Advanced Medical Support Assistant (Health Benefits/Enrollment)

Quick Facts

• Role: Advanced Medical Support Assistant (Health Benefits/Enrollment)

Description

The Advanced Medical Support Assistant (AMSA) provides specialized administrative support to ensure Veterans have timely access to care. The role coordinates administrative services, assists with receptionist/customer-service duties, manages appointment scheduling, and maintains demographic/insurance information within VA systems. It also supports benefits enrollment by determining eligibility/entitlement and processing patient data transfers.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate administrative services for Veterans, family members, caregivers, and internal/public administrative and clinical staff to ensure continuity of inpatient and outpatient care.
• Integrate received health/administrative records into VA software systems for enrollment and care by scanning documents.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary clinical and administrative teams to determine priorities that support direct patient care.
• Provide coverage for Transportation Specialist or Medical Support Assistant duties during special projects, heavy workload, leave, or vacancies.
• Provide administrative support to outpatient clinics and the main hospital campus; support daily administrative operations related to veteran benefits.
• Manage appointments and coordinate administrative information between professional staff and patients.
• Update and verify demographic information; schedule appointments; collect insurance information; enter data; notify patients of new patient appointments.
• Apply clinic procedures and regulations and use basic medical terminology.
• Operate computer systems and applications to enter/extract information accurately.
• Screen and receive phone calls, determine request needs, and provide information using privacy rules and business processes.
• Explain benefits and processes with a compassionate, sensitive approach in person and by phone.
• Participate in daily team huddles and weekly/monthly meetings for administrative planning and management.
• Determine benefit eligibility/entitlement using tools such as income assessments and VA record systems.
• Advise Veterans on entitlement to medical benefits and discuss co-payments for applicable categories.
• Explain medical co-payments and complete follow-up steps (e.g., form 7131) to determine eligibility.
• Schedule follow-up appointments after Acute Care visits in VistA according to scheduling guidelines.
• Resolve difficult patient problems and diffuse dissatisfaction to prevent adverse outcomes.
• Collaborate with the Patient Advocate Office for patient complaints related to eligibility and benefits.
• Process Patient Data Transfers from other VA facilities for patients receiving medical services and specialty care.
• Scan eligibility and identity documentation into the applicant’s Medical Record File in CPRS with correct metadata (name/SSN, document date, type, description, and correct patient record).

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package; eligibility depends on the position type and schedule. Contact the hiring agency for specifics.