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

Coding certification

Posted By: diddles on 2005-12-22
In Reply to: medical coding - looking for work

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~




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

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.
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.

Some union contracts have more pay for certification. sm
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.
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.
Coding, VR?

If the trend continues to let all transcription go to India, what is left for us?  Is anyone paying more than 3-4 a line for reviewing voice recognition work?  Is coding on the way to India too or is this still an option for us who live in the U.S.? I am wondering if it is worthwhile to start taking coding classes now before I lose my job to India.  Can we even do coding from home?


 


Coding
Yes, coding could be the way to go,although not at home yet. I'm considering a course, they say MTs make good coders.
I want to go into coding too (sm)
but don't have the money now for school.  I've been in the biz 20+ years and it's unbelievable how the work has dried up.  Yet they keep hiring when other MTs have no work. 
coding

I was an inpatient coder for a year and I made more transcribing.  I worked for a large chain (that ended up in trouble with the feds) and we were constantly told to find better DRGs so they would get paid more....dig 'em up even if that wasn't the reason for admission.  I enjoyed my job otherwise, I did become nearsighted after a year probably because of reading the physician writing.


Even if you go to school and get certified now, the companies say they need 2 years.


 


Remote Coding
Does anyone have anything to say about the remote coding.
medical coding
Does anybody know about going into medical billing/coding. I'm looking into getting out of transcription, and I know of 1 national company that supposedly hires coders, but I don't want to spend the $$ for school and then have no work or a low paying job
Coding is being sent overseas as well
NM
Has anyone left MT to go to coding? sm

I have 16 years experience as an MT, but I am just tired of it.  I have completed a medical billing course and I am now working on  a coding course.  I am really enjoying the coding and it seems to come easy to me, which is a miracle :)  So, if anyone has switched, I would love your input.  Thanks!


In 5 years, coding will be just like MT--sm
rates dropping, offshoring and big services taking over.  Mark my words.
They have coding and transcription
nm
coding at home sm
Would you care to share what state you are in?  I assume you do the coding via computer and have computer access to patient's records.  Do you code directly into the hospital system?  I only had exposure to coders back when they had no computers.    Do you have coding certification?  How many years experience do you have?  I want to get into coding and I would love to work at coding from home.  I've taken classes and really enjoy it and have done well, but am not certified and I heard its really hard to get into coding.  I do have lots of MT experience though, 33 years.  Thanks.
Coding Recognition Software
I see that Nuance is now pushing its coding recognition software. Maybe I should put off that AHIMA coding course. I can't wait until they come out with HIM Director Botware, CFO Botware, and CEO Botware.
Thanks for warning me, but this is the other company - no coding LOL. NM
xx
Augusta Coding nad Transcription
This company had a job posting on mtjobs.com several weeks ago - anyone else apply and actually hear anything back?  I've even sent a follow-up email and nothing.  Just wondering if I was the only one.
Augusta Coding and Transcription
Amen, brother ben. They are not cool. Do not confuse with AugustaMedicalTranscription.com which is a great Christian owned (2 people, Mike and Pam, friends), run this business.

Augusta Coding will screw an MT by charging for software, paying low and charging high. Beware beware. I did not and I did work there, but found making about 3.00 hr was not possible.
make better money coding...sm
I do earn more money coding, mainly because it is hourly pay (so no fluctuations like you get with line counts) and the value of the benefits. I do think there are coding jobs which are much less stressful than where I work. Actually, I think most of them are. Our facility is huge, actually has it's own little city, with 3 hospitals, one with a level 1 trauma center which is shared with a children's hospital, 150-some clinics, an eye institute, and a cancer center plus is a teaching facility so we do the coding for the college facilities. Most coding jobs in my area (midwest) are working from home. Our benefits include health, dental, life, disability and vision insurance, FSA and HSA accounts, tuition reimbursement, AHIMA membership paid, 403B match, 4.6 hours of earned vacation and 1.8 hours of sick time per pay period (2 weeks) so they're pretty good. I do know coders in other facilities around here who do not have the same stressful conditions which we have and who love their jobs. Much of it is due to size and our remote management. I used to work at a smaller hospital and really liked coding there. I left when my daughter became ill and needed me home. I ended up at the facility I am with now because they were one of the few places who did have home coding available at the time that i started. Now I just think I am too darned old to start over someplace else and give up my seniority, vacation accrual, etc., so I will stick it out until I can retire. So it's my own fault I'm miserable 'cuz I don't make the change! If you go into coding, I hope you get to be one of the people who does love it and would venture a guess you would not find the stress level to be what ours is unless you work for one of the largest of facilities.
Augusta Coding and Transcription

Watch out for this company.  They have a horrible platform they use and are extremely rude in QA (main gal running the company).  Please beware, as life is too short to live like this. 


What about medical coding? Is that a lucrative..sm
and somewhat secure field to consider?  I am doing a lot of re-thinking after this MDI-Transcend stunner and know that being an MT today is nothing like it was 30 years ago when I first started my career.  Does anyone have any opinions or knowledge on medical coding and if that is a viable alternative to MTing?  Thanks.
OOPS! Supposed to be Coding and Transcription
nm
Anyone ever hear of Augusta Coding and Transcription in SM
Georgia? Any comments. There are 2 in Georgia. Thanks in advance.
Make sure it is not Augusta Coding and Medical Transcription....
that company is run by 2 psychos, Ann and Stella...it certainly is not Christian either, and you will have to pay their license fee to use their software. In other words, you pay them to work for them.
is this ACTI (augusta coding transcription inc) in Evans, GA or
Augusta Medical Transcription in Augusta, GA? I'm trying to find out which company is better. I want to work in ChartScript. Thanks!
Part & Full Time Data Entry & Document Coding Position - Sara McDaniel - HR Administrator
This company has ads on other web sites. You have to pay them $55 to do a background check up front. Guess what? If you don't get hired, they've got your $55. Don't know if it's legit - just posting facts.