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Success Guide for VHA Pas The Essentials

Success Guide for VHA Pas The Essentials. Denni J. Woodmansee, PA-C PA Advisor to the Under Secretary Department of Veteran Affairs. VAPAA CME Conference San Antonio, Texas. Appointment Authority. Title 38 7401 and 7405 Title 5 Title 38 Hybrid. Essential VA Directives.

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Success Guide for VHA Pas The Essentials

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  1. Success Guide for VHA PasThe Essentials Denni J. Woodmansee, PA-C PA Advisor to the Under Secretary Department of Veteran Affairs VAPAA CME Conference San Antonio, Texas

  2. Appointment Authority • Title 38 • 7401 and 7405 • Title 5 • Title 38 Hybrid

  3. Essential VA Directives • http://vaww1.va.gov/ohrm/HRLibrary/Dir-Policy.htm

  4. PA Appointment • VA Handbook 5005, Staffing • Part II, Chapter 3

  5. PA Qualification Standards • HB 5005, Chapter 2, Appendix G8 • Minimum Employment Qualifications • Education • Professional Credentials • Grade Qualifications

  6. PA Qualification StandardsProfessional Credentials • NCCPA Certification- Current and Continuous • Exemptions • “Grandfather” Clause • New Graduates 2 Year Exemption (Chapter 2, Section G.) • State Licensure • Must be current, active, full, and Unrestricted* • Not required for employment or clinical practice • Required for controlled substance prescribing • Grade Qualifications

  7. PA Qualification StandardsGrade Qualifications • Associate Grade (VN-8) to Senior Grade (VN-12) • Grade based on individual qualifications • Experience includes all PA professional • Two year time in grade requirement (except Associate Grade • Senior Grade – Full Performance Level

  8. PA Qualification StandardsGrade Qualifications- Chief Grade • Above Full Performance Level • Grade based on position of assignment • Position must include significant admin/management responsibilities • Retention of Chief Grade

  9. PA Professional Standards Boards • Section C. • 3-5 PAs • Nominated by Chief of Staff • Appointed by Facility Director • HR Acts as Technical Consultant

  10. PA PSB Functions • Reviews and Acts on PA Appointment Requests • Recommends Grade of Appointment based on Qualification Standards • Reviews and makes recommendations on requests for promotion • Reviews and makes recommendations on requests for Special Advancements

  11. Promotions • Concurrence from Service Chief • Memo of Justification • PSB Board Action Request • HR as Technical Consultant • PA PSB review and recommendations • Director Approval • Promotion – 2 step increase equivalent

  12. Within Grade Advances (step increases) • VA Handbook 5007, Pay Administration, Part III, Chapter 5 • Periodic Step Increase • Waiting Period • 1 year for Associate Grade • 2 years for all other grades • “Clock” reset with grade promotion • Implementation “automatic” unless unsatisfactory performance appraisal

  13. Special Advances • VA Handbook 5017, Employee Recognition & Awards, Part V • Special Advancement for Performance (1 step) • Special Advancement for Achievement (1-5 steps) • Special Advancements do not reset waiting period for Periodic Step Increases

  14. Special AdvancesSpecial Advancement for Performance • 1 Step increase • Criteria • Demonstration of a sustained high level of performance and ability over and above that normally expected of employees in the particular grade and profession or there must have been noted contributions in some aspect of health care. • (1) Assumption of a major responsibility in administering a major patient care program. • (2) Significant accomplishments associated with an academic program conducted in affiliation with the facility where the physician assistant is employed.

  15. Special AdvancesSpecial Advancement for Achievement • 1-5 Step Increase • Criteria • (1) A graduate level degree in a field related to the Department’s health care mission; • (2) Appointment to a university faculty position; • (3) Significant contributions to the Department’s health care mission. Such accomplishments may result from leadership or exceptional efforts on facility, regional or national task forces or committees, or by serving as a consultant on matters relating to education research, health care management, or quality of care issues;

  16. Special AdvancesSpecial Advancement for Achievement • Criteria cont.; • (4) Recognition of outstanding and exceptional achievement by a professional or academic organization; • (5) Election to office in a professional organization at the State or national level; • (6) Independently producing or serving as a principal assistant or major contributing member on research producing publishable results that advance patient care or medical science; or • (7) Attainment of specialty certification within the occupation. This does not include certification as a physician assistant by the National Commission on Certification of Physician’s Assistants, which is a condition of employment as a physician assistant in VHA.

  17. Special Contribution Awards • VA Handbook 5017, Part III • Submission using VA Form 4659 • Can be given for superior performance or special contribution to VA mission • Cash awards – up to $3,000 at facility level • Quality Step Increases – For GS employees only – see Special Advancements for PAs

  18. PA Pay • VA Handbook 5007, Pay Administration • Nursing Schedule for Pas & EFDAs • VN Pay Grades • Locality Pay • Special Pay Rates

  19. Overtime/Premium Pay • VA Handbook 5007, Pay Administration, Part V • Overtime Pay • Premium Pay • On Call Pay • Call Back Pay

  20. Overtime/Premium PayOvertime Pay • Any work over 8 hrs./day or 40 hrs./work week • Compressed schedules – excess of 80 hrs/pay period • Overtime pay rate = 1.5 X computed hourly rate • Hourly rate = annual salary divided by 2080 hrs. • OT must be pre-approved

  21. Overtime/Premium PayOvertime Pay Cont. • Compensation Time in lieu of OT only at written request of employee • Overtime pay rate cap does not apply to Pas • FLSA Exempt vs. Non-Exempt • PAs are Non-Exempt • VA Directive supersedes FSLA standards for PA occupation

  22. Overtime/Premium PayOn Call Pay • Applies when officially assigned call • Applies from time arrival at home until end of call assignment or arrival at facility if called in • On Call pay = 10% of calculated hourly rate

  23. Overtime/Premium PayOn Call Overtime • 1.5 X hourly rate applies when called in to facility • Minimum 2 hours OT regardless of actual time spent • OT rate applies from time of departure from home to time of arrival at home • On Call pay rate resumes from time of arrival at home.

  24. Overtime/Premium PayPremium Pay • Premium pay on same basis as Registered Nurses • Nights • Weekends • Holidays

  25. Special Pay Rates • At the Facility Director’s Discretion • Based on difficulty in recruitment and retention • HRMS conducts Salary Survey • Salary Survey of local health care institutions • VACO Approval • Special Pay Rates in lieu of Locality Pay • Conversion to Locality Pay

  26. PA Incentives • VA Handbook 5007, Pay Administration, Part IV • Recruitment Incentive • Retention Incentive • Special Pay Rates

  27. PA IncentivesRecruitment Incentive • Must be included in initial posting • Service Obligation Agreement • Repayment for early termination of agreement

  28. PA IncentivesRetention Incentive • Minimum 1 year service required • Up to 25% of base pay • Service Agreement Obligation may be required • No outstanding Service Agreements (Recruitment) • Review Annually

  29. PA IncentivesRetention Incentive • Criteria • (1) Receipt by an employee, or for group authorizations, a significant number of employees, of one or more bona fide offers of employment, as evidenced by a formal written job offer or affidavit signed by the employee or employees providing the position and salary being offered, the name and location of the organization, and the prospective date of employment; or • (2) Evidence of high demand in the private sector for the knowledge and skills possessed by the employee or group of employees and significant pay disparities between Federal and non-Federal salaries; or • (3) A discussion with the employee of the employee’s career plans.

  30. Leave • Annual Leave • 8 hrs./pay period • Maximum Accrual Carry over – 685 hours • Lump some payment for unused AL upon separation • Sick Leave • 4 hrs./pay period • Unlimited accrual • Changes in use of sick leave balance upon separation?

  31. PA Utilization Directive • VHA Directive 2009-029 • Authority for VHA Practice • Prescribing Authority • Supervision Requirements • Co-signature Requirements • Scope of Practice Guidelines

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