the major insurance companies should also be notified. SM
Posted By: Ang on 2009-01-30
In Reply to: I AM MAD NOW - Bunion
Plain and simple, HIPAA regulations mean nothing once their insured patient's medical records leave the country. I really cannot understand why the major insurance carriers in the U.S. have not cracked down on offshoring medical records, as this is not within guidelines of HIPAA, which was created by the Department of Health and Human Services. I feel the insurance companies here in the U.S. should refuse to pay insurance claims if a patient's confidential medical information leaves the country where no regulations on privacy are in place or enforceable. Can you imagine how many doctors and hospitals would make themselves more informed on where patient medical records are being transcribed if their claims are suddenly being denied for payment. I say inform Aetna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Health America, Medicaid, Medicare, etc. I think this is where the changes need to start.
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
- I AM MAD NOW - Bunion
- the major insurance companies should also be notified. SM - Ang
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
Is this not sickening. Why won't HIPAA, in conjunction with the major insurance carriers SM
step up to the plate and do something about offshoring. Insurance companies definitely have to get involved because they are the ones paying the bills. Others paying the insurance bills in some instances (self-insured, Medicaid, etc.) are the patients or tax paying American citizens.
all 3 major credit-reporting companies offshore
Equifax
Experian
TransUnion
all 3 offshore your information
there's just no fighting it by refusing to do biz with them
the only fight to hold is with the govt for allowing this ridiculous practice
MT companies negotiate with the insurance companies until they get what they want
It is strictly up to the agreement between the employer and the insurance company. Your new employer can tell you what the pre-existing clause is in your new policy. Some require proof of insurance for the past 12 months. It may say something like if a diagnosis has not been made NOR treatment received within the last __ months. Not good when companies negotiate with a pre-existing clause in order to get a lower rate. Better check with your HR with your new company before doing anything. It really gets hairy !
Do any MTs just go buy their own insurance, is so which companies do you
nm
Insurance companies
I do know that there are insurance companies that will deny coverage of a person if that person has EVER been TESTED for HIV, despite circumstances involved. People entering the military are automatically tested for HIV. This in effect just caused the person to be denied coverage from that one particular company. I know of another company that has denied one man benefits for life insurance because of a medication he has been taking, despite the reason for that particular medication. Imagine being denied life ins because maybe you took Wellbutrin, a medication that can be used for several purposes.
Medical records are not protected despite HIPPA. Medical records are the most available records to any eyes of all records out there. HIPPA is a smoke screen to appease the masses, so that people don't storm Congress.
While many insurance companies sm
have been paying for this over the past few years, it's become such a "common" thing that many have it on their list for non-coverage this coming year. When you find out the company and the insurance company they use, call and verify that it does in fact cover the surgery.
Considering insurance companies
only reimburse .02 on the dollar, they'd need to bill over $500 to make their $5 needed. Sad, but true.
They usually herd them because tis what the insurance companies
x
Insurance companies get rich
If you look at the profits, insurance companies are getting rich. They are the ones pocketing all the money. Plus probaby the hospitals are not far behind. I feel the same, my docs are not getting rich.
has anyone ever charged insurance companies for doing their work - SM
I have a lot of medical issues with my family and so see a lot of doctors and pay a lot of copays. Each and every time I see a doctor or facility I have to pay a copay, which I always ALWAYS charge on my credit card. No exception. Do not pay, do not see the doctor or have the test. Yet time and time again I get letters from the doctor's billing or facility saying I owe a copay to them. When I call them up, explain that I paid my copay at the time of services rendered and do not owe anything further, I am told they don't have a record of it. I must find the receipt and send them a copy for proof of payment. In short, I must do their job because they are either too lazy or inefficient to do it. Earlier this month I got a statement from the x-ray facility saying that I owed a copay. The customer (dis)service person was very unhelpful when I explained that I always made my copay first and it showed up on my credit card statement. Finally I told him I would call the facility myself and get things straightened out, which I did (they had put my copay into a different account by mistake). But I ended up doing his job and got treated rudely to boot. Then yesterday, I got yet another doctor's billing statement saying I owed my copay. I called and left a message saying that it had already gone through on my credit card bill and would not be paying. They want proof. Am I out of line saying, fine, I will photocopy the receipt (and this is an NCR receipt so the office has a copy of it) and my credit card bill (with everything else blanked out) and send it to you as proof of my payment, but it will require my invoicing you a $10 processing fee. If you are not willing to reimburse me for my time to straighten out your mistake, then I will not provide proof of payment. This takes time out of my day to hunt through my receipts, make a photocopy, document it in writing (LOL I learned that VERY early on), then postage, etc. Why must I do this without being reimbursed for it. IS ANYONE ELSE FED UP WITH PEOPLE NOT DOING THEIR JOBS????? Arrrrghhh. I feel every so much better.
Insurance companies already know. Doctor bills them you know.
I'm not running for political office. Who would be interested in my medical records and what could they do with them if they did have them?
wow!! not true - they just changed insurance companies (sm)
at the end of the year. I don't know about the family coverage, I get the single, but it is about 1/3 of what you said. Maybe you should give them another look.
Has anyone been notified by the IRS that you are --sm
to be considered an employee vice IC since 2002-- as apparently someone in the company filed a complaint and the IRS sent out letters to all regarding this. Do not know what to expect, have a time set to call IRS in the morning and would like to have whatever documentation they need at hand, or at least an idea of what kind of questions they will be asking.
Also, what will this mean for the company? I assume they will have to go back and pay their share of my taxes and I will get a refund for what I paid as an IC, but am wondering what other fallout there will be.
I was just notified my hospital is switching to DQS, any tips or warnings (sm)
Also, what type of expanders can you use, if any. I've been on DOS for so long and use Smartype. I'm looking forward to it and dreading it at the same time. Truthfully, any pointers you can give me will be greatly appreciated.
You will be notified via email. Gift pull is not instant because I also run a transcription service
in addition to running MTStars and the donation program.
Thank you for your patience!
Administrator
MTStars
I bet other insurance carriers have insurance for their employees. Why not Wal-Mart? nm
:+
There is something major going on here
Accounts that used to be really busy have no work. Multiple accounts are asking us not to work on their account for the day. Last night an updated was posted with 100 something jobs available in one account, and then later an oops, sorry, I meant 0 jobs available. What is up with that? Don't know what's happening with this company.
French Ed. major
with English Ed minor and Music minor. No jobs around here in Northern Indiana, and extended family is here, so once started having kids, kind of just fell into this work. Love it, though, love using the Latin I had years ago.
We have DirecTV and have had no major
issues. I have internet through the cable company and have had lots of problems. If cable is through Time Warner they have the worst customer service. In my area the programming is about the same between cable and satellite, except DirecTV has just added satellite radio. I don't know if cable charges per each box, but DirecTV does charge $5.00/mo per box after the first one. The only complaint I have about DirecTV is that we had a big storm and after that we could not get every channel on every box (we have 3). We're not sure where the problem is, but for them to come out is an automatic $70.00 and then depending on what the issue is there could be more charges. When my internet goes out there are no service fees, although it is a pain in the rear getting anyone out to fix the problem.
With satellite you may have to put the dish in your yard on on your house where it might be an eye sore, but if the dish is on the house they only have the run the wiring down the house and not in the yard. If you have cable they have to run it from the pole to your house and they barely bury it, so that you have to have it located every time you need to do any planting/digging.
With satellite when it rains real hard we lose signal, though it doesn't usually last long. When we used to have cable we might not lose signal entirely, but it would be very fuzy. Cable really utilizes satellite. Our local cable company has huge dishes setup and the cable feeds from those.
some major issues!
If the post set off some "emotions," then keep them to yourself, or scream them out loud at home where no one can hear you. The person who posted this did not do so to set off YOUR PERSONAL "emotions." I think your major emotion just might be jealousy!!
These are not petty! These are major sm
things that any experienced MT should know. You need to take the correction as it was intended...........not to be petty but to fix things that you have been doing wrong for years! The docs don't know formatting and unfortunately most of the hospitals don't either. Be glad you FINALLY have some correction! Why you would waste your time checking everyone elses transcription is beyond me.
This kind of transcription is why I don't get too excited when I have an "experienced" MT call me to test for a job. I have tested MANY MTs with experience even more than yours and gotten the same thing! Sometimes people have been working for the same place for years and never been corrected.
This kind of stuff is why (in my opinion) that all MTs should have at least 2-5 years experience in an acute care facility before going out on their own! This "new wave" of going to MT school and then opening your "own business" is bringing this profession way down! It needs to stop.
major discrimination
My husband works for an agent with a major insurance company. He is not the agent although he does have to have agent's licensing. We were told probably 15 years ago, that a white male would not be allowed to become an agent for many, many years due to people (this happened to be two women) who declared that they were discriminated against in this company. So to compensate for discrimination this national company will not hire a "white male" for the appointed amount of time (which was a very extended time period of many, many years) unless that "white male walked on water." That was their quote too. I have heard (but have not verified this) that this same "discrimination" is going on in the medical field. Therefore, you have all the ESL's who are able to get into med school but the American Caucasian is not chosen because you cannot discriminate. My question is "Who is really being discriminated against?" In my husband's company -- It is the Caucasian white male and I have a feeling that it is the Caucasian that is discriminated against in the medical field as well.
What is a major bummer is...
A lot of the older MTs in this neck of the woods have lost their jobs not to outsourcing, but inability to keep up with technology, and it's not their fault either. All of these transcribing companies seem to have upgraded their technology so now people NEED high-speed internet/cable, and dial-up just won't do anymore. Imagine losing your job because the cable/phone company won't string up cable or DSL in your neighborhood because your're just too rural. It's a huge problem and I can see why that would make many people (including myself) jaded. What in the heck do you do for work when all you've known is transcribing? Hardly any hospital hires in-house these days either. Scary times indeed.
me too... lost major $$$.. sm
I lost my derm practice to EMR, $1500+ per week. That was my only account. Very humbling experience. I know a lot of you are in the same boat. Now it is taking me about a month to make what I made in a week. Have a couple PT accounts and am working for my FP doc that has EMR. He dictates part of the note and I put the typing where he wants it. It is slow as I have satellite but at least it is some income. I think EMR is the wave of the future. Hopefully it doesn't become a law soon.
For me, a major consideration is, would you be
nm
MAJOR PROBLEMS!!!!
Okay first of all I updated to XP from ME, lost my Microsoft Office so had to reinstall it. I use Express Scribe to play dss files. Before my update I updated ES to version 4.16. Found out that does not play dss files so uninstalled that and reinstalled v. 4.15 and it worked. After the upgrade, I reinstalled version 4.15 and it does the same think at 4.16 did. WIll not load dss files. They appear in the file list but with a duration of 0 seconds. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling, restarting and everything I can think of. Even with the extra dss .exe that the website said I needed. Is there a possibility that XP doesn't not run with ES or dss files or do I need to install another component to make my files play on XP?
Please help, I am getting backlogged and starting to freakout.
major errors
Only 2 major errors allowed? When learning a new account that seems a little strict. I understand they can't have major errors but give someone a chance to get things right and learn the way of doing things.
I would say those are major. Hospitals SM
often have this sort of policy and expect the services doing business with them to enforce it.
Major error?
That is not a major error. They are just two straggling headers that got left behind, an oversight at best but not major error category. What is wrong with these people? If they call that major what do they call a real major errors that could possibly affect the outcome of patient care? When you consider all the malpractice that goes on with direct patient care involving doctors and nurses, two straggling headers on a report is really very minor.
The major obstacle is the ...sm..
long distance phone charges for the C-line. Check into Magic Jack. Some people have been very happy with it and have used it for long distance while using a C-phone. It makes no difference what kind of computer you're using when you use a C-phone.
Link to Magic Jack info is below.
A Major Rant
A rant letter to a couple of doctors:
What has happened to the medical profession in this country? Why is it that doctors forget their Hippocratic Oath? Why is it they forget the purpose of their career choice? I've transcribed this week on numerous elderly patients who have been with their doctors for five, ten or even fifteen years, but they have to seek care elsewhere because so many doctors are refusing to accept Medicare. How would you feel were if it were your own mother or father being refused care with their established physician just because they became classified as "elderly" and qualified for Medicare? If it weren't for your "connections," your parents would face the same dilemma that other elderly people face.
Why is it that when a patient comes into your office complaining of feeling fatigued and achy that you automatically assume they're depressed and pop out a prescription for them to pop a pill? Why not LISTEN to what the patient is saying and realize that while some MAY be depressed, others have a legitimate medical problem going on? Why not do some labs on them to check for anemia, hypothyroidism, etc.? Oh, I get it -- let them wait two hours to see you after their appointment time and then spend two minutes with them... after all, time is money. By the way, I guess that kid who came several times a couple of weeks ago complaining of abdominal pain wasn't just trying to get out of school since I saw his obituary in the paper this week. Even when his mom and dad brought him in a second and third time, you brushed them off. I hope seeing his obituary hurts your heart at least half as much as it hurt mine. I can't imagine the pain those parents are enduring right now, but I doubt you've stopped earning money long enough to let it bother you. And, no, I won't cover your butt if I get a subpoena when his parents sue you for medical negligence.
Why is it that you cringe when I tell you I need to raise my rates when I've not had a rate increase in three years or longer when in the mean time you've raised your rates at least three times a year every year? Oh - ok - your expenses have gone up? Do you think they've discounted my electric bill, gasoline, supplies and everything else?
Remember that last check before Christmas that I asked about when you were late paying me? You know, the one where you said you didn't have the money to pay me until after the 1st of January - although my contract with you explicitly explains payment arrangements? That was hard to swallow when your wife was standing there while I was waiting to talk to you and making out a check for $8200 to have your home decorated for Christmas? Yes, it ticked me off that you had the money for that in your budget but not the money to pay me my measly little $702. It also ticked me off when you took your three-week vacation to France and left me waiting for payment.
I do understand - its all about the money. Of course, that is why I work. But, if I ever get to the point that I'm so cold-hearted or money-oriented that I cannot try and give the best of my abilities in my transcription for every patient I type on, I have common sense enough to know its time to get out of my profession. Yes, to you I'm just a "typist", but how many times have you picked up the phone and called me asking, "Do you remember the names of the tests that I need to order for Lyme disease?" Or, what about when you can't dictate a proper letter and you say, "This is what I want to say - can you fix it for me?" What about those times when I've flagged a lab result and said, "This patient would be dead with a potassium of 988." Regardless, I remain just a "typist" in your mind.
In spite of all your faults, I do my best for you. I give you accurate work every day of every week because I know one typo (on the transcription work you don't review) with a drug dosage could mean the difference between life and death of your patients. But in the end, does it really matter to you?
At least 200; FT account is a major
trauma center, PT is a major surgical center. Both are teaching hospitals, so I have all the residents thrown in too.
This was a major national. You can mess with just about anything...
as long as you have a space bar.
to fellow psych major
I would like to start working in the field before I get my BA. Do you know how many credits you would need in order to do that, and is an AA degree far enough to begin work? You're a lot closer than me so I figured you might know this. It would be a big weight off my shoulders knowing I could work within three years rather than 7, which seems so long. Thanks in advance
Major patriarchy brainwashing.
Having sex does not make you a "wh0re." It usually means you are a functioning adult capable of making your own choices and not having your entire life dictated to you.
We have Publix - MAJOR stores all over....sm
Publix says tipping is not allowed. I do not agree with that. They are loading TONS of stuff into cars, why shouldn't they get a tip? I tip, their bosses are not outside watching anyway and I don't know that anyone ever lost a job with Publix (one of the largest employers in the SE) due to this
to each his/her own I suppose 
Dude, what's your major malfunction? sm
Since I've been working for the last 1-1/2 years with a company and more recently with my own accounts, I daresay that I am doing just fine with or without the RMT. I wanted to take the RMT for my own fun. I am sure there are others that either want to take the test or that are waiting to hear their results after waiting several months.
It is not a major deal to set up Meditech....
I went remote over 10 years ago and I set up most everything myself with installing the program for Meditech with dial up. Now I do it VPN which they installed but I probably could have done myself. More hospitals should look at contracting or hiring the MT directly. It is so much cheaper for them. After increasing my rate a couple of years ago, my hospital looked into hiring an MTSO and was surprised at how much more they would have to pay (more than 3 times what I charge) even if they did offer health insurance and taxes. As to the poster below, I rarely miss work because if I don't work I don't get paid. And when I can't, the hospital has a back up they hired themselves. There are always somebody willing to do extra work somewhere.
Me too.. Lost major account
to EMR.. basically put me out of business. I could have "stayed-on" in house doing limited transcription and scanning for 1/2 the money. System was not very friendly to transcription, had to constantly switch screens, etc. would have really lost $$$ if I was paid by the line. Either way hourly/cpl, less money for me. I decided to just stay home and go with national. Hopefully I can hold out for the next 5 or so years, or else I guess I'm off to Walmart!
Major bummer dude!
This is my 2nd Saitek...the first one had silver keys and oh ya, I got the paint on them babies worn off within 6 months. I'm totally bummed to hear this one will do the same thing, because I really looked at it hard before buying and saw the letters were "etched" in and not painted on. It's no biggie for me, being a touch typist, but when family or friends want to plink around, they got totally lost...plus it looked fargin' ugly too.
I use the angry red lights when typing that ESL crap (red alert!), and the happy purple the rest of the time. The old one was just blue, so I'm kinda sick of that for right now, but it is so much fun to mess with the mood lighting. Simple pleasures for simple minds 
Currently working for a major national, they use BOS because they want
all MTs transcribing the same. What the client wants comes first, then BOS on the majority of accounts. This is SUPPOSED to make QA-ing a report easier.
Making major purchases
Dh and I were looking for a house about 3 months ago because the one we are in is too small. We put that on halt. For one, I am worried about my job. I work for a hospital. OM announced we are going to upgrade to a new system. One of our MTs got to see this new system (I don’t know how) and she said it was great. She told about those 3 doctors that say when doing one of their DS to cut and paste from their HP and then they begin with the hospital course. We get paid for all those lines. Well, now the HP is just going to feed into the DS so we won’t have to cut and paste. Plus some, not all of the docs are going to be able to do VR. They will still need us for editing they said. They already took the headers and footer pay away from us because it automatically wraps into the report.
Now assuming that if the things that already wrap into the report we don’t get paid for, those wonderful DS that we love to get with the free lines is coming to a halt. Also, assuming from what I have read on this message board and others, pay decreases with VR. None of this has been said yet by OM but I am expecting it to come. The other MTs are saying oh this is wonderful, oh this is great. I haven’t mentioned any of my concerns to them mainly because I don’t want to let on that I am worried. I just quit looking for a new house. One of the MTs did purchase a new house recently because since they took us off of hourly and put us on production, she is making great money and we are, actually better than what most the MTSOs pay. I am just afraid it is just going to come to a halt. Do I have a right to be paranoid? Has anyone else put big purchases on halt because they are worried about what is to come? I am kind of the worry wart pessimistic type.
Preparing for a major cut in pay is scary.
I am without an emergency fund :( and no one seems to be responding to my resume.
This is so cruel.
I lost major $$ when they discontinued that. nm
X
10.5 with major national, 65 chars with spaces,
nm
Every day I make a chore list. Nothing major, just...
one kid has to empty the dishwasher and take out the trash. The other has to pick up the family room and vacuum it. I make the list each day and leave it on the counter. They aren't allowed to turn the television on until it is done.
Having a major brain fart--need to document the use of --sm
or not to use a hyphen for words like schapho-lunate and lunato-triquetral. Having a major argument with QA and need documentation but can not think of where to find it. Tanks
Radiology MTs - Major cuts in outpatient
imaging by Congress - called the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Signed by Bush in December. Over five years will amount to 20 Billion dollars cut from outpatient imaging payments for Medicare and medicaid patients. This will have a ripple effect. Private insurers soon will follow suit. Posted the DRA but it was removed by Administrator.... This will have a detrimental effect on us all, as cuts will begin occurring in every aspect of radiology.
Here is a comprehensive article. Please do not remove this post for one day, Administrator. This will impact MTs in radiology significantly.
imagingBiz.com - The Information Service of the Imaging Center Institute
Pogo.com for me for games major addiction nm
:-)
Sorry, but major HIPPA violation to "keep a
little file...that's a HUGE industry NO-NO. Talk about lawsuits and professionalism!
Have had three major surgeries and mistakes were made...
So, I fully understand how he forgot but admitting to this would have been worse than saying the procedure was completed. However, you do have a case that can be proven simply by no incision lines that correspond to the operative report's description. Finding any physician who will testify against a high standing member of the medical community sounds like the challenge. Sorry this had to turn into a nightmare for you.
|
