Coding/Billing is TOTALLY different
Posted By: Dee on 2006-06-12
In Reply to: I am looking for a " at home" MT job - Rachel Link
from MT work. You are not trained or qualified to do MT work.
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I do both coding and MT work. I'd definitely say to go with coding/insurance billing
The way the medical transcription profession is going, you'll best be served by doing insurance billing with a coding certificate than doing transcription. There will always be a need for billers and coders. JMO.. and I make more money billing with the way our cpl are going down.
billing and coding
Billing and Coding is totally different. As you know coding is putting terminology into numbers, nothing like putting a H & P on paper or an OP note into words. I coded for 2 years for family practice and it is not cut out to what people think it is.
Coding has much more of a future than MT right now. Coding can't be sent out to India and
it requires an active thought process to do it, so it's not likely to be replaced by software. Yet. I bet there's a lot of MT's right now that wish they would have chosen coding...
I do billing at home, but ...
the only reason I am able to do billing and coding from home is that I worked for years, in-house, for both of the doctors I work for. At some point, I just said, "I need and want to be home, either we can work something out from home where I log in or you'll have to replace me." Luckily, they were will to give it a chance and it works pretty good. The only other coding jobs around here are in-hospital and I may try that some day but not now. If your goal is to stay-at-home and there are no opportunities do billing at home, I would steer towards transcription.
coding
I don't know about coding programs, but I took coding in college and found it a lot harder than transcription.
I don't think M-TEC has a coding
program; however, their transcription program is excellent. I don't know very much about coding, but I chose MT because I did not want to deal with something so directly related to money since docs and hospitals get paid based on how something is coded. However, I think some might enjoy that. Personally, I like the feeling that I am doing something to help a patient without getting caught up in the money end of it. From all that I have read, it is easier to start out working from home in medical transcription than in coding.
Coding vs MT
If you check the salary surveys available on other websites -- sorry, I can't tell you what they are because the moderators delete my posts when I do that! -- you'll see that coding can pay more than transcription.
My thinking is that MTs tend to burn out faster than coders. Coding is less physically strenuous than MT. Coding jobs tend to allow for advancement into different types of work, which helps relieve any boredom that might occur. MT jobs tend to be of one type.
If you want to give MT a go, you certainly can. Right now, it's easier to find work from home in MT than in coding, at least for someone with no experience. If you do that, you can consider a few years working in MT to be a time spent gaining very useful knowledge for coding later on. The knowledge MTs have about reports, medical records, procedures, office visits, and the way medical care "works" is invaluable. MTs learn coding very quickly, much faster than someone without MT background, even people with other types of experience in health care.
Coding vs Transcription
There is salary information available at the AAPC website, www.aapc.com. The link to the 2004 survey is http://www.aapc.com/recognition/salary_survey.html .
Coders tend to make a bit more and have more room for advancement into consulting, training, and compliance positions. The work requires somewhat more in terms of medical and technical knowledge, the ability to deal rapidly and effectively with constant change and uncertainty, the highest attention to detail, an absolute intolerance for error. Coding, like transcription, requires very high literacy and deductive skills--you have to enjoy reading constantly and solving frustrating puzzles.
Coding is not as amenable to working at home, although rapid progress is being made in this arena.
You can't go wrong with MT. Most of your training for that, and your on-the-job experience, will give you a huge head start in coding. Much of the background material is the same--coding just adds to it somewhat. If you choose your school right, you'll get an MT job right away, working at home, and you can then think about broadening your skills into coding. At that point, a few years from now, there will be more remote coding opportunities for you to move into.
Coding and Transcription
 Thank you so much for the information I have a little background in coding but it seems as though Medical Transcription is in more of a demand right now as far as a work at home job. The cost of tuition with either Andrews or Career Step is a bit expensive for me and I want to make sure that I make the right choice in terms of being able to find a wahj after certification.
Not many coding jobs
nm
She said she had both coding and MT training
She initially said she had both coding and MT training.
First, she said, she had coding and a CPC certification, but could not get a job, so she let the certification lapse. She apparently quit looking for a job.
Then, she said, she went through an MT training program and now can't get a job.
People get jobs every day with those exact qualifications. That's no guarantee that a particular person will get a job, but it's also no indication that NO person will get a job.
Medical Coding or Transcription
I will be applying for online training soon and have noticed that the price of tuition for medical coding and medical transcription are not too far apart. I always thought that there was more opportunity and a higher income for medical transcription. Can anyone with experience in coding tell me how the average salary is for coding? Thank you in advance for any answers on this.
Coding is most certainly being outsourced offshore. Who
told you that coding isn't being sent out of the country?
Also, coding education/certification will not get SM
you a transcription job at all.
Totally Agree
I two small children and I get up at 4:00 a.m. to start my workday as to have the peace and quiet to perform my job. If you are willing to make adjustments, it can be done but it isn't all glorified like some teachers like to make it out to be. You do have the opportunity to make good money but it takes time and dedication. It isn't just a fly by the seat of your pants sort of thing.
totally agree
The whole reason I got into transcription was to stay at home with my babies!!! I started when I was 21 (daughter was 2). She stayed home with me until the day she started kindergarten. I have another child (now 2), who will never go to a daycare. I get so aggravated when people call it "PRESCHOOL" give me a break!!! It is daycare. It is somewhere you take your child because you cannot take care of him/her.
As far as the social skills, take them to a play group, enrol in gymnastics, storytime at the library, etc.etc. I know not all are so lucky, but my sister (kids aunt) loves to watch my kids for a few hours a few times a week. She LOVES my kids. Daycare workers do not.
totally off the subject
Hello, Does anyone have or have heard of men going online to chat with women from those dating websites? if so what's your take on it. do you think they are really trying to hook up or just playing. I was told it was a MAN thing and everyone does it (i guess all men) I was told that the reason for doing it is to see how far they can get, to see what these women would fall for. I don't buy it. but I am just curious how many people out there are doing this
I totally disagree with you
I took Allied's course and I have two jobs. I applied with over 100 companies, and all of them allowed me to test. It was my decision on whether to take their offers or not. Some of the tests I did not pass, I cannot lie about that. But I totally DO NOT blame it on Allied.
For people to post on these boards saying that they HAVE to take the M-Tec or Andrews course is just insane. I do agree that there are some schools that do not prepare you. All of the jobs saw that I took the Allied course and still let me test.
I do not know why people are so quick to judge or try to bring new MTs down.
Wow, totally agree. Can't believe
you have waited 2 years. I had a job before I was even out of school and have been with 2 other companies also since then (and still am). I agree with the above poster. Just send your resume, look on the job seekers board, MTjobs.com, post your resume, etc. Someone has got to give you a chance! Good luck!
totally agree
xx
I totally agree.
Maybe QA couldn't figure out the remaining blanks.
I totally understand.
Although I was able to start working right away after completing training for a very newbie rate, I soon realized there was a great deal that I not only did not know, but had never even heard of. Currently, I am considering VLCs refresher course for MTs to try to bridge the gap between what I know now and what I feel I should have learned from my training program. If anyone knows of another basic or refresher MT progrom, please feel free to let me know.
I totally agree with you! *sm*
Amanda: Good for you!!!!
I can see why a newbie would make less based on production. I don't see why a newbie MT should also have to suffer from a ridiculously low line rate. These companies that offer such line rates should be ashamed of themselves for cashing in on other people’s hard work!
Totally disagree
Congratulations should NEVER be spelled incorrectly by an MT. We are grammar and spelling specialists, are we not? In my opinion, if you are not able to put together an e-mail with correct spelling and grammar, you are in the wrong business (and I don't mean a little typo). From what I've seen, there are plenty of people in this business who should not be because they can't use the English language properly. That's the basis of all other MT learning and skills. It's like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
What? Coding most certainly can and IS sent out of the country! You're confusing
You're funny!
I totally agree. It's amazing
how many mispelled words and poorly structured sentences you see on this board. Most of them are not typos, the words are just flat out mispelled. I know that this a 'board' and that it isn't formal communication, but geeeez. Some of these posts make me gasp. No wonder MTSO's are having such a hard time finding good people.
The majority of the people who are on this board inciting riots, or at least attempting to, are the main people whose posts are loaded with ebonics. It really amazes me. I would love to see some of the work these people do.
totally agree mommymt
Give her a break - she is trying to work and contribute to society yet wanting to remain home with her children. They will remember that their mom was home with them when they were little, not that they were dumped in day care with strangers. Who knows what kind of care kids really get at daycare?
There are plenty of very good videos and shows they can watch or she can work while they nap. You people are incredibly rude. There is more than one way to raise well rounded children and the BEST way is with love from their mother - not a daycare provider.
Not that I disagree with you totally, but (see inside)
there just aren't many hospitals in many areas any more where people can work. Many of them hire services.
Graduates of Andrews School and M-Tec seem to have no problem getting hired or keeping their jobs at home right out of school. "Grads" of the "matchbook" schools are the ones who need all the extra in-house assistance.
Is your coding work done from home? I have heard it was very difficult sm
to get coding work at home, you have to go to work for a company somewhere. Has this changed? I know coders are always needed, but we don't have any openings locally for at-home coding. TIA.
I totally agree with you, terminology is horrible!
NM
I agree totally with these ladies! Especially about the school! sm
The school that I went to was "plain and simple". I have given up and working at something else. If I knew then what I know now, I would only go to the two schools that are mentioned. Too bad we can't live our life backwards!
The ladies on this forum are amazing. The knowledge they have are from years of hard work, study and a good school.
But I find they like my jokes! So I continue to post here to take them away from their work every once in awhile. Maybe take them to outerspace or down a river! Ha! Sometimes just have them rolling on the floor is enough for me!!! Same place I was when I read some of the jokes! And just add my 2 cents!
Great post. I totally agree! nm
X
Easy or not will depend totally on the type of dictators
s
i totally agree with Patty. In a docs ofc. is where it can all start.
.
Medical Transcription/Medical Coding
Hi,
I am a MT and can't find a job or pass employment test. So, I have to take one of the AAMT approved schools this time around and was thinking about Medical Coding but, not sure of this. Does anyone know if Medical Coding is harder than Medical Transcription to pass or is the stress more intense? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a bunch!
Barb
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