA must have either (1) - (2) - or (3) below: (1) Apprentice/Associate Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC
• (2) Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC
• (3) Clinical Documentation Improvement Certification through AHIMA or ACDIS
• NOTE:
  
  Mastery level certification is required for all positions above the journey level
• however - for clinical documentation improvement specialist assignments - a clinical documentation improvement certification may be substituted for a mastery level certification d
• English Language Proficiency: MRTs (Coder) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Grade Determination:
  Medical Records Technician - GS-4 Experience or
  
  Education:
  
  None beyond basic requirements
• Medical Records Technician - GS-5
  
  Experience:
  
  One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• OR
  - Education:
  
  Successful completion of a bachelor'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 management - or a related degree with a minimum of 24 semester hours in health information management or technology
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities:
  In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: i
• Ability to use health information technology and various office software products used in MRT (Coder) positions (e.g.
  
  - the electronic health record - coding and abstracting software - etc.)
• ii
• Ability to navigate through and abstract pertinent information from health records
• iii
• Knowledge of the ICD CM - PCS Official Conventions and Guidelines for Coding and Reporting - and CPT guidelines
• iv
• Ability to apply knowledge of medical terminology - human anatomy/physiology - and disease processes to accurately assign codes to inpatient and outpatient episodes of care based on health record documentation
• v
• Knowledge of The Joint Commission requirements - CMS - and/or health record documentation guidelines
• vi
• Ability to manage priorities and coordinate work to complete…