Job Description

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens 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 health records, OR (2) Education. An associate's degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education with major field of study in health information technology/health information management, or 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 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 sponsoring academic institution must have been accredited by a national U.S. Department of Education accreditor, or comparable international accrediting authority at time the program was completed; OR (4) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of creditable experience and education are qualifying for meeting 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 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 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). Loss of Credential. Following initial certification, 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. Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a MRT (Coder) on effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for title, series, and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of basic requirements of occupation. For employees who do not meet all basic requirements in this standard, but who met qualifications applicable to position at time they were appointed to it, following provisions apply: (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the journey level, or changed to lower grade within occupation, but will not be promoted beyond journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Such employees in an occupation that requires a certification only at higher grade levels must meet certification requirement before they can be promoted to higher-grade levels. (3) MRTs who are appointed on temporary basis, prior to effective date of qualification standard, may not have temporary appointment extended, or be reappointed on temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet basic requirements of standard. (4) MRTs initially grandfathered into occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education that meets all basic requirements of qualification standard, must maintain required credentials as condition of employment in occupation. (5) Employees retained as MRT under this provision and subsequently leave occupation lose protected status and must meet full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at time of reentry as MRT. English Language Proficiency. MRTs (Coder) must be proficient in spoken and written English Grade Level Qualifications Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the journey grade level MRT (Coder). Certification. Employees at this level must have mastery level certification. Mastery Level Certification. This is considered a higher-level health information management or coding certification