Medical Records Technician

**Duties**:
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-08.

**At all levels**:MRTs (Coder) may be assigned to a single facility or region, such as a consolidated coding unit. They select and assign codes from current versions of ICD CM, PCS, CPT, and HCPCS classification systems to both inpatient/outpatient records. They ensure audit findings have been corrected and refiled.

**Performs other duties as assigned.**

**Work Schedule**: Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
**Virtual**: This is a remote position.
**Functional Statement #**:F00534 /F00537/F00538/F00540/F00542
**Relocation/Recruitment Incentives**: Not Authorized.
**Permanent Change of Station (PCS)**:Not Authorized
**Fi**nancial Disclosure Report**: Not Required

**Requirements**:
**Conditions of Employment**:

- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

**Qualifications**:
**Basic Requirements**:U.S 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. 1 **year of creditable experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical coding, and the structure and format of a health records.** OR,**:

- **Education. **An associate's degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. DOE 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,**:

- **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. DOE accreditor, or comparable international accrediting authority at the time the program was completed; **OR,**
- **Experience/Education Combination. **Equivalent combinations of creditable experience/education are qualifying for meeting the basic requirements. The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education & creditable experience:

- 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.
- 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 6 additional months of creditable experience that is paid or non-paid employment equivalent to a MRT (Coder)
- **Certification.** Persons hired or reassigned to MRT (Coder) positions in the GS-0675 series in VHA must have either of the below:

- Apprentice/Associate Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.
- Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC.
- Clinical Documentation Improvement Certification through AHIMA or ACDIS
- **Loss of Credential.** Credentials must be maintained through rigorous continuing education, ensuring the highest level of competency for employers and consumers. 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.

**Grade Determinations**: In addit