Medical Records Technician; Release of Information

Medical Records Technician (Release of Information)

Location:

Oklahoma City VA Medical Center. Salary range: $36,409–$59,031 per year (actual pay determined by skills and experience).

This position is located in the Health Information Management (HIM) section at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center. The Medical Records Technician (Release of Information) reviews and processes requests for patient protected health information (PHI) and provides direct customer service to Veterans or third parties by supplying copies of PHI when a signed written request or valid authorization is received.

Applicants pending completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected, but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

• United States Citizenship (non‑citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy).
• English Language Proficiency; MRTs (ROI) must be proficient in spoken and written English (38 U.S.C. 7403(f)).
• Experience and
  
  Education:
  
  
  • One year of creditable experience indicating knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of health records.
  • Six months of the required one year of creditable experience must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed to perform MRT (ROI) work.
  • Or an associate’s degree from an accredited institution in health information technology/management, or a related degree with a minimum of 12 semester hours in health information technology/management courses.
  • Or qualifying combinations of education and experience per the detailed criteria (e.g., six months of creditable experience plus six semester hours in health information technology/management courses).
  • Equivalently qualified veterans may be considered under the Grandfathering Provision (applicable to current VHA employees).
• Grade Determinations:
  • GS‑4:
    Experience or education.
    GS‑5:
    One year of creditable experience or bachelor’s degree in health information management with a minimum of 24 semester hours in the field.
    GS‑6:
    One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level plus required KSAs.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) necessary for GS‑4 to GS‑6 levels, including use of health information technology, knowledge of privacy regulations, priority management, and communication skills.

• Process all incoming ROI requests and associated information required by the VA Regional Office through AMIE.
• Evaluate the validity of each request and determine which information may be released in compliance with the Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, and HIPAA.
• Ensure proper authorization exists before release and record all requests in the ROI computer package for logging and tracking.
• Receive and direct callers and visitors, assist with forms, and answer questions regarding ROI services.
• Provide advisory and technical assistance to patients, administrative staff, and professional staff regarding release of information.
• Search records or files—both electronic and paper—to compose responses, summarize hard‑to‑locate data, and verify information.
• Prepare correspondence with standard forms and formats, ensuring that released information is limited to what is authorized for the designated recipient.
• Apply public laws, rules, and regulations governing confidentiality, including exclusions related to drug and alcohol abuse, Sickle Cell Anemia, and HIV.
• Assist with other duties such as telework or virtual tasks only as specified (not applicable in this position).

Work Schedule:

Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.

Paid Time Off: 37–50 days of annual paid time off, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.

Parental Leave:
Up to 12 weeks of paid leave after 12 months of employment for birth, adoption, or foster care placement.

Child Care Subsidy:
Eligible employees may receive up to 25% of eligible childcare costs for families with a total income below $144,000.

Retirement:
Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% VA matching contributions. Comprehensive health, vision, dental, life, and long‑term care insurance are provided.

Telework:
Not available. Virtual work:
Not applicable.

Functional Statement #: 635‑54229‑0
635‑54230‑0
635‑54231‑0

Mid‑Senior level

Full‑time

Health Care Provider – Government Administration