Administrative Medical Assistant

Position Summary

The incumbent is responsible for coordinating referred health care for the Tohono O'odham Nation Health Care's patient population and providers.

Scope of Work

This position is located within the Tohono O'odham Nation's Division of Nursing Services, and Purchase Referred Care Division. It is situated organizationally and duty stationed at any Nation's facilities located in Sells, Arizona, Santa Rosa, Arizona, San Simon, Arizona, and Tucson, Arizona.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Arrange initial and follow-up patient referrals regarding all patient care treatment phases through the referral process.
• Assist in determining patient eligibility, scope, and priority for the PRC program.
• Respond to PRC inquiries and requests for PRC assistance made to the care team.
• Respond to internal inquiries and requests, including medical, social service, dental, etc., and external sources (private sector health resources).
• Implement decisions made for the provision or denial of services.
• Ensure necessary referrals are entered into the RCIS system.
• Schedule referred appointments for patients.
• Provide education to patients on special instructions for referred visits.
• Follow up on referred visits scheduled to ensure the referring facility receives the visit records.
• Follow up with patients after referred visits to coordinate follow-up primary care visits as necessary.
• Maintain the Nation's commitment to registering for PRC funds for medical and dental services.
• Compile reports of statistical data of referrals generated and closed every month.
• Keep up-to-date pending and completed PRC patient files with a documented status of all written and verbal transactions.
• Work with Hospital professional and para-professional staff, local providers, tribal health committees; serve as a representative at meetings to create and maintain an understanding of the PRC programs and promote consumer and provider satisfaction.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of the Tohono O'odham culture, customs, and traditions.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, tribal laws, regulations, and requirements.
• Knowledge of legal regulations and confidentiality requirements, specifically the Privacy Act of 1974 and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
• Able to define PRC services, including eligible persons, how PRC supports direct care, federally recognized Indian Tribe, reservation, residency, descendancy, tribal affiliation, CHSDA, close social and economic ties, elderly, disabled, alternate resources, and medical priority levels.
• Knowledge of medical codes derived from the Indian Health Service Standard Code Book and the Contract Medical Care System Handbook.
• Able to learn Purchased/Referred Care guidelines and regulations necessary to assure that the prescribed procedures are appropriately applied.
• Broad knowledge of the various TONHC program functions related to the Purchased/Referred Care program.
• Able to communicate with people from varied backgrounds and cultures, including communicating effectively with a wide variety of people, especially interaction with irate patients.
• Ability to work independently, use sound judgment, and meet deadlines.

Minimum Qualifications

• A High School Diploma or General Education Diploma.
• The completion of an approved medical assistant training program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), or any accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.
• A current and active Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) or Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) from The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the American Medical Technologists (AMT).
• The completion of a medical services training program of the Armed Forces of the United States.
• To obtain an Arizona Notary Public Commission certificate within six months of hire.
• Based on the department's needs, the incumbent(s) may be required to demonstrate fluency in both the Tohono O'odham language and English as a condition of employment.