Appointment Line Tricare Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Medical Support Assistant

The Veterans Health Administration is seeking Medical Support Assistants to support VA facilities across the United States. This is an open continuous announcement for GS-5 Medical Support Assistant positions that may be filled on a full-time, part-time, or intermittent basis depending on facility needs. Medical Support Assistants provide administrative and patient support services in inpatient units, outpatient clinics, patient scheduling call centers, Care in the Community support areas, and other clinical settings.

Location: Multiple VA locations nationwide

Salary: $40,736 - $66,203 per year

Salary Note: Salary will be adjusted based on locality or special salary rate for the selected duty location.

Pay Scale & Grade: GS-5

Promotion Potential: None

Work Schedule: Multiple schedules available; full-time, part-time, and/or intermittent schedules may be available

Appointment Type: Multiple

Telework: Telework availability depends on location and service line and is not guaranteed

Remote: No

Travel Required: Occasional travel may be required depending on location and service line

Drug Test: No

Key Responsibilities:

• Answer phones, greet patients, and relay messages to appropriate staff inside or outside the unit.
• Schedule appointments and interpret or verify provider orders in accordance with VHA national scheduling guidelines.
• Schedule, cancel, and reschedule patient appointments and consults.
• Enter no-show information and monitor appointment requests from multiple electronic sources.
• Participate in huddles with other Medical Support Assistants and clinic staff to determine daily clinic needs.
• Monitor inpatient and outpatient appointments in assigned areas of responsibility.
• Verify and update patient demographic and insurance information during check-in.
• Coordinate administrative functions related to emergency and non-emergency transfers to other VA facilities or private hospitals.
• Determine appointment type based on patient eligibility status, including TRICARE, sharing agreements, collaterals, research patients, or VA employees.
• Serve as an initial point of contact for units, clinics, patients, call centers, Care in the Community areas, and related support services.
• Track, review, and respond to electronic orders, consults, and other items in electronic medical record and medical systems.
• Use computerized data entry, information processing systems, scheduling systems, and software related to patient care.
• Apply knowledge of medical records, standard procedures, medical terminology, and basic rules related to visitors and patient treatment.

Basic Qualifications:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Must be subject to a background/security investigation.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must complete all application requirements and online onboarding requirements.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as required for Department of Veterans Affairs health care personnel.
• Must have a high school diploma, GED, proficiency certificate, or equivalent qualifying education.
• No licensure, certification, or registration is required.

GS-5 Qualifications:

• Applicants must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade, or two years of education above high school.
• Applicants must demonstrate advanced knowledge of medical terminology sufficient to understand medical diagnoses and procedures and communicate clinical staff instructions to patients.
• Applicants must demonstrate customer service skills and the ability to identify concerns and refer issues to appropriate staff.
• Applicants must be able to use computerized programs and systems to enter, modify, and retrieve sensitive medical and patient-identifying information.
• Applicants must be able to schedule medical appointments in a clinical setting.
• Applicants must be able to work independently while performing a wide variety of patient support duties.
• Applicants must communicate effectively and professionally in person, electronically, and by telephone with internal and external customers.

Preferred Experience:

• No preferred experience is listed.

Physical Requirements:

• Physical requirements are typical for the occupation.
• Work may require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing.

Competencies:

• Customer service
• Flexibility
• Integrity and honesty
• Interpersonal skills
• Reading comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-management
• Teamwork

Benefits:

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases.
• 37 to 50 days of paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment.
• Potential child care subsidy for eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment.
• Federal retirement benefits, including a traditional pension and 401(k)-style savings plan with up to 5% VA contributions.
• Federal health, dental, vision, term life, and long-term care insurance options.

Application Deadline: August 24, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET

This position is open to all U.S. Citizens. This is an open continuous announcement, and vacancies may not currently exist at all advertised locations. Qualified applicants may be referred as needed based on facility vacancies. Applicants must submit a complete application package through USAJOBS by the closing date.