I agree. As medical insurance biller/coder/transcriptionist
Posted By: Jackofalltrades on 2009-08-15
In Reply to: I used to think the same way - until I did insurance billing for a couple years
I agree with the other poster. You're better off going with a group plan than on your own. Largely, because you pay the same premiums across the board as everyone else on your plan. When your on your own individual plan, I was scared to use my or have a new diagnosis because come renewal time, your premiums are adapt to go up staggering and there is nothing to can do about it, other than drop them and then you are in a worst situation. Yes, group insurance premiums usually go up every year but it's nothing like what will happen to if your on your own. Also, you do get a contracted adjustment based on your insurance's contracted allowable rate. Say your visit is $100 and the contracted rate/allowable through the insurance is $75, that means the doctor has to write off that $25 according to their contract.
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EMR Medical Transcriptionist?
Ok, just as we thought our jobs were being replaced with EMR, VR, offshore, etc, I found this on Craigs list with the headline Medical Transcriptionist -
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
1. Transcribe medical dictation into CareTracker Electronic Medical Record Template.
2. Data entry of patient medication & allergy history into EMR.
3. Review of patient history from chart and enter into EMR.
4. Capture charges from dictation and enter into CareTracker.
5. Work with EMR implementation team with suggestions or changes.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Compile electronic health record from paper charts.
2. Transcribe medical dictation into electronic health record template.
3. Manual entry of patient’s medication and allergies from the paper chart into the electronic health record.
4. Get physician approval of medications entered.
5. Follow up with doctor with incomplete dictation.
6. Cross training of new staff assigned.
7. Performing other duties as assigned.
This certainly doesn't sound like EMR is all it is cracked up to be if this is what it takes to get the record on the chart.
It is Certified Medical Transcriptionist sm
as described by AAMT (American Association for Medical Transcription). You receive this by taking a test with AAMT. In the late 70s or early 80s when AAMT first came about, if you had 2-3 years experience (I can't remember which) you could become a CMT by grandfathering in and not taking a test. I knew folks who grandfathered in who had only done radiology and could not do acute care at all. I didn't think that was fair at all. I am not sure how they do it now, but I think they may have a certification for different types of transcription i.e., radiology versus acute care. I remember I was 6 months short of the experience to grandfather in and I paid to take the test.
You must have so many continuing education credits in a prescribed period of time to keep your certification or you will have to take the test over. There are lots of ways that you can get CECs, sometimes by reading certain articles that qualify etc.
I kept mine for about 12 years but they kept going up on the price so much every year I finally just let it go. There are some places that pay a little more for CMT status, but not many. It really and truly is not worth the money you pay out. I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but don't waste your money.
Certified Medical Transcriptionist.
nm
FT Medical Records Transcriptionist
Who does she work for?
Traveling medical transcriptionist
What companies hire for traveling medical transciptionist? I am interested in a position like this. If any information, please advise.
I am a recovering biller.
I have also done the file clerk/medical records thing.
The filing job is fairly mindless and stupefyingly boring. Do NOT try it without an I-pod or some such device. It will save what little sanity you may have left.
Billing is a different story. The money was great--but it cost me far too much. Here's how it works, as briefly as I can describe it.
You call up the patient's insurance company to find out whether the provider you work for is allowed to see this patient in the first place (i.e. are you in or out of network) and does the patient's policy require you to get authorization to see the patient, and perform any necessary tests.
So, having gotten all your authorization ducks in a row (or so you think), you see the patient, post the charge(s) and send in a claim, and you get paid. Right? Wrooonnnnng!!!
First, if it's a new patient to your practice, the insurance company will demand medical records practically back to the patient's birth, trying to find that all-important pre-existing condition, so they can deny payment on those grounds. You of course HAVE no medical records because it's a new patient.
If you get past that hurdle, then they'll try and claim you needed authorization and you didn't get it. Well, yes you did--but it takes more time and more phone calls and faxes back and forth to prove you did have auth.
Now they've somehow lost the original claim at their end, would you please resubmit it.
This person is not one of their insured members. Oh, yes they are. More phone calls and faxes, plus trips to the insurance company website to verify and print out eligibility information on the patient so you can prove it.
The proper form was not attached; this requires a HCFA 1500. Attached to their 'the proper from was not attached' form letter is... you guessed it... the very HCFA 1500 claim form they are claiming was not attached.
The head-shaped dent in your wall gets bigger.
Meanwhile, your doctor want to see the patient again, so you call again and go through the authorization hokey-pokey all over again, because even though you didn't need authorization last week, they change the rules every time they take a breath, so you might just need auth this week.
Then they want justification for the CT scan you just ordered. (Ummm... how about to see whether the cancer treatment is actually working before we dump more poison into the patient's veins??)
So then the medical director at the insurance company gets hold of the file, and mind you, he's an 89-year-old retired pediatrician who hasn't actually had his hands on a real patient since 1969 and wouldn't know a standard-of-care treatment regimen if it bit him in the ankle... so then you have to go to the online medical library to download all and print out all the various studies that show this treatment is indeed standard-of-care, not to mention the press release from the FDA showing that this particular treatment regimen is approved for the indication you're giving it for....
And that's all before lunch.
No, I am not exaggerating. All of those things--and more--happened to me on a quite regular basis.
Yes, I took a massive pay cut when I came home to transcribe full time, but oddly enough I have never been tempted to go back....
Do you mean to say you have medical insurance etc??
Thanks for any information.
Medical Insurance
I was wondering if anyone can recommend a company that has medical insurance for its employees. The company I work for now has just screwed us on the medical insurance and I am looking elsewhere. Thanks. NM
Medical Insurance
I just want to remind everyone that the insurance coverage with a a company is very important, especially when single. Do ask about the deductible. Due to medical crisis, I faced 10 grand in medical bills which only added more stress to a very stressful situation. And, that basically takes 10 thousand off my yearly income.
Good insurance coverage means so much, especially when there is not a secondary ins. in place.
Just wanted to share this. :)
I don't take the medical insurance either BUT
Their other benefits are phenomenal. They provide LTD, STD, flexible spending account, 401K with match and they pay your vision insurance for the family. They have an awesome PTO rate and you get paid for downtime IF you run out of work, which doesn't happen very often. I can't remember the last time I was out of work.
Are you a coder or an MT?
how do you juggle 3 jobs?
Coder
My sister took an accelerated coding class last spring and hasn't found work yet. In all the ads she sees for coders, they ask for experience. I'm not saying this is the case overall, but this is what she is finding. My daughter decided to go to nursing school--wish I had the ambition to do that. Seems like that is where the jobs will be. Good luck, whatever you decide to do.
I am also a coder.....
I am a coder at a large facility here in the midwest. In a hospital billing and coding are 2 separate and distinct functions done in two different departments. I have heard rumors of some ILPs looking into doing some coding but as of yet have not heard of any facility actually using a offshore coding service, and I do not foresee that happening. I may be naive, but I am not one bit worried about my coding job. If you wish, you can email me with your questions.
Is the NWU offering medical insurance again?
I had great insurance at a great rate through them years and years ago, then they dropped it because the cost was prohibitive. If they are offering it again, I applaud them. They are a good union and very unconfrontational, well spoken (guess that's a mute point, eh?) but still don't have the big bucks it would take to promote the MT industry on the level that is needed. Almost every American MT would need to join and NWU would need to find a lobbying group to help.
d~
Employee Medical Insurance
Are there any national companies that pay the full premium for employee medical coverage or is this only offered if you work outside the home? Thanks.
That is so NOT the purpose of medical insurance. nm
x
How are the medical insurance rates?
Did they go up too? They were interested in me a couple of months ago, but I did not call them because I had already picked someone else. I know they are great, but did their insurance rate for employee and children, or family go up like everyone else? I am considering contacting them again. Although I don't want to change jobs at all, if their rates are good I won't have to spend most of my paycheck on medical. Please someone let us know here. It is an important issue!
Zylomed Medical Insurance
Can anyone who works for Zylomed who has employee status give me some info on how their medical insurance benefits are? Thanks!
So if you have a medical claim, the insurance - sm
doesn't pay anything until you've forked out the first $2,000? That's appalling!
They don't pay for vision unless you have medical insurance.
When I first started they paid for vision, but unless you get medical coverage it is no longer free, unless it changed with the enrollment that is going on now.
Medical insurance isn't about feelings. It's business. nm
s
Keystrokes is hiring. Can anyone tell me how much for their medical insurance benefits etc...
I am looking for a FT job with good medical benefits for either myself or family coverage. They are seeking ortho MTs and that is right up my alley. Thanks in advance for any help.
How is Transcend/MDI's medical insurance plan for employees?
Thanks
MDI-FL. thinking of applying. Is medical insurance still high? That is what has stopped me before
I cant remember what the cost was but it seemed to be be high for single and family coverage. Anyone know?
Thanks for your honest reply. Unfortunately, I have also worked in the medical insurance billing
side of it and I see how our prices go up and how the insurance companies pay the doctors less and less, yet these insurance carriers gouge people with their ridiculuous preminums. I understand insurance companies having to raise rates due to skyrocketing health care costs but the kicker is the insurance companies are only allowing a fraction of the billed charges anyway. If they were actually paying out all these claims at full, I could understand the rise in preminums. Well good luck to you and do not think about it, pooping blood does not sound healthy at all and would call for a colonscopy and then a huge bill and then another rise in your preminum.  Vicious cycle I tell ya.
Isnt their family medical insurance kind of high. I think that is
why I passed on them previously and they only wanted to pay 7.5 cpl for 12 years of experience.
Survey - What type of medical insurance does your company offer?
Just curious about which company you work for and what type of medical insurance they offer. HMO, PPO? Cheap or expensive for you?
Is there anyone else struggling to get the lines needed at Transcend for medical insurance? sm
Or is it just me??  TIA
MDI-FL. Last time I checked their medical insurance for families was expensive. Has that changed or
is it supposed to. I know at one point a recruiter told me they were working on making it more affordable but I never heard anything more. That is a big factor for me. I need affordable insurance for my family. Thanks for any input.
Heard Keystrokes was getting better benefits, medical insurance etc.. Anyone care to elaborate? I
ready for a change. 
Transolutions? Anyone know how good their medical insurance benefits are, costs, etc..specifically
family coverage. They say you only have to work 32 hours to be eligible so I'm curious what their benefits are like. Thanks
Medware- Ballpark figure for cost of their family medical insurance. NM
nm
I agree. Its a necessary evil. They exploit people who need insurance.
I work three jobs.. two in transcription and one doing insurance billing for a private physician. It is crazy how much the cost of medicine is and how bad insurance companies are gouging people.
agree, i didn't take the position because the health insurance stinks
the deductibles are too high
I totally agree re medical report format.
x
I have to agree with OP. I have several relatives/friends in the medical field...sm
doctors as well as nurses...my mother is a nurse...and they all rotate weekends.
I agree why can't we rotate weekends like everyone else. I have been working Sunday through Thursday for years and frankly I'm a little tired of it but this is what I'm asked to work so I do.
JMO...
And I have asked to rotate weekends but the supes just won't agree to it...I'm starting to think it's too much of a scheduling nightmare for them to try and remember who works when and that it's just easier this way.
Do you want to be a transcriptionist or
or do you want to be a voice recognition editor? Because they are moving to get as many accounts on VR as they can and when they do they'll pay you about half of whatever line rate they promise you to do the VR. Make sure you ask because nobody ever told me this was the plan when they hired me.
Are you a transcriptionist or do you
Just curious. I QA for them and have no work either.
If you are already a transcriptionist
I'm not sure I understand your post. If you are already a transcriptionist, then why don't you just start applying to online companies on the job seeker's board. If you work full-time then you should make at least 25,000.00 per year as long as you are dedicated and can work independently. Why not ask the psych doctor if you can do his/her work from home as a side job. If I were you, I'd skip the training and start applying now for an online job. What have you got to lose?
Just saw an ad for a transcriptionist to (sm)
to go in and type for the doctor as he was in the room with the patient, doing the standardized, pretext formats.
A transcriptionist should at the very least
know the difference between your and you're.
EMR Transcriptionist
Those are some of the duties that I'll be responsible for starting next month when we turn everything over to EMR.
There, no there is a smart transcriptionist
Keep running away from SS.
just stay as transcriptionist
don't go into editing as the pay structure for that is a rip off mostly
Unionized Transcriptionist?
Is this just so overwhelming to think about. Plummers, carpenters, auto workers, healthcare workers, nurses, teachers, etc. have managed to unionize and demand fair pay and treatment. Am I the only person who has ever had this thought? Why do so many MTs resign themselves to less than fair wages and benefits for a skill that is in such high demand? Tell me what you think. Just curious. 
Transcriptionist friends
To NM: The server wouldn't let me email you. I would love to have a fellow transcription friend!
Any KS transcriptionist know about holiday pay.
I have to work Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years 
I was under the impression that the transcriptionist, as well
as the MTSO were not held liable, that it was whoever signed the final product (in theory, they proof it before they sign it). It is the physician's dictation, how can the MTSO or MT be held responsible if they transcribe incorrectly dictated test results, physical exam findings or anything else re: the patient?
DO NOT BELIEVE "BEWARE" - she obviously was a disgruntled transcriptionist - sm
I have been transcribing for four years for them. Have a large account, and only a couple of times in four years have I had a very slow period (maybe lasting a week or so) where the work was low - but as anyone would know, hospital admissions usually go down in the summertime, docs go on vacations, etc.
They do have a couple of accounts that the HOSPITAL is absolutely picky about, i.e. they want the commas and the periods and the hyphens where they belong and they want the report spelled CORRECTLY. But a hospital has EVERY RIGHT to expect that from a transcription vendor. Maybe "beware" was on one of these accounts and just doesn't know how to transcribe!!
Every single transcriptionist should QUIT.
Right now -- before they have the chance to use your talent and blood and sweat to perfect the VR that they will then send offshore. You can bet they will quit YOU once their foot is firmly in India.
I hope every single transcriptionist
who is laid off files FOR UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION. If there was ever a time UC is warranted, it is for situations like this. I believe the employer is responsible for paying this in most, if not all, states. I also believe your benefit is based on your income over a certain number of quarters, so the more you earn, the higher your benefit.
Publicizing what this so-called *employer* is doing might help bring the matter to the public's attention, especially when politicians brag about how wonderful the American economy is. 
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