The Lead Health Benefits Assistant is a staff position located in the Patient Registration section of the Health Administration Service Line. Patient Registration encompasses the following functions: Pre-registration, Patient Enrollment, Eligibility Verification and Determination, Means Test, Veterans Health Identification Cards, Decedent Affairs, Personal Funds of Patients, Master Patient Index (MPI), Benefits, Information Desk, Centralized Check-in as well as Admissions and Patient Movements.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/11/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Engaging in the processes related to pre-registration, eligibility, travel, kiosk functionality, and centralized check- in/scheduling. Understanding of Federal Regulations, directives and laws governing medical benefits. Assessing disability, demographics, and means test data necessary to capture all Veteran Functions and how the information impacts workload. Assessing documentation for accuracy, determining corrective actions, developing methods of monitoring effectiveness. Training employees to ensure adequate knowledge in the daily use of work tools. Utilize quick judgement in performing under stressful and emotional situations. Assessing workload problems of personnel and develop corrective measures for the Supervisor. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Applies Technology to Tasks Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Manages and Organizes Information Teaches Others 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is performed in an office setting with a number of staff and customers in the immediate area. There is frequent contact with patients with exposure to disease and disturbed patients. Personal interviews are conducted with patients and employees in the office setting in any area of the HAS areas and inpatient areas. Numerous activities and many distractions characterize work. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
The Lead Health Benefits Assistant leads the staff of Patient Registration. Incumbent must be able to perform all of the duties of each of these employees. The incumbent leads a minimum of six (6) or more Health Benefits Assistants, GS-05s, and one Information Receptionist, GS-02. The Lead is responsible to the Supervisor of Patient Registration for ensuring that work assignments of other employees are carried out. Duties include, but are not limited to: Knowledge with matters pertaining to administrative functions of patient care and Veteran's Medical Benefits, to include pre-registration, eligibility, travel, and financial assessments. Vast working knowledge of Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Veterans Health Administration (VHA) directives and laws governing VA medical benefits and all associated programs to include Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act. Knowledge and ability to locate, extract and present information in clear and effective language, so decisions can be made to best achieve facility goals. Able to provide accurate information to management, employees and Veterans regarding benefits relating to VA Healthcare in a clear and courteous manner. Ability to access documents for accuracy, determine corrective actions if necessary, through effective communication. Distribute and balance workload among employees by establishing workflow and rotation schedules. Provide and assist with on-the-job- training to employees in accordance with established procedures and practices, to include any changes by providing written documentation. Check on work in progress, review work of new employees to ensure proper processes were followed Provide suggestions/feedback to management concerning reassignments, training needs, recognition of outstanding performance. Competent in determining eligibility pertaining to inpatient/outpatient care, death benefits, non-VA care, and beneficiary travel benefits. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm (Heinz), 8:00am to 4:30pm (University Drive-Pittsburgh) Telework: Not eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Lead Health Benefits Assistant/PD02593A and PD01590A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized