Qualifications

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
• (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 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
• 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
• OR, (2) HIM Certification through AHIMA
• OR, (3) Health Data Analyst Certification through AHIMA
• 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
• NOTE
• HIMs Certification is required for all positions above the full performance level
• 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 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: Medical Records Administration Specialist, GS-11 (a) Experience
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates all of the KSAs described at that level
• OR, (b) Education
• Education equivalent to three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited university or college in the field of health information management
• AND (c) Demonstrated Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities i
• Skill in performance and process improvement techniques to develop and implement new or improved solutions in health information management
• ii
• Ability to advise management and staff, at various levels, regarding health record documentation requirements and health information management practices based on current industry standards, policies, statues, laws, and regulations
• iii
• Ability to plan, justify, develop, evaluate, assess, monitor, and advise on current health information management processes and recommend changes in policies or procedures
• iv
• Ability to determine and evaluate compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory guidelines and accrediting bodies, as they apply to health information management
• v
• Ability to acquire, manage, analyze, interpret, and transform data into accurate, consistent, and meaningful information
• 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-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.