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

I've actually found Medicare very easy to deal with...

Posted By: Rn on 2006-04-30
In Reply to: Thanks for your reply! - Spice

wouldn't dread the call. It will probably go better with Medicare than with the nephrologist.


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

Yep, same here, FlashType. I found it easy to use, sort of like
gg
B.S. in HIM, earned RHIA, didn't want to be management, found MT came easy to me. nm
x
No big deal. I've done this a few times, can't be helped
nm
the ones I've done have been easy
I've done allergy and pulmonary clinic notes and they're not hard -- at least what I've done.  I wouldn't sneeze at any opportunity to learn more if it pays well and interests you.  You can always "cough" it up to experience.  (Sorry, am losing it here.)
I've used one that's about the size of your car key fob. Easy
s
I've heard its really an easy platform...
We use IDXRad and I'm told its easier than that - and IDXRad is really, really easy, so I think you'll like RadNet!
I've found that most physicians who
dictate at such a ridiculous pace are trying to make up for other deficiencies....you know like "male menopause" where the older guy goes out and buys an expensive sports car, etc., etc.  Seems most of the speeders on my account are DOs, NOT MDs.....guess they feel inferior in some way. 
I think most recruiters are NOT MTs. They know very little about MT from what I've found. nm
x
It is in NJ, which I've always found weird. nm
x
Without a doubt the best I've found!

I searched and searched for someone who could design a small simple site with digital dictation file upload and download capability, and www.sitefever.com made me a great site and maintains it for 40 dollars every month, and for a one time fee of $150 they custom designed what I needed to upload and download my dictation files. They have been great and I have had no problems with them at all.


Hope this helps!


Dawn


I've found files sm
I have "lost" files before and found that sometimes if you click on "start" at the bottom left of your screen that you may find a temporary saved file under documents. Sometimes it doesn't save the whole document, but part is better than nothing. Probably a long shot, but thought I'd mention it.
The only way I've found to avoid this is to.....

have three part-time jobs.  I used to have one full time and two part time, but just recently went to three part time.


I NEVER run out of work now, but always have in the past six years in the business.  This works for me, but took almost a year to balance the three so I'm not working a ton of hours.


The only solution I've found is....
to just totally quit every so often, get totally out of it and if you find no new way to make money, go back to it.  The break helps, but honestly it's happened to me half a dozen times over the 20 years I've done this.  It was so challenging when I first started and I enjoyed it.  The catch-22 is when you finally get to high line counts it becomes monotonous.  What didn't help was when the line rates went into a freeze...kind of kills the motivation to sit there and type.   For me, I would get sleep attacks transcribing and would wake up almost falling out of my chair;.  More than once, I've quit and said I'm never going back.  Now I just quit for awhile but knowing deep down I may be back again.   All in all, if you can keep the right attitude, it's a great job that offers a lot of freedom as far as flexibility and freedom to travel around the country and keep a paycheck coming in.;
Yeah, that's where I'm at, too. I've found these
for half the money I used to make. And the work isn't easier, it's harder. I used to do about 8 docs that I knew like the back of my hand. I usually knew what they were going to say before they said it, because their thought patterns had become second nature to me. But now I do several accounts, hundreds of doctors, plus nurses, PA's, med-students, etc. The reports are longer, and it's all straight typing, no templates. Even though I'm home all day, far less gets done around here than before, because I always have to work if I'm going to buy food and pay my rent.
I've found, fortunately, that

those types of people are not the "norm" in the MT world or I would have quit a LONG time.  The sad thing though is they are becoming more prevalent lately, but perhaps I'm becoming jaded.  I can think of only 5 truly glaring examples in the past 23 years.


I think some of these unpleasant B's are just on power trips because they have a position of "authority" (big deal - I'm certainly not impressed).  I always let management know, even if they choose to be in denial or blow it off, I've at least gotten it off my chest and had my say.  When I complain to mgmt. I stick to the facts/issues/dates ONLY and there is usually silence on the other end of the line (no arguments) as they are taking it all in.  Funny thing though, even after numerous complaints, they seem reluctant to eliminate the offenders. 


I've found that it's not just one website
I have found that the manufacturers' websites often show the brand names of the equipment used.

Not every employer or hospital will acknowledge a manufacturer's website as being a legitimate source, but at least the manufacturer often gives you a direction to look in and an idea of how a brand name is spelled.

Here's an example:

http://www.medtronic.com/your-health/bradycardia/device/index.htm
I've found it more lucrative to charge .... sm

... by the report, although others might disagree.  $1.10 to $1.25 is average when working as an employee.  If you're working as an IC you really should charge more, considering your overhead, etc... and make sure you charge for every report, not page.  For instance a report that includes more than one requisition, such as a foot and ankle, would be two reports.  If the radiologist is getting paid for each study(which they certainly are), then so should you.


Hope this helps !


I've found the answer and how to declutter.
Get diagnosed with cancer.   Got the diagnosis yesterday and today I've been going through the house like the Tazmanian devil.   I'm throwing stuff away, boxing stuff up to go to Goodwill and Freecyling some stuff.   We were in serious need of a Clean Sweep (though I never would do it because I'd be too embarrassed that I let my house get like that).   I know it is a bit of an overreaction, but both of my parents died and didn't have things in order and I was left to deal with it all and don't want the same for my family.  I also don't want to look at the clutter anymore and want my house to be relaxing and not be afraid to open my door when the doorbell rings.   It also helps keep my mind occupied.   I only made a teeny, tiny dent in the clutter, but at least it was progress.   I also don't want my kids growing up thinking that our house is "normal."  I have boys and I don't think their future wives would  appreciate a slob for a husband. 
the lightest touch i've every found
was the Kinesis -- they are not cheap but man, i wish i would have found them years ago. Some have said before that the Goldtouch keyboards have a good touch too.
I've found an adapter that has the 2-prongs
and then you plug your headphones into the other end, just didn't want to buy them from TVPS. 
I've found nothing has a higher pay level (sm)
all same across the board these days.
I've found you have to work more than 8 hours a day to
If I had to stick to an 8-hour time period, I couldn't afford to continue.
I've moved to 4 different states until I found what I want that pays what I want
The world isn't going to come to you. You have to make some effort yourself.
I've found it helps soothe the mania and keep me
x
This is the best site I've found about treating fibromyalgia. It works for me, maybe it will for

I'm lead transcrip for small ofc, in the field since 88, and I've found (sm)
that depending on the person, it can take up to a year. You either have to be very smart and very driven to make it shorter, or you would have to have some exposure to the systems/docs etc. It takes a longer time if you are also new to the field of MT. But after about a year, if you don't find yourself relaxing when you are at work, talk to somebody. That's long enough, and you should be finding a niche for yourself by then.
In our area of NY, I've found that hot summer weekends are terrible...sm
for sales. No one wants to get out of their cars in the heat! Have done best in early spring or in Sept/Oct., here anyway. And a Fri./Sat. combo is more successful than a Sat./Sun. weekend. Have BIG signs at major intersections and showing the way into your neighborhood and right to your house. Run an ad in the Garage Sale section of your paper. Be prepared for early birds coming down your driveway or right into your yard 2 hours ahead of time. Block your driveway with a car or sawhorses until you're actually open, but be ready to say 'come back later' when people show while you're setting up. Have prices on everything or group things by price in one location. Have lots of singles and quarters for change. Bring your phone outside with you. Paper and pen if people want to call you later. Have packing material for glass and china, plastic or paper bags for purchasers. Some hard candy/mints on a table out of sun helps people stick around longer. If you have big jackets, long dresses, bedspreads, etc. put them up for display - on hangers, in trees, strung up between ladders. Try and keep all your displays up at table height - people aren't keen on getting down on the ground to paw through boxes or check out stuff spread out on a bedsheet. Use every card table, picnic table, folding table, etc that you can find for displaying stuff. If you have anything electric to sell, have an extension cord plugged in so people can see that items still work. Keep expensive small items near you at your 'check out' station to keep them from walking away. And always be ready to come down on price as everyone will ask you, "can you do any better?" Or "what's your best price on this?" Enjoy your sale and treat yourself to pizza after all your hard work! :)
I have found that honesty is always best. I've quit a job right after receiving the equipment S

because a better offer came along.  I have always just been honest, tell them that I've decided to accept another position.  I apologize for any inconvenience, ask them to instruct them on how they would like me to return the equipment, and then I always ask that they keep my resume on file.  They are usually pretty diplomatic about it.  They'd rather you tell them up front than waste their time and yours in training for a job you're not going to be happy with.


It is an okay deal - TR 11 font is small. Not as good a deal as Courier.
Personally, I would have to think really hard and compare reports and line counts, like the other poster below suggested, before I would jump right into it. It is probably 75-80 characters to a line +/- the single character lines you get for initials, and 2 word lines you get with op reports such as Surgeon:
IV Fluids:
Anesthesia:
etc.

It probably is comparable to 9 cpl with a larger font.

Good luck in whatever you decide.


Good Luck!
I've found this resource pretty useful for rehab work. Link inside.

Have this as one of my bookmarks - found this handy whilst handling rehab work. Hope this helps!


http://medicaltranscriptionwordhelp.googlepages.com/rehabmedicineterminology


It is a GREAT company and great deal! I've had
Vonage about 6 months now and I love it. The only mistake I made was trying to keep my original phone # - I wouldn't recommend that. You have a temp # for a while, and the other provider can fight for the old #, etc. Go to vonage. com. They have new features all the time! There is even a new soft phone that is a phone on your screen. You don't need a real phone when working - just headset. It has 800 #s you can have very inexpensively - great voice mail. You get emails when you have new messages, etc. I only wish I had used them a year ago! Nothing but good things to say, and I complain about everything!
SE Medicare and SS are taken out, not fed tax.
I looked on the IRS website. You do get a SE W2 and then you can deduct business expenses to lower your fed tax, but you still are responsibile for fed tax yourself. I double checked at the IRS website.
Question about Medicare.

I hope I'm posting on the right board, but here it goes.  My elderly mother was in the hospital back in January and on Friday received a bill from a nephrologist who saw her briefly once and billed Medicare $375 for his in-hospital consultation.  Medicare paid them $15.68, they "wrote down" $240.40 and the supplementary paid $3.92, and now they are billing her $115.  This is the first time she has ever received a bill from anyone as her insurance has always paid.  I keep thinking that they have used a wrong CPT code for their billing as it is beyond me that Medicare would only pay $15.68 for an in-hospital consultation.  I will have to wrangle with these people tomorrow, but wanted to know if anyone had any opinions about this and feels like I do.  I don't think this is her deductible amount as she had seen many physicians before him seeing her in the hospital.  I know I will also have to call Medicare to see if in fact they are the ones that got their bill in first and this is in fact her yearly deductible, but as they say, knowledge is your best tool before someone tries to pull the "wool over your eyes."



 


yes..they are taking out for SS and Medicare...
a friend of mine said when she wasn't making that much money she had them withold an extra 10.00 for federal so i may have to do that...
Cuts in medicare and medicaid are about to take place
I have mentioned this but it was always deleted as I think the monitor thought I was talking politics.

There will be a marked decline in coverage for services to medicare and medicaid patients and I believe to offset this, medical facilities are finding ways to cut costs.

The cuts will be significant. You could do a Google search for Deficit Reduction Act. Radiology will be most severely hit, especially stand alone facilities.
Forgot to say this was for Medicare Supplemental Insurance (NM))
nm
Many physicians in my area don't want to take Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare
or other insurances because the insurance companies require a huge buydown of charges and then disallow quite a bit for being "above the reasonable amount."

For example, I had double insurance of Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Tricare when I had surgery. The bills totaled $15,000. Blue Cross knocked $5,000 off the physician's $7,800 bill, paid him $600 and left Tricare and me to deal with the $1,200 balance. Tricare wouldn't pay because they disallowed the amount as unreasonable, the physician's office forced me to make payments on it, and I had to fight just so I didn't owe them another $1,200. It was ridiculous that I had double insurance coverage and wound up owing anything. Meanwhile, the doctor didn't even get paid that much, and he did my presurgery appointments, the actual surgery, two postsurgery appointments to remove hardware, plus coordinating everything between cardiology, radiology, anesthesia, laboratory, surgery, and having special equipment trucked in from out of state.

If I had not had insurance at all, I would have had to pay the entire amount. I think it's crazy that noninsureds have to pay the full amount but insurance companies can disallow or buy down the amounts due. Anyway, you hit a big rant of mine. Shortly after I lost my Blue Cross coverage, my son needed to be seen but we couldn't find a provider to even take Tricare at all. So much for my husband serving his country and being away from his family in the line of duty. The doctors get rich and refuse to treat military personnel who fight for their freedom. Talk about a total lack of appreciation.
Your national is liable for SS and Medicare tax not you. They thinkyou are self employed. nm
:
Will I not get paid if the hospital isn't reimbursed with Medicare/Medicaid?
I was told by a coworker that California is in so much debt that I may not get a paycheck if CA goes bankrupt because the hospital I work for will not be getting subsidized any longer....

could this be true?
Yes, you're cranky. The docs may be instructed to do so to appease Medicare or other such entity.
x
Medicare is offering free installation of EMR to physicians and hospitals.
http://www.medscape.com/px/instantpollservlet/result?PollID=1502
If government is involved, it will be as screwed up as the Medicare medication program.
Heaven save us from all these wanna be kings that sit on top of the hill.
I've also found it varies from editor to editor -
In one case I researched it fully, and found that both of them were wrong, and I had been right all along.
[Sigh........]
anyone watch deal or no deal?

I love Deal or No Deal.......nm

The easy answer, taking all the easy work and
x
Oh, I found it really creepy when you said you found the flowers not so skillfully arranged on your
steps, and from your own flower bed.  That's what I was worried about, having gone thru some psycho kids myself with my pups.  Someone's been in your yard and in your garden and at your door without your knowledge.  Its just creepy to me, and I'd still be very, very careful.  Especially valid sounded the other MTs warning you about potential fake molestation charges.  You just NEVER know nowadays, and these people have already turned on you big time once. Luckily (though I don't believe in luck), you had it on film to save yourself and your puppy.  You might not be that lucky next time, and the whole thing just sounds very unstable to me right now.  I know you feel sorry for the little girl, but probably the only time I have ever made BAD decisions regarding my life is when I felt sorry for someone, particularly kids.  My son even has an evil kid in his life, but one who has a million reasons for sympathy, and I was saying how we should "be bigger" than the situation and invite this kid over to play.  Thankfully, I regained my sanity long enough to remember - ever time I have done something like that on a personal basis for someone just because I feel sorry for them AFTER horrible behavior, it has always been a disaster... Be kind, but you don't have to risk your family again. Be kind from a distance.  Its sorry she went thru this horrible experience, but YOU didn't cause it, and its not really your problem.  But it could be your problem if this kid acts out in your life.  Know what I mean?
Well, Word is easy to buy and easy to install. Word 97 works great. Cheap. SM
I still would not work anywhere I could not use a spell checker with grammar checker and a Steadman's Medical Spell Checker.

IF they want people to TRANSCRIBE MEDICAL REPORTS, then I guess they better get the programs they need.

It's like probably 110% easier to buy and install Word 97 than to try to program their own programming. And, yes, I do mean Microsoft Word 97. Why? Because you can install it unlimited times, in case you need to install the operating system again. And it has a few features that Microsoft, in its un-wisdom, took away in Word 2000 and 20003 and 2007. So, yes, I'd go with Word 97 for its cheapness and it works better than the later versions. Just my opinion, with 20 years experience being an MT. So what if they "don't have it" on their computer? It's easy to get.
Not sure, I have deductions for federal income tax, SS tax, Medicare tax, and state income tax. ???
nm
I use EXText with my current job and I've used at a couple of other jobs I've had. I've ne

used DocQscribe, but I have used Meditech, Cerner, Vianeta, the Precyse platform (I can't remember the name), Dolbey, and  Lanier platform I think was called Cequence (?). 


Out of all the different platforms I have typed on, I have liked EXText the best.  In my opinion, it's very user friendly, easy to learn, and I really like ESP which is the built in abbreviation expander.  Plus it is very easy to create your own normals which I love.  My fingers literally never leave the keyboard because there are macro keys for everything.  You can use your mouse if you prefer or learn the function macros.  I love it.  I think I'm more productive on EXText than with any other platform.


I think I found it, found multiple recipes with the same
exact ingredients so I figure this must be it.