Medical Support Assistant (Advanced)

Summary

The incumbent serves as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant assigned to a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model, in Primary Care, Mental health, Specialty Care Setting, Inpatient Ward, and Eligibility and Enrollments. The PACT team let is a primary care team that generally consists of a primary care provider (MD, NP, PA), registered nurse care manager, clinical associate (LPN or medical assistant/health technician) and an administrative associate (MNMSA/health technician).

Duties

• Medical Support Assistant: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-MSA-VA-Career-Flyer.pdf This position is physically located at the Victoria, Texas VA Clinic. This position is eligible for ad-hoc telework within the local commuting area of Victoria, Texas. This position is not a remote or virtual position. Escape to Victoria, Texas, where small-town charm meets big opportunities! Enjoy affordable living, a welcoming community, and easy access to both the Gulf Coast and major Texas cities. With a thriving local economy, rich history, and outdoor adventures around every corner, Victoria offers the perfect balance of relaxation and growth. Make Victoria your home and experience Texas hospitality at its finest! The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) position is within the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS), which provides extensive medical services across multiple locations in South Texas. As a critical part of the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), this role spans departments including Primary Care, Mental Health, Specialty Care, and Inpatient Ward services. The AMSA supports the patient care team by coordinating and managing clinic schedules, communicating with patients and interdisciplinary teams, and facilitating patient transitions between inpatient and outpatient care. Key responsibilities include managing electronic records, scheduling appointments, ensuring pre-visit requirements are met, and assisting with patient travel activities. The role also involves handling secure messaging and assisting with non-VA referrals. This full-time position may require various shifts, including nights and weekends, and involves rotating across STVHCS facilities to meet coverage needs. The AMSA independently handles complex administrative tasks and adheres to strict confidentiality and data security standards. With a focus on veteran-centric care, the AMSA must also be sensitive to age-specific and cultural needs while delivering exceptional customer service. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8am - 4:30 pm) or (7:30am - 4:00pm) Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. Experience and Education. Experience. Six months experience of clerical, office, customer service, or other administrative work that indicates the ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position; OR, Education. One year above high school; OR, Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. English Language Proficiency. MSAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.j. 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 MSAs employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, which are a part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees may be reassigned, promoted, or [changed to a lower grade] within the occupation. Employees who are 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. If an employee who was converted to Title 38 hybrid status under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Creditable Experience: Knowledge of MSA Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with current MSA responsibilities or an equivalent administrative patient support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as an MSA or an equivalent position in a non-VA hospital or clinic setting. Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MSA experience or equivalent administrative clinical support role in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting at the next lower grade level. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty), and a range of [varieties] as described in this standard, at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as an MSA or equivalent administrative patient support in a non-VA medical inpatient or outpatient setting is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, an MSA employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive one full-time workweek of credit for each two weeks of service. In addition to the basic requirements for employment listed above, the following criteria must be met to qualify at the GS-06 grade level: Experience. One year of experience at the GS-5 grade level or higher is required. This experience includes performing a full range of duties related to healthcare service delivery in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Responsibilities involve advising clinical staff on current administrative procedures, answering phones, greeting patients, relaying messages to appropriate personnel within or outside the unit, and scheduling appointments. This includes interpreting and verifying provider orders in alignment with VHA national scheduling guidelines. Duties at this level encompass scheduling, canceling, and rescheduling patient appointments and consults; entering no-show information; monitoring appointment requests from various electronic sources; and participating in huddles with other Medical Support Assistants (MSAs) and clinic staff to assess the clinic's daily needs. Additionally, responsibilities include monitoring inpatient and outpatient appointments, verifying and updating patient demographics and insurance information during check-in, and coordinating administrative functions for emergency and non-emergency transfers to other VA facilities or private hospitals. The role also involves determining the appropriate appointment type based on the patient's eligibility status (such as TRICARE, sharing agreements, collaterals, research patient, VA employee, etc.).AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Ability to operate computerized programs and systems in order to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive medical and patient identifying information (PII) into or from electronic health records, scheduling systems, and/or reports. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology specific to understand medical diagnosis and procedures sufficient to communicate clinical staff instructions to patients. Ability to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting. Ability to work independently in the accomplishment of a wide variety of duties performing patient support work. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and/or by telephone, with internal and external customers. Skill in customer service with the ability to identify customer concerns, and refer to the appropriate staff, as necessary, to ensure a satisfactory resolution. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/117, PART II, APPENDIX G45 at 0679, Medical Support Assistant Qualification Standards Physical Requirements: Work is done in an office setting, mostly sedentary using computers, phones, other office equipment.

Requirements

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 identification 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. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial 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: 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. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

How to apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/18/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13057587. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.