CMT (Indian MTs have discount)
Posted By: cinde on 2007-05-25
In Reply to: Mandatory credentialing - Janie
Sadly, I am slowly moving from lower middle class to poverty level since pay cuts as a full-time MT.
After numerous requests for some kind of help toward paying for the certification, I am told by AHDI (AAMT) discounts are not even being considered in the near future.
With the future so bleak for the future of MT, I am not sure why I should put out all that money. I am bringing home less than $300/week after taxes and health care...? How do I justify the $287 or so cost, when I have my utilities threatened to be shut off every other month for simply just not having the money...
For me, I do not have a partner who supports me. Am I the only one in this boat?
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I must comment: You do know Indian MTs get a huge discount on the cost, right? Do
you think that is going to come up and bite us some day. The association seems intent on making this a standard, that everyone should have the certification, and they are certifying foreign MTs way more than American...
What are they up to with that?
Discount
Yeah, it is a discount plan, which means no pre-existing conditions, no claim forms. I didn't sign up for the medical part of it, which is available here in Tennessee. I just signed up to get the dental benefits. I needed a lot of work done on my teeth (3 crowns, 1 filling, a bridge, and a root canal) and it has saved me a ton of money using AmeriPlan.
I mainly just wanted to make people aware, especially Transcriptionist like myself, that if you don't have insurance, this could be an option. Or if you do have insurance, you could still use it and save even more money.
Discount
If you go to the link I posted it says in big letters that it is not insurance, that it is a discount program. I'm not trying to fool anyone. I signed up for it myself through my father-in-law. It may not be available in all states. You can go to www.ameriplanusa.com or www.ameriplanhealth.com to find a provider near you. I live in Tennesse and have a regular dentist that accepts it and my husband and son go to an eye doctor that accepts it.
Discount
You don't have to give me your email address.
Here's the website, go check it out for yourself. I am a member myself, but somebody has got to sell it, right? It really is a good benefit.
www.everyonebenefits.com/BradfordInc
Thanks.
Discount -from below
I charge a decent price, I make VERY good money, have had my accounts for 5 to 18+ years, have never had a bounced check, am always paid within 48 hours of receipt of invoice,they NEVER question my line counts so if it costs me 1% per month - to me it is worth it. They also give me free medical care, medication samples which more than makes up for the small discount that I give. So though many of you disagree - it works for me. I can pay my bills on time because I can COUNT on the checks to pay them. No hassle at all. I get it back in different ways. One antibotic prescription per year makes up for it.
I wouldn't discount sm
on-line dating but there are so many weirdos out there these days that I would be EXTREMELY careful and follow all the precautions that have ever been written on the subject. In addition to meeting in a public place, hopefully with someone with you, I would be extremely careful that I wasn't being followed when I left the date. From what I've read many, if not most, of the mass murderers came across as being very nice guys but then you really don't know anyone when you first meet them no matter where you meet them. I recall at least one of the infamous mass murderers was well-educated, well-liked and apparently well-respected in his community. I don't think I would ever go for the internet dating myself but apparently there are quite a few people who have been successful in finding their mate that way; I just don't happen to know any personally. I don't think probably it would be any worse than any other way of meeting people, you'd have probably a 50/50 chance of meeting someone you would want to spend your life with and a 50/50 chance is about the best we're gonna get in this life no matter what we're gambling on; we only have a 50/50 chance of making it through this day.
They probably got a discount since they are outdated.
go with a discount plan, sm
you can use YOUR dentist, not just anyone on a list - ask at your dentist's office what discount plans they accept and look them up on the web. just like insurance, they all cover differently. Similar, tho.
the main reason I went this way is because there is no hot-shot company of office workers on the other side of the country playing doctor and denying claims. They are doing that more often in these days. I was shocked when it happened to me with a cracked tooth - then EVERYONE told me they went through the same thing with their companies.
you don't need any suprises like that - to the tune of thousands of dollars.
Don't discount ops. That's how I make my big production. SM
There are SO many phrases you can shortcut. They're all the same! I insist on working where I only type ops.
So do you think gas stations should discount gas for us pumping our own gas?
I'd rather scan and bag items I am purchasing, folding them the way I want to and separating them then pump gas out in the cold with the smell of gasoline on my hands.
Not to discount your fear right now, but didn't her doc
advise her that the risks involved with surgery would include perforation of organs, and other complications, including death. Medicine is unfortunately an inexact science, and doctors are, after all, only human. May not be a clear cut case of malpractice, may "merely" be an unfortunate complication.
I've seen many people rush into a lawsuit, only to have their lives and money consumed by them, to find out they don't understand legal concept of malpractice and even if malpractice, if the insurance company has a better lawyer, you can lose anyway.
For now, I would focus my energy on praying rather than suing...
Students get a hefty discount
If you're in continuing education, could you still call yourself a student? I don't know, but when I bought it, I just had to tell them I was a student and I got a discount.
Discount - sorry long message
I do offer my docs a 1% discount if they pay within 3 days and especially if their account does go over $1000 I get my check the next day. One of my newest accounts did not apply their discount to their second bill and I was told "You work hard, the work is returned on time, good quality, Dr. C______ is not the easiest person to work for and I did not take off your discount because you deserve every penny of your invoice." He is a dermatologist, has lots of Op notes, good gross line count and he is really not that hard to do, lots of shortcuts but he does have an irritating habit of clearing his throat about every 5th line but you get used to it. But again I have been luck, all accounts pay within 3 days at the longest, never a bounced check and never a question on my line counts. But along my 15 to 18 years of doing this, I have had my share of poor ones but for the past 7-8 years I cannot complain. I have older docs who will probably retire in the next 10 years but then so will I. They are stand alone, 1-2 in a practice and so don't know if they will ever go EMR or even digital but will continue as I have. The accounts are out there you just have to look and perhaps go through several before you find one that appreciates you.
I do give a discount - some ideas
I do give a discount and my accounts pay usually the next day and in one account the doctor actually writes the check to me. I would call back and talk again with her explaining that you are a small business and need to have a check by a certain time in order to pay your mortgage, etc. Ask if you submit them the invoice by the 25th to 27th if you can count on a check by the 1st or if you submit on the 1st you can have a check by the 5th. So if you need your check by the 1st, I would give them the invoice by the 25th to 27th depending on what day of the week it is and put a note on it stating "per our conversation payment is due to me no later than the 30th." or whatever date you agree upon. I have found that offices do not like bi-monthly billings and like to pay only once a month. I have 4 accounts for invoicing and payment by the 1st and 2 for the 15th and payment by the 18th so I have cash flow throughout the month. But try talking to them as people and see if it works.
Your personal creditors may not discount amounts due, but
commercial entities often do. In doing the books for numerous local businesses, I was required to pay ASAP to take advantage of discounts. For example, "terms 2/10 net 30" means you get a 2% discount if you pay within 10 days, otherwise, it's the full (net) amount due within 30 days to avoid a late charge.
I agree with you. Why would we give a discount for being paid what
we're legitimately owed? Some businesses do it to encourage prompt payment, though.
U.S. offers them medical school at a discount
if they remain in the country and practice in out of the way places for a period of time before returning to their country or to a higher wage earning position within the medical establishment.
J &R Electronics discount 83.00 with free shipping. sm
Not a bad deal. just wondering about quality with just voice and not music.
I have a 100% discount for you. Don't take the test! It's worthless as is the association be
Check with college, sometimes you can get a student discount for a laptop....nm
xx
Do you give a discount for standard procedure notes? SM
I have an account who asked me to provide them with a form that could use for standard outpatient procedure notes. I personally feel that there are too many variations for them to use one paper form and offered for me to do it for them at a discount since almost the entire thing would be a standard that I don't have to type in its entirety. This account is a great account and I figured it isn't a big deal say to chage 25 cents instead of a $1 (example) for the form since I only have to type a couple letters to pull up the form and insert any changes.
I really don't know the easiest way to keep track of this discount or what amount to discount. Any ideas? I'd rather see me getting a small amount for doing the form then to get nothing for them using a paper form. Plus, the account is newer to me and I thought it might look like a plus for me to offer them a discount and to make their life easier by not having to dictate the entire note.
Thoughts...ideas??? TIA
I would not offer a discount. You have to create and then edit each report--sm
to make it patient-specific and that will take time. It will also be hard to keep separate which reports were edited and which one was not.
Once you start lowering your cost, this will not be the only thing they will want a discount for. I do not think it will be a plus for you and in the end you could be doing yourself a disservice in the future when you need to raise your rate.
I got a discount by joining a study group...I think they still offer that. nm
;)
that doesn't sound like insurance, sounds like a discount plan:
x
Indian?
What does him being indian have to do with anything?
Indian MT
I don't believe you for 1 second. Indian work is NOT SUPERIOR to what is done here. A few of them are doctors, but most are not. They get the medical terminology, but their American English is horrific. Very few of the Indians who do MT trained over here or in Europe. They completed medical school here in India, which is a very abbreviated compared to US or Europe training.
The Indians are enticing American companies to invest and train MTs over there, working at next to nothing, so that when they have captured a significant percentage of the market, they will jack up their rates and the hospitals and clinics here will have to pay because they have driven out all the US MTs by not paying us living wages or giving us decent paid time off, benefits, etc.
People like you are cutting your own throats in the long run.
I am an excellent MT, QA 100% for 15 years, never miss work unless there is a death in the family. My income has gone down steadily over the past 3 years because of the greed of MTSOs. I am leaving this job shortly. I look forward to the day when you bleed to death from the Indian MTSO who will put you out of business.
Indian pay
I am not privy to a lot of info about this, but I can tell you my experience. When I lost my contracted work to a couple of small hospitals that went with India, the administrator told me they went with India because they were doing away with lines. India took 6 of my last invoices and averaged the pay and gave the hospital 2/3rds off!! Mind you, I was only charging them 11.5 cents per line!! She then told me that the offshore company would pay their Indian transcriptionists $2.00 an hour.
Indian......
I am an Indian MT working from home and I read your post. Indian MTs are not bad, they are best. The only thing you need to do is get to a real good one rather than just these newbies who just want to make some quick money and do not have enough experience. Get in touch with some experienced one and you will them superior when compared to other MTs. I myself have been working for 8 years now and i know what it takes to be an MT to prdduce a good accuracy consistently.
Indian......
I am an Indian MT working from home and I read your post. Indian MTs are not bad, they are best. The only thing you need to do is get to a real good one rather than just these newbies who just want to make some quick money and do not have enough experience. Get in touch with some experienced one and you will find them superior when compared to other MTs. I myself have been working for 8 years now and i know what it takes to be an MT to produce a good accuracy consistently.
Indian MTs
From what I have heard, you are on the money and it is so ironic because as American MTs we are not allowed to make any mistakes at all. We have to have this impeccable quality of 98% and above to stay employed. We have to abide by these high standards painstakingly so patient care is not compromised by an inaccurate medical record. Is this a double standard (no pun intended)? Are they not lowering the bar when an MT is paid considerably less money and their profits are thus enhanced in the process?
This is a no brainer and we all know it is about the almighty dollar and not just about patient care.
Indian.
Indian English is not the same as American or British English. Somebody please tell that to the Indians!
Are you Indian?................nm
nm
You are Indian
You Are Indian
I'm hardly Indian...
...and hardly a troll...I'm pure born-and-bred Texan through and through.
As I said, take my advice or leave it. In the meantime, keep putting money into the pockets of all those money-grubbing MTSOs. I sure won't contribute to them...nor do I have to do so.
You SHOULD be able to tell by my writing style that I am certainly not Indian or foreign in any way, shape or form.
Indian workers
I was obvious they were Indian workers from Indian..Every one of them that I talked to had an Indian accent..I have nothing wrong with American workers with accents..but I called at least eight people to get my internet account straightened out and all had Indian accents..Come on now, I cannot believe eight people are of Indian descent all working at the billing department of my internet account..If you are American of first descent and working IN America, more power to you..if the account is sent overseas, I have a major problem with that..and if you dont have a problem with that, contact me in a few years when our jobs are overseas.
I never said I hire Indian MTs
...but I can't wait to see you bleed to death by your own hand, either.
Thanks for driving us away from American MTs though.
I fought against offshore heavily. What did you do?
Bitter, bitter, incompetent MTs.
Is that still Indian owned by Jay?
NM
Oriental and Indian
x
Indian and Pakistani, although (sm)
When I first started this account, there was one doctor who was so awful I was sure I'd never understand him. His dictations are usually very short, which you think would have helped. However, his speech is so bad, I could only make out a few words. After begging my sup for help and getting samples, I now love him! Now that I know what he is saying (even though he doesn't always make sense), I can breeze through them. And.....sometimes he even thanks us at the end of a shift. This is what he said today after the last report....."
Thanks for the help. Happy Holidays . I’ll be here back again Monday. Thanks for the help. God bless you". I wish he knew how much that is appreciated.
Indian Company
Having been a part of an office of six transcriptionists who lost their job to a local service who has "allegedly" sent work to India, I would rather have been let go due to voice recognition. That would not have hurt so bad. The work that was returned from the service had mistakes that I would think were typical of those from inexperienced typists!
Only know its an Indian company.
NM
The MT that defends Indian MTs
that steal our jobs is jumping up and down telling someone else not to type for free. Ironic.
Indian people
I don't want to generalize, but most of the Indian people I have worked with over the years have been really nice and helpful. My internists are a husband and wife team from India. He wears a turban and everything. If they have contempt for me and my western ways, I sure don't know it.
I think the reason our records may be unsafe going to India is not because the Indians are not to be trusted, but because our companies pay them slave wages. Legally, I have never understood why minimum wage laws do not extend to overseas contractors, but they do not.
Sadly, most transcriptionists here in the U.S. have seen their salaries decrease. I'm an excellent transcriptionist/editor and very conscientious, but I'll admit. I don't try quite as hard as I used to. For example, I used to routinely make phone calls to double check dictation, but I no longer do that. I can't afford it.
Consider that the average Transcriptionist in India makes a fraction of what we do and how demoralized it is when that transcriptionist is professionally trained, such as doctors who routinely work as transcriptionists in India. There is the potential for huge bitterness and frustration. They don't have the choices we do. They're stuck. I'm not excusing immoral and illegal behavior, but I can understand someone who is paid very little who has no choices acting desperately.
To me that is why offshore workers should be paid more. People who are paid so little work less well. I think that most pay rates for U.S. transcriptionists are just barely enough to keep the workforce conscientious.
Cindy
East Indian . . and they are
Sometimes, when they let an Indian speak
on TV, you might have noticed that Indians pronounce 'that' as 'dat'.
I know NOTHING about Ebonics, have never heard it.
Is saying 'I aks' instead of 'I ask' also Ebonics?
Kinda? What's that? Indian?...nm
nm
Why are you on THIS board..i thought there was one for Indian MTs?
x
at least they aren't Indian telemarketers. nm
nm
Wonder what they charge the Indian MTs to take the test
Considering the high cost of taking the test, which probably works out to like a year's salary to an Indian family, I wonder if Indian MTs are charged less than Americans to take the exam, even proportionately?
It is hard to imagine how any American MT could justify membership in this organization. Not only are they not helping us, they are undermining us further.
Zydoc is an Indian company. nm
x
They are an Indian company and they doc you for your errors.
xx
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