Program Support Assistant

Summary

This position is located within Community Care (CC) at the Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center (VAACC), Columbus, Ohio. The incumbent assists the CC Service with the implementation of programs and projects focused on improving business practices within and related to CC. The incumbent will be expected to perform assigned duties in a manner that promotes timely, high quality health care, outstanding customer service and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving Veterans.

Duties

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The incumbent provides direct support to the Financial Manager, Management & Program Analyst, Clinical Nurse Manager, Administrative Officer, Deputy Chief, and the Chief, Community Care by independently collecting, compiling, and presenting information related to current and emerging Community Care business operations.

The incumbent independently extracts data from various software programs (FBCS / VSSC / Excel) to create statistical diagrams and workflow charts to enable the Chief to evaluate system performance and make changes to workflow to optimize the department.

The incumbent independently compiles weekly and monthly cost estimate reports (for example, cost estimation accuracy and timeliness of Community Care episodes entered and authorized through Fee Basis Cost System / FBCS). Verifies authorizations were approved by appropriate management official (Chief of Staff or designee) prior to FBCS action, that claims assistants utilized the Cost Estimation Tool or other approved cost estimation methodologies and authorizations were processed within mandated timeframes as directed. Works independently to provide detailed reports to management to improve timeliness, accuracy and consistency of community care authorization and reconciliation activities.

The incumbent will observe, study, and assemble data and information to enable the Chief to measure the effectiveness of Community Care billing resolution activities and improve the efficacy of the critical function. On occasion, the incumbent may be required to contact billing agencies on behalf of or in the interest of Veterans to resolve billing issues.

The incumbent will monitor, review and report consult scheduling performance and consult resolution activities such as timeliness of consult discontinuations, rescheduling activities and coordination efforts between clinical and CSU staff. The employee may be required to report findings in writing, verbally or both. The efforts of the incumbent will permit management to improve scheduling performance.

The incumbent will serve as the primary time-keeper for the Service, ensuring a thorough knowledge of all regulations and directives pertaining to time and attendance, including Executive Orders, Office of Personnel Management regulations, and other regulations, procedures, and policies of the VA with reference to time and leave activities.

As ADPAC for Community Care, incumbent ensures applications for access are prepared for new employees or transferring employees. Ensures that employees are trained on equipment they will use, as well as VistA, Outlook and any other designated hardware, software or equipment. Uses personal judgement to prepare National Remedy tickets as needed to report problems with Computers, Telephones, Printers, etc.

Independently monitors and is responsible for the Talent Management System (TMS) for Community Care personnel in tracking professional and personal education development, including continuing education, staff enrichment seminars, orientation, training classes, leadership and management courses and skills development.

The incumbent will perform other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule : Monday through Friday, 8 : 00am-4 : 30pm

Position Description Title / PD# : Program Support Assistant / PD919400

Physical Requirements : The work is sedentary and requires no special physical demands.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background / suitability investigation
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12 / 31 / 1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc. is required
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ().
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider :

Qualifications

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

GS-6 grade level : One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes :

There is no educational substitution for the GS-06 level.

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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

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 : 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.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration / Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA / OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave : Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.