Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This announcement is open to current permanent Federal employees of other agencies and the Public. Applicants will be referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent employees of other Federal agencies. 2. The Public - US Citizens.

THIS IS NOT A REMOTE POSITION. WORK IS PERFORMED AT AT HE VA FACILTY IN TACOMA, WA.

The duties listed are GS-8 Full Performance Level, GS-4, GS-5, GS-6, and GS-7 duties will differ in complexity and level of supervision.

Outpatient Medical Coders analyze and abstract medical record data and assign codes using clinical classification systems. Medical coding requires independent judgment based on medical record documentation and personal coding knowledge and skill.

Some of the functions and responsibilities of outpatient MRTs (Coder) include:

• Perform the full scope of outpatient coding including ambulatory surgical cases, diagnostic studies and procedures, outpatient encounters, and inpatient professional services.
• Perform a comprehensive review of documentation within the health record to accurately assign ICD-10- CM codes for diagnoses, CPT/HCPCS codes for surgeries, procedures, and evaluation and management services.
• Review and abstract clinical data from the record for documentation of diagnoses and procedures to ensure it is adequate and appropriate to support the assigned codes.
• Code all complicated and complex disease processes, patient injuries, and all procedures in a wide range of ambulatory settings and specialties.
• Directly consult with the clinical staff for clarification of conflicting, incomplete, or ambiguous clinical data in the health record.
• Abstract, assign, and sequence codes into encoder software to support medical necessity, resolve encoder edits, and ensure codes accurately reflect services rendered.
• Review provider health record documentation to ensure that it supports the diagnostic and procedural codes assigned and is consistent with required medical coding nomenclature.
• Enter and correct information that has been rejected, when necessary.
• Ensure audit findings have been corrected and refiled.
• Use various computer applications to abstract records, assign codes, and record and transmit data.
• Apply advanced knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, disease processes, treatment modalities, diagnostic tests, medications, procedures, principles and practices of health services, and the organizational structure to ensure proper code selection.
• Adhere to accepted coding practices, guidelines, and conventions when choosing the most appropriate diagnosis, operation, procedure, ancillary, or evaluation and management code to ensure ethical, accurate, and complete coding.
• Apply codes based on guidelines specific to certain diagnoses, procedures, and other criteria used to classify patients under the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA) program that categorizes all VA patients into specific classes representing their clinical conditions and resource needs.
• Assist facility staff with documentation requirements to completely and accurately reflect the patient care provided; provide technical support in the areas of regulations and policy, coding requirements, resident supervision, reimbursement, workload, accepted nomenclature, and proper sequencing.
• Directly consult with the professional staff for clarification of conflicting or ambiguous clinical data.
• Expertly search the patient health record to find documentation justifying code assignment based on an expanded knowledge of the organization and structure of the patient record.
• Code diagnoses from paper forms for VA registries such as Agent Orange, Ionizing Radiation, Persian Gulf, Prisoner of War, etc.
• Work within a team environment, support peers in meeting goals and deadlines, flexibility to handle multiple tasks, ability to work under pressure, and cope with frequently changing projects and deadlines.
• Respond to the needs of customers while supporting the VA mission.
• Communicate with and treat customers in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner.

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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS.
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.

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 record;
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).

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 MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

What are KSAs?
In the federal hiring process, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) are a list of special qualifications and personal attributes that you need to have for a particular job/grade level (see Qualifications section of this announcement).

• Knowledge statements refer to an organized body of information usually of a factual or procedural nature which, if applied, makes adequate performance on the job possible. A body of information applied directly to the performance of a function. Skill statements refer to the proficient manual, verbal or mental manipulation of data or things.
• Skills can be readily measured by a performance test where quantity and quality of performance are tested, usually within an established time limit.
• Ability statements refer to the power to perform an observable activity at the present time. This means that abilities have been evidenced through activities or behaviors that are similar to those required on the job. Note that abilities are different from aptitudes. Aptitude is only the potential for performing the activity.

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

• Apprentice/Associate Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC
• Resume

• Position title, pay plan/series/grade
• Tenure code
• Position Occupied - type of appointment (Competitive or Excepted)

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• License
• Apprentice/Associate Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC
• Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC
• Other (3)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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