Qualifications

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 chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) English Language Proficiency
• MRTs (Coder) must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• 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 records
• 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)
• Certification
• Persons hired or reassigned to MRT (Coder) positions in the GS-0675 series in VHA must have either(1), (2), or (3) below: (1) Apprentice/Associate Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC
• (2) Mastery Level Certification through AHIMA or AAPC
• (3) Clinical Documentation Improvement Certification through AHIMA or ACDIS
• NOTE: Mastery level certification is required for all positions above the journey level
• however, for clinical documentation improvement specialist assignments, a clinical documentation improvement certification may be substituted for a mastery level certification
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: Medical Records Technician (Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist (CDIS-Outpatient and Inpatient), GS-9 (a) Experience
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the journey grade level of a MRT (Coder-Outpatient and Inpatient)
• OR, An associate's degree or higher, and three years of experience in clinical documentation improvement (candidates must also have successfully completed coursework in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical coding, and introduction to health records)
• OR, Mastery level certification through AHIMA or AAPC and two years of experience in clinical documentation improvement
• OR, Clinical experience such as RN, M.D., or DO, and one year of experience in clinical documentation improvement
• (b)
• Certification
• Employees at this level must have either a mastery level certification or a clinical documentation improvement certification
• References: VA Handbook 5005/122 PART II APPENDIX G57 Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.