Home     Contact Us    
Main Board Job Seeker's Board Job Wanted Board Resume Bank Company Board Word Help Medquist New MTs Classifieds Offshore Concerns VR/Speech Recognition Tech Help Coding/Medical Billing
Gab Board Politics Comedy Stop Health Issues
ADVERTISEMENT




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Patient Assistance Programs

Posted By: Dee on 2007-10-25
In Reply to: About paying out-of-pocket for meds - Boo

Which program did you use? I tried Select Care Benefits Network and they ended up shuffeling the paperwork so long that I was paying them a monthly fee for free manufacturers prescriptions for nothing. I finally got smart and stopped it all but it cost me about $140.00


Complete Discussion Below: marks the location of current message within thread

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu


Other related messages found in our database

Word Expander Programs - Are there any expander programs that are easy to use and learn
that are similar to the MS Word expander?  I prefer something very simple.  I like MS Word expander; however I have gone over my limits and cannot add any more shortcuts so I need a program that will hold a larger amount of shortcuts.   Many thanks.
Putting patient versus The patient (sm)
When did this "rule" come about? I've been an MT/Editor/medeical records tech/ART for 30 years - Never, ever was I told to put that. You cannot make the sentence be "The patient sent to Radiology" but you can put "Patient sent to Radiology."

Thats just insane.
Assistance (SM)
You can write me at goldbird@mtstars.com.

Goldbird

mt needs assistance
I have worked with just about every type of platform, and never with a c-phone.  New account is now working with this, and I would like a leg up on any training they may offer - This is a personal and private account, so not sure how good their training or information will be lol - can someone email me some basic information on the use of the c-phone?  I will surely be so appreaciative.
I think you'd be better off having your first MT job with assistance available. SM
I mean no offense, but the first few months of "real life" MTing have a serious learning curve. I have advanced academic degrees in another field, and I was surprised by how difficult actual transcribing was. For the sake of your reputation as an MT and for the safety of the patients whose records you would transcribe, I would advise you to keep trying to find employment with others, get some good experience and QA feedback, and then, if you're still motivated to do so, start your own business. Starting an MT business as a newbie is just not a good idea, no matter how intelligent you are or how long you have been in school.

Some suggestions: Look into nationals that hire newbies. No, they're not the "be-all, end-all" of MT jobs, but you will get experience, which is what you need to move to a better job. And it doesn't take MUCH experience, either. There are plenty of nationals who hire newbies. Do a search of this forum and you will find plenty of names to research.

If you are progressing past the initial point of contact with a company and are testing and then being told "no, thanks," (and I have no idea if this is the case, so I don't mean it personally or in an insulting way) you might think about doing a brush-up or taking additional courses to improve your skills before continuing to test with companies. As I say, I don't know that to be your case, but a lot of newbies come out of school and don't test well.

At any rate, I wish you much success. Your first MT job probably won't be fabulous (mine sure wasn't!), but it will get your foot in the door and get some experience on your resume. Keep looking and don't hesitate to ask people for evaluation and help. If you test for a company and don't pass their test, it does not hurt to ask the recruiter for feedback. S/he might not have it, but you should ask.

Best wishes. ICMT
Need some assistance
Am being told to go to MS word in order to try and fix something. Where would I find that?
CS has job placement assistance too,
and also I think Spheris hires only CS grads. And the companies that waive the 2-year experience requirement for Andrews and M-Tec grads waive it for CS grads as well.


state assistance
Cindy:

Thank you so much for the informed response.
state assistance
Amy:  I have been looking into adoption in the state of Illinois as I plan to adopt a child in about two years.  In our state, if the child is a "waiting child" (a school age child who has not yet been adopted), the state will assist with attorney's fees, court costs, etc.  The adoptive parent(s) will have little, if any, out of pocket adoption fees.  Perhaps, your state has something similar.  Hope this helps.
Get some overflow assistance...
There are MTs out there who specifically want overflow work to fill in some gaps. This way, you can still hold her job for her when/if she is able to get back to her usual production. If not, at least you'll have a backup to get help when needed and you won't go out of TAT.


It is still difficult to get assistance. SM

I would say give it a try to the OP, but don't be surprised if very little or no assistance comes.  I may be reading more into this than is there, but OP probably needs assistance with house/rent payment, keeping up utilities, etc. and the public assistance people will look at it like he or she will be well in XX weeks, things will work out.  Unfortunately, people who truly need short-term public assistance can't get the help they need to get them through trying times like this.  OP may be able to get emergency food stamps fairly easily though.


I would also suggest, if OP is a member of a church, letting the church know what's going on and seeing if there is help there (they are usually quick to respond) or trying Catholic Charities or another faith-based organization set up to help.  You don't have to be a member of that particular religion to get help.  The key is to reach out NOW while the situation is unfolding and not wait until things get so bad you are getting forclosed on or evicted. 


Financial Assistance???
I am currently a full-time-college-student-but-otherwise-SAHM. Pretty soon we'll be needing more money, but I have neither time nor resources (day care around here is INSANELY expensive) to work outside the home. I've been doing the reasearch and have come to the conclusion that MT is a good job option for me.

The problem is the training is sooo expensive! I mean,if we didn't need the money I wouldn't be looking for the training to begin with--so obviously I don't have $1600-4000 up front for the training. And most of the payment plans I see aren't looking much better--like $1000 up front, $350 every month after that. Right now that's just not feasable.

Are there any MT schools that offer reasonable financial assistance? Or, I'd even be cool with a payment deferment plan or something!

Anybody know of a school that's willing to help the financially strapped?
Not receiving any assistance. sm
I wanted financial help with going back to school for coding. The only training they offered was at a JVS school or a IDT type school as a medical assistant. Then the funds for training were cut. They offered (and pushed) this job assistance program which I thought was going to be more in depth than it is. I thought I would be sent on interviews they had arranged. Basically I meet with the counselor once a week and she gives me leads she found on the internet and I send in my resume. She supposedly knows the area and was going to provide local job leads. I lost one MT job in June due to VR and on my own found the job I have now in about a week. Yes I probably need another job in billing/coding so I can make more money, but now is not the time to be giving up a job you already have. IMHO
ABOVE POST SAYS CAN TAKE GOV ASSISTANCE OR THIS, WHICH ONE IS BETTER?
Close to the bottom this person is putting out this statement, how mature! This person is not a transcriptionist, has no experience, probably worked around a medical office before, does not even know what QA is as opposed to editors, say what? I am laughing about how others are trying to tell her about expanders, etc. This person needs a clue.
glad to be of assistance...nm
:)
Tax assistance - I am a part-time IC but also have...sm

a full-time job with benefits and employee status.  The IC job I just accepted and expect to make around $300 a month filling in for vacationing MTs/excess work.  I usually make around $50,000 with the full-time employer and am married with 2 kids.  


How do I figure out if I need to file estimated taxes especially since I'm not a full-time IC and have taxes being deducted from the main employer?   Most of the information I see on the IRS website seems to relate to only if you're just self-employed.  I don't want to over-pay taxes but don't want to risk getting penalized if I don't send payments in and need to when it comes tax time next April.


This is one of the things public assistance is for. nm
!
Suggestions about temporary assistance (sm)
. If you own or buying a home and have mortgage insurance, check to see if "disability insurance" is included.

. If you have a life insurance policy, check the "temporary disability" section.

. If you have retirement/401K, etc., loans are available for medical/disability purposes.

. SAGA (state-administrated general assistance program).

. State of _______ temporary assistance/department of social services -- cash or medical assistance for individuals who are unable to work.

I'm not 100% certain about any of the above, but it could be a starting point.

Remembering you in my prayer!

Post again soon to keep in touch -- ask if there is a "social worker" turned MT on line who can direct your path.

Great...I have IT and just checked out PT for assistance...
Great resource. I am going to have to read my IT book again. How long have you been using IT?
Needing assistance with formatting
Asked to go to word, tools autoformant and  disable autonumber but cannot locate this. Can anyone help?
this applies to MT, right? (link for financial assistance)
link:  http://www.doleta.gov/programs/factsht/taa.cfm

something has to be done to help people losing jobs to foreigners...

it says you need 3 or more workers to apply...

also, it aint going away, ladies: 

Other projections include:




  • 10 percent of U.S. technology jobs will have moved offshore by 2005 (Gartner Group)


  • up to 25 percent of traditional IT jobs will be relocated from developed to developing countries by 2010 (Gartner Group)


  • 500,000 financial services jobs (8 percent of all U.S. jobs in banking, brokerage and insurance) will be shipped overseas by May 2008 (AT Kearney)


Need to load some microsoft updates, need assistance here
I was told to go to microscoft and upload the latest - got the information to go to windows and click the express button and download and install. Where in the heck is the express button? Don’t see that anywhere. Thanks.
Lost job due to offshore? Government program assistance
found this information in my husband's COBRA package. He is in the machining industry which has lost a lot of work to China. This program will help support during retraining and give a tax credit for health insurance premiums. Worth checking out. Don't be put off by how "complicated" the form is. Just do it one step at a time and call some of the numbers for help if need be.
Hire a tutor. Also, schools offer tutoring assistance
Hope this helps...
Word/terminology assistance goes on Word board. (SM)
Please use boards appropriately.

Moderator
MT programs
The top 3 MT programs are Andrews, M-Tec and Career Step. Have not read any complaints about Andrews or M-TEC. Graduates from those two schools have a much better chance of getting hired at home without 2 years of experience.
MT programs

I found a new company online called MT2B.  It appears that if you successfully complete their school they will offer you a job at their company. Some of the MT courses out there are hard to follow and do not teach you all that you need to know when you first begin job hunting. I know this from tutoring and mentoring new MTs for the past 9 years. This school seems to teach in a more hands on manner from what I understand.  Might want to give them a try. I found them at www.MT2b.com.


This jobs does have a lot of ups and downs. I have been in this business for 12 years and I wouldnt trade it for anything. It has allowed me to take care of my son who has health problems and be at home. I have made good money and not so much money. I see it as...it has its problems just like any other job at home or not at home.  Just have to hang in there and find the place of employment that fits you best as an individual. There are still some good companies out there.  Just have to find them.


 


Good luck to you


FAX PROGRAMS
I use the Winfax program.  Works great.  You fax reports right from your computerr rather than printing and then faxing.  Saves time, paper, and ink.  Receive faxes directly to your computer as well which can be sent to your printer.
the programs
Are set up in such a way, that they know who their star players are, who their B players are, and who are the problem children.  Sounds like he just wanted to buy a new boat and didn't want to have to get a loan first. 
programs? SM please

Hi


I have work to transcribe and I can't find any programs that work well to do it.  Instead I am listening to the same sentences over and over at least 40 times, miss a word and can't go back, try to and you go back to zero, lose a half hour listening to what I already had, etc.


Please tell me if you know any good programs.  Working with MS Media Player and F4, typing in Wordpad.  THANKS


VR programs
What VR programs are the best to use for the most productivity? 
Are there free FTP programs?

Are there free FTP programs?


TIA


Lost programs.
I bought a new computer and was going to let my daughter use my old one for a project she had going.  She deleted all my transcription programs.  Later, her project fell through and I needed the computer to use in my home office.  I was able to do a system restore, even after several weeks, and get almost all my stuff back.  For some reason, Stedman's spell check did not come back up, so I do not know what happened there, but everything else was there. 
productivity programs

Our company is currently using Winscribe dictation system, but they did not buy the transcription side of this, which creates a database and templates and saves the work to a file. 


I am looking for productivity program that works the same way that is reasonable.  ADS may be one but I have no feedback on this. 


Any suggestions.


 


encryption programs
Speaking of encryption, my doc wants to go through tapeless and go with a WAV pedal program. What are the ins and outs of these programs; what's good; what's not.  Are they easy to load, setup, etc.  And, what above the WAV pedal programs? Any information would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.
encryption programs
Can anyone tell me of a good encryption program to use with WAV pedal program?
12 step programs, which above are
referring to, are all based on God, a higher power - surrendering to that higher power, and then healing following the 12 steps. Leaving religion out of recovery is rather contradictory!
exercise programs (sm)

For about three years, I had suffered with severe asthma and allergies.  I could not ever get any of it under control.  I had to take a lot of steroids during that time and everytime I tried to get in an exercise routine it would just exacerbate my symptoms.  It turned out we had a black mold problem.  I was the only one with symptoms though.


We moved though and now I am in total recovery.  My asthma is completely under control.  I might only take it now once or twice a month, if at all (used to take it 4-6 times a day).  Doctors say I may always have it now. 


I have put on a significant amount of though and really would like to get it off.  I don't feel good about myself anymore.  I eat very well and I am maintaining my current weight.  I just do not get the exercise I need. 


I was really active into Taebo before all of this began, but I don't feel like I can just jump back into that right away.  I need something that would slowly work me back into shape.  Any suggestions?


Thanks in advance for your help!


Recommended Programs
I have a bachelors degree in Biology and one in Medical Technology. Right now I am working for a hematology instrumentation manufacturing company. Getting tired of the rat race and with the change of being "let go" at anytime (seeing a lot of people that started with me go) I am looking for something to back me up an hopefully work from home. How do you guys recommend one gets started as an MT? I went into the AAMT website and saw three educational programs recommended, M-Tec, Andrews, and Career Step. Are these good places to start? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Recommended Programs
Thanks for all the inputs, with everything I have heard, it seems that becoming an MT is a really bad idea. 
I know, I still can't watch any of his programs
yet. He was so ALIVE it just seems unreal that he isn't here anymore :( My heart goes out for Terri and the kids.
thanks but prefer programs not from...

Shortcut programs?
Which shortcut program is easier to use?  Shortcut for Windows, Smartype, or InstanText?  I need to start building a good shortcut list so I can build up my line count?
RE: Shortcut programs
I really like Shortcut.  I just upped my version.
TiVo your programs...sm
I used to work with my tv on, and it really dragged my day out. Now, I keep it off and watch my shows at night that I put my DVR. Look into your cable company about it if you haven't already.
coding programs
I heard that they are coming out with programs that will scan the note and pick out the key words needed to do coding.  Pretty scary if the transcription is not accurate!  So do they outsource to India to save money and then have good coders, or do they hire good transcriptionists and use a scanning program for coding?  Either way, our future looks pretty grim.
Abbreviation programs

Hi - What type of abbreviation program is good?  I used to have Abbreviate, but no longer have it.  Is Foxfire a good program?  Does anyone just use their Word autocorrect strictly?  If you use Word autocorrect - do you know how to copy it and put it on another computer? 


Thanks for any help!!


Back up programs sm
I'm notorious for not running backups and need to get in the habit of running regular backups. How recommending a good, easy, not too costly program?
Both programs running (sm)

will make your computer run slow.  I tried One Care, didn't like it.  Also, I don't run PC Tools Spyware Doctor, just put it on when I'm finished for the day to scan computer at night.  The One Care combined with Spyware Doctor are the culprits.  Try turning them off and see what happens.  Good luck.


Most companies' programs are not yet
compatible with Vista. Some companies let you use satellite, some don't.
Is there other programs that are similar to...

Express Scribe?  I was just curious. 


 


Thank you again~