Some union contracts have more pay for certification. sm
Posted By: MT for years and years on 2006-01-07
In Reply to: Becoming certified, anyone know if there is more money involved in being a certified MT versus non - Suzanne
At a facility I worked at for about 11 years, we had that benefit - $1.00 an hour for certification. You would have to find a unionized hospital and see how their contract reads.
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But if no union shop, no union representation
You can have a trade group represented by a union, as your husband is, but if he doesn't work in a union shop (company), the union can't represent him at his place of employment. Look at nurses, for example - there is a union for nurses, but the vast majority of nurses are not union members, because their places of employment are not unionized. So it's irrelevant to the majority of nurses that there is a union to represent them.
Certification
My company pays more for that. And while it's only a penny per line for the credential, over a year that really ads up. With someone with minimum production, it equates to an additional $2500 for the year. They also reimburse for passing the test so no one is out of pocket for the cost of the test once they pass it. That $2500 is if you only type 125 lines per hour. Clearly if you do more, the additional income would be more than that. I've never found that getting and keeping my credits cost me more than that, in fact, it has always been much less.
Coding certification
First I would encourage you that if you are serious about coding, do NOT go to a course that does not allow to test for NATIONAL certification. There are only 2 organizations in the US that do national certification. AAPC (the first) and AHIMA. With AAPC there are numerous companies that offer their course. The cost runs between $1200 and $1600 for a three month course of 8 hour classes plus your proctored exam and membership to AAPC, or you can do the self-study course for the same money (I chose to be in a classroom setting so I could have questions answered on the spot). You can opt to take the course for hospital coding CPC-H (which few hospitals will recognize as official) or the doctor/outpatient based course - CPC, which is widely recognized.
I don't know the cost of AHIMA's testing but it is as intense as AAPC's but it is mostly taken by people who either already have AAPC certification or are already working in a medical coding setting. Both organizations offer apprecentice programs if you are not already in a coding setting until you can clock some coding hours. I think you need references to enter either program as to your character - remember, if you make a mistake the penalty could be monetory and/or a jail term.
Now, can you get a job and is the money worth it. Most hospitals want AHIMA's inpatient certification and 1-2 years OTJ experience, unless they are hiring for their outpatient clinics and/or ER (which they will then accept the AAPC's CPC). Most of these positions pay between $15 and $24/hr plus bennies.
It is very hard to get into the coding industry. It's just like trying to get into MT without any experience, only harder. I would network, join both organizations as a member and go religiously to the monthly meetings to network and learn. Both certifications require a high number of CEU's to be earned each year. It is easier to get into a physician's office setting as a CPC. Most of these jobs pay $9 to $18/hr depending on geography, but again you'd have to be very, very good and have good references from certified mentors to help you get a job with no experience.
Most jobs are obtained by word of mouth. If you are very good, you could skip working in a hospital or doctor's office and become a consultant and/or instructor without any working experience (more $$ for the instructor's certification). It would be like working as an IC. You would have to hustle to get clients and build a reputation. I was lucky and got a job with a hospital in their outpatient clinic side at $19/hr with hospital bennies and had an offer with the people whose course I took to become an instructor and consultant for them even before I got the results from my test score (but I had prior coding experience). My job was basically consulting, doing audits and giving feedback and education to doctors on how to maximize their reimbursement, how to document charts properly and be available for their coding questions. I loved the respect I got from the doctors. It was totally unlike what I get directly from doctors as an MT. They are eager to learn, listen to what is being taught, are interactive, friendly and recognize that you are there to help them succeed.
If your MTSO is also adding a coding department to their company, that would be an easier way to get into coding as it could be done from home with access to electronic medical records. There are a number of tools available to coders that help to electronically code and flag potential errors, hopefully your company would pay for all that because it can be quite expensive.
I tried to portray a clear and realistic picture with discouraging you. It's a lot like going into MT without someone being realistic with you, so the fact that you asked is a good sign.
good luck,
d~
National Certification for MTs
Can someone refer me to a website or something so I can get certified. Finished my course with a college and they don't of course deal with the National Certification. Anyone out there done the certification part. Please help. Thanks
eScription certification?
I work on eScripiton too, but have never heard of any kind of certification, much less advanced. Where would I look to find out about that?
I don't know either, but I will never get my CMT. It is ridiculous to want that certification.
x
We need licensure, not certification, to be an MT sm
If you look at other professions where people are licensed, there is minimum education, minimum skills and sometimes even levels of licensure.
In my opinion, a CMT is worthless. I know many who have passed it studying to pass it, as in studying for the test to pass, but still can't do an OP note or any cardio, 2 things that are on the CMT exam. It is like kids in school learning to pass a standardized test, not what is important or creative.
I know I could pass the CMT if I sat down and took it in 10 minutes and I would pass with no problems. The typing portion of the exam is on things I do each and every day and have for years. My CMT would be the same as a CMT who studied only for the exam!
There has to be something and I think licensing is it.
Why I refuse to renew my CMT certification
This is from http://mtindia.info/news/latest/heartland-information-services-spryance-inc.-merge.html
(see ALL CAPS in second-to-last paragraph)
Heartland Information Services, Spryance, Inc., Merge Written by News Editor
Wednesday, 15 November 2006
Combined Companies Create Premier Outsourced Transcription Provider Heartland Information Services has merged with Spryance, Inc., forming one of the premier offshore transcription providers in the United States. Spryance shareholders will fund the purchase of Heartland Information Services from HCR ManorCare. The new combined company will be marketed under the Heartland Information Services brand.
Headquartered in Boston, Spryance provides transcription service to more than 175 hospitals and clinics across the country, utilizing 1,200 MTs in India. Heartland’s corporate headquarters is located in Toledo, Ohio, with work centers in Bangalore and Delhi, India. By combining companies, the new Heartland will have over 2,500 medical transcriptionists providing service to over 200 hospital and clinical customers.
Dennis Paulik, General Manager of Heartland, will become the President and CEO of the new combined company. Raj Malhotra, CEO of Spryance, will become Chairman of the Board of the combined companies. Joining Mr. Malhotra on the board will be Gene Barduson, Chairman and CEO, Alteer, Inc., Dennis Byerly, former CEO Third Millennium Healthcare Systems, Inc., Mahendra Patel, formerly with DEC, David Beecken, Partner, Beecken Petty O’Keefe & Company, and Thomas Schleisinger, Partner, Beecken Petty O’Keefe & Company.
“Combining the two companies creates synergies that will add value for customers,” says Dennis Paulik, President and CEO of the new Heartland Information Services. “For example, Heartland provides industry-leading quality and customer support and Spryance provides capacity and scalability.”
“The Spryance investors, led by Beecken Petty O’Keefe & Company and International Finance Corporation, provide the financial strength and resources for the new Heartland to grow rapidly,” adds Mr. Malhotra, Heartland Information Services Chairman of the Board.
...
American Association for Medical Transcription, in association with Prometric, announced the Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT) credentialing exam – a newly developed global ‘level-1’ credential in the arena of Medical Transcription. This program is aimed at helping the existing talent pool to scale up and meet the global standards and quality benchmarks. THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS ALSO ANNOUNCED A SPECIAL 'INDIA PRICE' FOR AAMT'S EXISTING CERTIFIED MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST (CMT) EXAM (emphasis mine).
Medical Transcription is a booming industry with exponential growth prospects and opportunities for committed players. While globally the industry potential is around USD 30-33 billion, in India it is around USD 300 million. Currently, there are around 18,000 medical practitioners in the country and this is expected to almost double within the next 2-3 years.
I cut myself off :) Experience should be considered always in lieu of certification. nm
x
At times with Webmedx...no matter what your experience or certification...sm
Have many accounts, QA grades that are over 98....so maybe it depends on your supervisor...I don't know...have only been there since about 11/2007.
contracts
Everyone should keep in mind contracts work both ways. If the company voids the contract in anyway - nonpayment, late pay if stated in the contract a date it is to be - then the entire contract is void. If you have a problem, go through the yellow pages for a free consult with an attorney - but the contract is not just for them it is for you too - so if it states you are to do 1000 lines a day and they do not offer it up, if the wording is proper - they voided the contract not you. If a company says the payday if Friday and you do not recieve it within a standard mail delivery date, they have voided the contract. So yes please everyone review what they sign to see if you can get what you deserve. So many of us just take it, I say get some legal advice - Lawyers hand it out like candy. If we dont - they will continue to bounce checks, pay late, decrease workloads, etc.
contracts
Tried to email you privately but it would not go through. can you send to my email and let me know company name you mean. I would like to know if it is the same one. thank you.
contracts
Anybody have this experience? I was just offered work from a company that sounded wonderful, just what I needed. No set schedule, work anytime, just set number of lines. Then I got the contract which stated basically paid on the 15th and 30th assuming payment received from client. What? I should do the work for their business and then they don't have to pay me until their client pays, if their client pays. I don't think so. The contract obviously precludes the MT from contacting the client so how do I know if the MTSO got paid or not or when they got paid. Just looking for other people's thoughts on this. Am I being paranoid? Have you ever been asked to sign such a contract? I have seen many postings on this board about people not being paid, and I do not want to be in that situation. I do the work for XXX Company. Doesn't XXX company owe me that money either way. I feel it is their responsibility to pay for work done for their company and THEN deal with the client for any nonpayment issues. What do you think? I politely told them I could not sign the contract with that statement included and asked them to reconsider their position, explaining my feelings on the subject.
contracts
Without reading the contracts, I would say that they need to give notice to change it, unless there is a clause in the original contract that they can change it at will. If you see a clause like that don't sign it.
RE: CONTRACTS
Right ... employees, IC or employee status, should have some type of contract with their employer. But who usually writes the contract? How many contracts presented by the MTSO actually allow for input from the MT? For the most part, they are WORTHLESS, often detrimental, to the MT, since they are almost always one-sided favoring you know who.
contracts
Do you then sign a contract you disagree with? I don't understand doing that.
When I'm given a contract, I surely do take my pen and cross out what I do not agree to, add in what I want agreed to, and sign it.
This at the very least opens the door to negotiation of what I see as issues I can't work with. I've turned down contracts where the MTSO wasnt willing to negotiate to meet my terms. And more often than not, the MTSOs have been willing to work with me.
contracts
You can give direction to a contractor. You can tell the plumber you work until noon so he needs to fix your bathtub between 1 and 5. You can tell him you can only have a plumber there on Monday.
Most ICs do not ever bother SUBMITTING a contract to a service, which is just insanity. Instead, they kowtow to the demands of a service (treating them as employees), then kvetch when they aren't treated as ICs.
Education and knowing how to conduct BUSINESS is seemingly lost among way too many MTs.
You need to negotiate better contracts.
.
Depends on Contracts
I do not know whether the contract specifies only that the work be done in US, or that the provider not outsource at all. If so, that could void contracts. But at any rate, they will still need us US employees to do the work.
Beware of contracts that state
you get paid when we do... run, run as fast as you can...! Do not sign it.
MTSO HOSPITAL CONTRACTS
What duration of time is a contract with a hospital, one year? It is now April, meaning 50+ transcriptionists needed a year ago, means 50+ now fighting for work. ??
They don't go up b/c hospitals have contracts with MTSOs, sm
saying this is the rate for 2 yrs or whatever. The company may want to pay you more, but they aren't getting reimbursed a high rate from hospitals or clinics.
I'm an IC and I won't accept contracts that have line
IC. Those of you who agree to working a certain amount of lines are being taken advantage of, and you also make it harder for us true ICs who know that line quotas should not be enforced.
If these companies worry about keeping the client happy, then hire more people. The company I work for does just that. If I can't work for some reason, then someone else picks it up. If they can't work, then I pick up the slack.
Those of you who want steady work put up with the rules and accept IC status because you want to work every day. Well in response to your lazy post, then don't come on here crying when you run out of work because as an IC these companies do not have to promise you any work or provide it all.
So it doesn't work both ways. Most ICs, by definition, should really be employees especially with set schedules and set hours.
As soon I see that I have to work set days or type a certain amount of lines I bypass that crookery of a company. Sorry, that's how it is and I do fine in the salary and job department, and I am a true IC that makes my own rules. I am by no means lazy but I will not tolerate set rules when none should be set unless they want to offer me employee status.
P/S: You all cry when these companies run out of work and when you're an IC, they don't owe you any work; so the joke is on you for not looking out for yourself and instead trying to make excuses for these companies who are getting away with paying ICs and controlling ICs when it's against the law.
FUNNY THING ABOUT MT CONTRACTS - SM
They're about as LOPSIDED as a 3-legged dog/horse/donkey - take your pick. WHO GETS TO WRITE THESE CONTRACTS IN THE FIRST PLACE?? Who has the most to say on what does or doesn't go into it? Certainly not the MT. They're almost all written by THEM - with the help of their attorney or in-house legal department - and I can guarantee you they didn't miss a trick.
Case in point: Ever look at your apartment/house lease, for example - you know the tiny print on the back with about 200 clauses - favoring, guess whom?? IC status might have its merits for the MT - CERTAINLY for the MTSO - no taxes, no SS to pay for you ... no worry about lawsuit for wrongful termination or worry about you applying for Unemployment - but they STILL b---- and moan ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK. 
FUNNY THING ABOUT MT CONTRACTS - SM
They're about as LOPSIDED as a 3-legged dog/horse/donkey - take your pick. WHO GETS TO WRITE THESE CONTRACTS IN THE FIRST PLACE?? Who has the most to say on what does or doesn't go into it? Certainly not the MT. They're almost all written by THEM - with the help of their attorney or in-house legal department - and I can guarantee you they didn't miss a trick.
Case in point: Ever look at your apartment/house lease, for example - you know the tiny print on the back with about 200 clauses - favoring, guess whom?? IC status might have its merits for the MT - CERTAINLY for the MTSO - no taxes, no SS to pay for you ... no worry about lawsuit for wrongful termination or worry about you applying for Unemployment - but they STILL b---- and moan ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK.
Yes, the hospital contracts out to the MTSO who is an IC...sm
and has to hire people to fullfill that contract. They have the option of hiring independent contractors with some sort of line quota in a period of time or hire employees who work a schedule enabling them to meet turnaround times more precisely but having to pay employment taxes and give benefits. A company can have of mix of these employees but there is definitely a difference by law. I myself prefer flexible part-time, but so far those jobs have been hard to find.
Our contracts will expire at the end of 2009
at which point we will have to sign all that HIPAA confidentiality stuff and probably noncompete agreements with Transcend too. While the 2009 MDI contract says they have to pay us a certain line rate for 12 months (and this would be binding on Transcend as well) I bet what we signed says we cannot compete for at least couple of years (and this would be binding on us as it pertains to what would now be Transcend accounts.) Don't have time to hunt up and read my contract right now but I would be very surprised if the noncompete agreement expired at the end of 2009. Way to easy to walk off with accounts that way.
I'm not posting contracts. You're insane!
I don't care if they don't believe me. I'm the one getting paid. What do I care if they don't believe me? I can understand the problem with others getting hired in at higher rates, but truly that is their situation, not mine.
You're real sharp but not I'm not dull enough to bite that! LMAO
Good Point, But Contracts One-Sided
Sorry for duplication, I now see both your posts. You bring up a good point, though sometimes these contracts are one-sided and allow a lot of manipulation of job pool by client. But fact remains that US-only work remains and someone has to do it, preferably those of us already trained. Hopefully one way or another we will remain working for those clients. ???
Sten-Tel contract, anyone with any info on their contracts? more inside
I received their contract and had my attorney look at it and some red flags came up. One of the things that is in it is an indemnity clause stating that I an as an IC hold them harmless for ANY liability even if it's THEIR fault. And there is no guarantee of any certain amount of work or amount of hours in it. Please help and advise if you can. I would like to hear from any previous Sten-Tel workers or present ones. Thanks.
As a service, I do not carry liability insurance...on contracts,
I line out that clause. The liability for MT work is extremely low. I personally have never heard of any MT being brought into court on a transcription. Has anyone else? Therefore, liability insurance is either a) not necessary or b) if purchased, would be really really cheap as the liability is practically nonexistent. None of my clients has ever been offended that I don't carry liability. I simply tell 'em that no body does.
Non-compete clauses in contracts. Has anyone refused to sign this and still got the job? nm
nm
Companies close old and gain new contracts all the time. (SM)
Stop rumoring.
If you have information, share with the Administrator or myself. Otherwise, leave rumoring off the board.
Goldbird
I've got a question about contracts. How legally binding are they?
I was reading the MDI discussion below and a couple of ex-MDI MTs have said that their contracts were changed while they were still employed forcing them to work different days, different schedules, etc. I worked for JLG not too long ago and they basically did the same thing. I signed a contract stating a certain wage and then they basically breached the contract and completely changed my wage.
So what are the deal with contracts anyway?!?!??!?!?! Why do we bother to sign them if the companies aren't honoring their side of it? And shouldn't the MT be able to take legal action against an MTSO that has breached their contract? Shouldn't there be legal ramifications? The MTSOs make sure to put in noncompete clauses in the contracts so we don't steal any of their clients and try to scare us into believing that if we try to steal their clients, they'll sue, but then they completely disregard the fact that they signed the contract and they could be sued for not meeting their end of the deal!
I HAVE HAD IT!!!! These MTSOs are getting away with too much! I have a file folder the size of a freaking PDR with nothing but contracts I've received throughout my career as an MT and I'd bet that if I sit down and go through them, not one of the MTSOs honored them.
When the hospital contracts an MTSO they are abiding by contract
and the hospital CAN ask that the work be done at certain times. That does not make the MTSO an employee now does it?
They CAN contract a person out to do work at certain times with certain turn around times, and that is NOT called an employee. It is called CONTRACTING someone out to do the job they need done when they need it done.
Most contracts said either party can quit or fire at any time. Would be unusual to get locked into
s
we CAN get a union
It takes hard work and yes, they will launch an all-out war against us *malcontents who probably are louse MTs anyway* but it has been done before against greater odds and CAN BE DONE AGAIN. It just takes a few people of like minds and determination.
Union for MTs
MTs may join the National Writers Union. This union could help us if more MTs would join. It is a good deal for ICs because one can get health insurance through it. http://www.nwu.org/
MT Union
MTs may join the National Writers Union http://www.nwu.org/nwu/. I am a member and have spoken to them about MT. They say they would very much like to help us, but very few MTs are members. Membership has another benefit as well. I have picked up various typing/editing jobs unrelated to MT from time to time. They also offer medical benefits.
union
I would support it.
i am in a union..sm
our union ratifies our contract every 3 yrs.
Union
Is there a court reporter's union? I think we might fit better there. One thing is obvious. We would need a central site to air our grievances and organize. I'm not sure if this forum is willing to allow that. This is something we should have been discussing years ago.
What is the name of your union?
I'm sure we would all like to know.
Where's the union?
I feel the same as anyone on the India thing, as I have QA'd their reports for a certain company and it was horrendously bad.
My question though is... everyone keeps complaining, but I have yet to see anyone form a union, to which I and I am sure many many others would join.
Where's the action behind the anger and the talk?
Union
I worked in a hospital where the transcriptionists were unionized, for some reason we were part of the United Steel Workers union (don't aske me what that has to do with healthcare). It included all non-clinical employees of the hospital.
I am in a union...sm
At a local hospital. Our Union ratifies our contract every 3 years. In fact, it renews again this month.
union
JustMe. Because this is an anonymous board, many of us MTs don't know if we are chatting with MTSO sup or managers.
If you can get ONE union rep with a legitimate web page, I think we'd all being willing to go their and sign up with a disposable email address.
At least, that is a start to us coming togeter. We can have state leaders and go from their with one union rep.
I look forward to hearing from you.
I'm in a union...sm
And we have the same problem of losing our positions to outsourcing--maybe not as quickly, but we are the last hospital in my state who have in-house remote employees who work at home. We slipped through last year, but it's a matter of time before they cut us.
Union
If there was a way to do it, I would. I am not a super hard nosed union type, but I know what the teacher's union here in our town has done for our teachers. Not only that, but I am also one of those who are disabled and need to work from home. If a union would protect that option as well as help promote MT as a solid work at home solution to many who can do this type of work from home instead of drawing disability, well, I am all for that.
Anne
RE: Union
I've seen the good and the bad a union can do. If we were to unionize, do you not think that we would be risking putting ourselves out of jobs? Some MTSOs cannot afford to pay 10 cpl. I know that most can, Medquist and the other biggies. But what about the smaller ones that don't have a ton of accounts? Some of us have jobs with them and are quite happy because while we're not making 10 cpl, we do have plenty of work, our boss is not over hiring and we are treated decently. If you start to force the companies to pay more, we're going to be out of work and back to either working in-house or somewhere else out of our field of expertise. I've also seen the unions 'fight' for the worker, meaning .25 cents more a pay period, while at the same time the insurance premiums per paycheck went up just enough to eat that raise, while giving less coverage. And while I may not be talking about unions for MTs, really it does not matter what industry you're talking about, the unions are fighting for themselves. It'd be great to be paid what we deserve. I personally know an MTSO that could pay more but chooses not to. She'd rather hire MTs at a disgraceful rate and give 1/4 cent raises when she remembers. Those MTSOs do need to stop screwing with us. In the same vein though, MTSOs like that don't keep quality MTs. They lose them to companies that are fair, or at least try to be. I really don't see anything changing for us. We're not really considered at all in the grand scheme of things except when the reports are late or wrong. Merry Christmas.
Not a union fan.
You have an interesting viewpoint, Union Now. At first I skimmed your post because I am not interested in a union and I tend to avoid the posts that proclaim that's what we need to do. Then I went and re-read it and my second reaction (first being boredom and amusement at a couple of typos) was could you be any more condescending?
I suppose you would consider me one of the GRATEFUL faction. I am grateful that I have steady income and it's an income that can be as big or as little as I choose to make it. Maybe that makes me naive in your eyes. I lost a very well paying job of 4 1/2 years duration last year with about 2 months' notice. My then-employer was a man who I had known for 30 years. I had watched his kids for him when they were little. This man used the phrase I'm throwing you all under rthe bus when he informed us that he was selling the agency and we may or may not be hired by the new administration. I was at the mercy of a 57-year-old man having a mid-life crisis. Now I make a decent wage that allows me to pay my mortgage and my bills and I have a very nice roof over my head. And I know I can always find a job somewhere doing this kind of work.
My rambling, probably boring point is that I am indeed grateful to have employment and to have a steady income. Is Voice Recognition the way of the future? Very probably. Is it going to put us out of work? I don't think so. Not unless they make those programs a whole lot better and not unless they magically make doctors and PAs slow down and enunciate. We all know THAT ain't gonna happen.
Why does it seem that so many people are entrenched in only one way of doing things? Why does it seem that the refrain that I hear a lot is but this is the way we've always done it? Just because that's the way something has always been done doesn't mean that it's the best way or the only way.
Personally, I think we sell ourselves short if we stay entrenched in the past and refuse to learn new technology and new technique. We only end up hurting ourselves that way. I don't think a union will do anything except force even more off shoring even faster. You think hospitals are going to go union and pay higher union wages and benefits when they have options in India and the Phillipines? Why do you think so much other American manufacturing and industry has gone overseas? Unions, my friend. Unions. They served their part in the past. They served a very good part in the past. I firmly believe their time has come and gone, though. The fact that information can be sent around the world in nanoseconds completely changes the game.
All a union would accomplish (in my admittedly limited viewpoint) is to ensure that bad MT's stay employed and good MT's don't get as far as they could on their own. In my mind unions tend to pander to the lowest common denominator. If you're good at what you do, I don't think you'll have any problems.
So yes, for those of you who have gotten this far and whose eyes haven't crossed yet, I am grateful to have a job. I actually have 2 jobs and I'm grateful for them both. I know I can pay my mortgage and keep the lights on and buy cat food. That last part is important - the little varmints outnumber me. I don't plan on rocking any of my financial boats in the near future with the global economy tanking like it is. If we knock over our boat, there are 100 other people here in the US and abroad who are happy to take over from us.
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