A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry


Coding as an IC? - GT


Posted: Jun 14, 2015

Are some coders doing coding for private practices as an IC from home?  MT for 22 years thinking of coding school.  If this is being done, how would this work?  Would you charge per report?  Do you have the reports emailed to you and then how would you do the coding?  Would you need to remotely log into their electronic records system?  I apologize if these questions sound dumb.  Truthfully I really know very little about coding as I have just begun researching whether or not I want to give this a try.  I am willing to work hard and make the investment in schooling, but I would want to be able to work as an IC with my own accounts as I have done for 22 years as an MT.  If doing acute care is the only option, I may not be happy.  I have done acute care MT but was happier doing clinic.  I am not the fastest transcriptionist in the world but have an excellent record for accuracy.  I never liked the pressure of having to meet line counts in the hospital.  I would rather work at my own pace by the line and be able to focus on quality.  I do not mind if the pay for private practice is less than for acute care.

This is nothing like MT - sm - MT2coder

[ In Reply To ..]
First off, you need to go to coding school which can take months to years. Some people work at home for services, totally unlike the crappy ones MT has turned into. Some work for hospitals, doctor offices, etc. You more than likely will work in a coding program. It isn't by acute care and clinic; that's not how it is done. You can code inpatient or outpatient, of which outpatient has a lot of opportunities, ER, ancillary, observation, etc. I work for a hospital so I don't know how a service works exactly but people I know work for a service and that particular one still pays per hour, much like the hospital. Maybe some pay by chart, I don't know, but every chart can be so different, some easy, some hard, that I don't know that I'd want to be paid that way. I'd probably rather get a great hourly pay and not have to worry about production per se for my pay. You would probably still have to keep up a certain quota though.

Coding involves sometimes time-consuming and tedious searching and is a completely different entity than transcription. I highly suggest you really read up on it before deciding that is what you want to do.

Again, it can takes months to years with a goal to be obtaining certification which is an absolute must to get hired - CPC or CCS, both or either, your choice. I would strongly recommend working in-house because this isn't an easy job to do and it helps to have someone to bounce questions off of, even long after you've learned and are doing coding. We all ask each other questions at work when we get stuck and it's nice to have that lifeline.

Good luck - try AHIMA or AAPC websites for information on becoming a coder.

Right, nothing like MT. - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
If MTing the way you prefer it is working out for you, you might prefer to stay with it. As noted above, coding is not like MT.

Coding for offices often involves billing, requiring a lot more than just coding ... claims preparation, approvals, denials management, and so forth. You are not going to find many positions that involve much actual coding, since physicians typically close the codes themselves. If they do use a coder, they are unlikely to want someone who just assigns codes from home ... they want someone who does everything and speed is usually necessary to keep from getting behind.

If you don't prefer acute care, it is likely that acute care coding and ambulatory hospital care will seem too difficult for you. Those jobs are usually done in-house, or possibly outsourced. Either way, they are not going to be IC types of jobs in the sense that you run the whole show and control everything.

In fact, even getting to the point that you could get contracts as an IC would be unlikely, since there is such a steep learning curve early in a coder's career. You really do need to be working in a supervised, supported environment for that.

Then there is the quality not quantity issue. In coding, this is not an either/or affair. It is both, always. Accuracy in coding is absolute and there is no arguing about it. You have to be completely accurate, but you also have to be productive. If not, someone does not get paid and/or money is lost on rework. If you are not both, you cannot pass any certification exam. If you are not certified, you won't work as an employee for long, but no one will hire you as an IC at all.

I think coding is an excellent career. It has a lot of room for independent consultants. Getting to that point requires a lot of work, though, and interpersonal interaction. My suggestion would be to review the information about coding that is on the websites mentioned above, AHIMA and AAPC, and see if it appeals to you.



Similar Messages:


Hired For Coding/billing/transcription, But Told No Coding
Aug 13, 2013

Accepted a job, gave 2 weeks notice, and yesterday was my first day.  I was to be helping out transcription (1000 jobs behind), and then sitting with billing and training with coding as their coder will be out on maternity leave in December.  The office is adding another surgeon, and they are rapidly expanding.  So I gave a proper 2 weeks' notice to my former employer (2 hours on the road there and back, low salary - now less than half distance and $3 more an hour) and starte ...


Certification In Coding Or AA Degree In Coding??
May 11, 2010

Is there really such a thing as an AA degree in coding?  Sounds odd to me.  Health administration or management, or RHIT I can see, but coding? Is it not better to just become Certified even if you dont have an AA degree? ...


Coding School - Fate Of Coding Due To EMR
Apr 10, 2012

Wondering if there are any coders out there who can give me an idea of the fate of coding due to the EMR. Are there still coding jobs out there? Would it be wise to attend school for coding at this point or do you think it will be lost to the EMR eventually? I live in a rural area and there are advertisements for registered/accredited coders at medical facilities, but I'm afraid of spending all that time and money on schooling only to not be able to find a job. Any information/insight w ...


Coding :: Thinking About Changing From MT To Coding
Oct 07, 2013

I am thinking about changing from MT to coding.  Are there many opportunities to work from home with coding?  What would be a good school to attend? Thank you for the help. ...


Do I Need To Take An Actual Coding Course To Learn Coding?
Feb 26, 2014

My sister is taking an online coding course and complains that there is no real "teaching," that she's basically just doing the work in the work book and entering answers online, then taking an online chapter test.  This makes me wonder about the necessity of signing up for an actual course.  I would like to learn how to code, but to me, without any actual instruction, what's the purpose of signing up for one of these online courses? ...


Coding :: Age Restriction On New Coding Students?
Apr 15, 2014

Anyone know if MM has an age restriction on new coding students? ...


Which Coding Workbook Does Your Coding Program Use
May 20, 2014

Thanks for your response.  ...


MT To Coding
Sep 27, 2010

I've been an MT for going on 8 years now, and I've been throwing around the idea of taking a coding class. I would really like to have something else to fall back on, as it seems that MT'ing is going more and more to VR. There's a local coding class that begins in January for $1700, but I wanted to get some feedback of current coders before signing up. Is the demand for coders still fairly high? Is it hard to find a job as a newbie, even with already having experience in the ...


Is Coding The Way To Go?!
Jan 19, 2011

I have almost 12 years experience as an MT (turn 30 in a month ACK!)  My mom has been telling me for a couple years now (since it started going downhill) that I should maybe think about coding as a career.  I guess she thinks I'd be good at it, but I have no idea.  I have just started my research but I thought I would kind of get some pros and cons about it see if anyone had advice or thoughts on anyone thinking about it.  I always feel like I'm too old to start som ...


What Do You (did You) Like Best About Your Coding Course?
Dec 27, 2011

What was the best thing about the coding course you took? Did it prepare you for the CCS and CPC exams or maybe just the CCA? Did you take any of those exams and did you pass or fail them?  What course did you take? Did you think it was hard or easy? You don't need to answer all of the questions, but maybe a couple of them. Thanks.  ...


I Keep Looking At Coding, Considering It But........
Feb 11, 2012

there's just ONE little thing that keeps me doubting the possibility of it being a long-term career: I keep seeing more and more ads every week for "at home coders".  Does this make you at least a little nervous?  It makes me a LOT nervous.  We all know that once MTs started working from home, the MT field went into a tailspin, pay-wise, because "work-at-home" seems to translate into "work-in-India", instead.  Also I see some ads for MTSOs that also offer coding.  ...


E&M Coding?
Apr 16, 2012

Is Evaluation and management coding hard to learn? ...


Coding Vs MT, What To Do....
May 10, 2012

I am generally pretty good at making my own decisions; however, I need advice on what to do in this situation. I am currently an MT making $55,000-$60,000 year. The last few years MT work slowed down due to VR/EMR and it was harder and harder to replace lost accounts. While I was looking for another client/MTSO to fill the gap last year, I took a college course for coding and passed the CPC thinking I would have a back-up plan if needed; however, I found more MT work shortly after passing the C ...


How Did You Get Your First Coding Job?
Aug 14, 2012

I passed the CCS and CPC exam 8 months ago but have yet to find a job :(.  I busted my bu** to become a certified coder, and now that I am one, no one will hire me without experience.  I live in a small town.  We have one hospital.  I applied and was flat out told they cannot hire coders without minimum 2 years experience.  I asked if I could volunteer or job shadow and they said no.  No jobs there in HIM at all.  Our local medical clinic has a coding company t ...


Coding As An Art: Another Way To Look At Coding
Oct 12, 2012

I think it's a good artcile about coding and will give you a glimpse into it too. ...


Is Coding Going To Go The Same Way As MT?
Jul 09, 2013

Before I take this leap of faith into coding school, will the EHR/VR technology be sinking the coding ship too?   ...


Help With Coding Course
Jul 21, 2013

Can anyone help out with a basics coding course I am taking? ...


Be Sure You Know What You're Getting Into With The Coding
Mar 12, 2014

Just got an e-mail from my manager stating that if you get accepted into the program, all money paid while training will have to be paid back if you do not complete or pass the course or if you pass and do not stay with the company for 24 months following completion of the training. You also still have to work your regular number of hours. If you can't get your homework done in the 20 paid hours, then you will have to do it on your own time. ...


Considering Coding And Have
May 14, 2014

I've seen lots of people ask questions about coding, but I have some questions I haven't seen asked before and was hoping somebody could answer them.  I'd hate to go to school for something and then learn the hard way that I hate the job.  BTDT and don't want to do it again! -What do you like best about coding? -What do you hate about coding? -What is the most stressful part of the job? -What kinds of people would like coding? Thanks in advance for any answers ...


So I'm Trying To Get Out Of MT And Was Considering Coding
May 19, 2015

based on reading here that they prepare you for the CCS, which is know is pretty much mandatory .  Anyway, what I read there about their coding program sounded really good, but then I read about their transcription program.  I now have lost respect for this school.  How can I believe what they say about coding when they tout medical transcription as still being a good career?   I know I work for the notoriously WORST of the worst company, Nuance, but I think all MT companie ...


Coding Won't Die - Here's Why
Jun 10, 2015

...


MT/Coding Magazine
Nov 03, 2009

I used to receive a free magazine that was mainly for coding, but it had some MT information.  It was more of medical information magazine.  I have since stopped receiving it and can't remember the name of it.  Does anyone know what I'm tallking about?  If so, can you send me the name of the magazine so I can contact them and get another subscription.    Thank you. ...


Going From MT To Medical Coding
Feb 04, 2010

Any informatioin regarding medical coding and billing? I am thinking about going back to school. I recently lost my MT job. Thanks! ...


Coding Educaiton
Feb 23, 2010

I'd like to know where/how coders out there got there education.  I live in central Iowa and took a an "insurance billing" class along with my MT class, at a local community college.  However, I did not feel that it was very good training for coding, and the teacher wrote the book/manual herself.  We did, however, use the ICD-9 and CPT books in conjunction with her manual.  Do most medical coders take their training online, or do they attend a school?  If you atten ...


Thinking Of Coding. Help
Mar 29, 2010

I have been a MT for over 4 years.  I am thinking of switching to coding.  How hard is the switch?  Can you find work at home jobs?  What are the best online schools for it?   Thank you ...


Going To Start Coding
Apr 04, 2010

I am wanting to start coding in the next month.  I have a question though.  Does it make a difference if you have a certificate or associates in it?  Is one better than the other? ...


Basic Coding Help
Apr 20, 2010

Hello, I am looking for anyone who is a coder, or understands the basic concepts of using the ICD-9 book. If possible I would like to speak with someone directly and can arrange a phone call. I am only a few weeks into this, I do not want to be a coder, I am getting my degree to be an MA. Just reading examples of how or why to code something a certain way is really giving me trouble. If anyone hear can offer any help please drop me a line. I don't know if there is a way to PM someone o ...


Billing/coding
Apr 20, 2010

has anyone thought about or actually made the swith from mt to billing/coding? ...


Coding Study On One's Own
Apr 25, 2010

I'd like to begin studying medical coding on my own to see if it it's a match iin terms of learning and liking the field. I have 30+ years of transcription experience and usually learn fairly quickly. What books/workbooks do you suggest as a start to see if this feels like it will work for me? And for people who have done this on your own, what did you include in a program of study for yourself? Are there some areas that you feel an in-house course is needed?  Replies greatly app ...


WR Typing And Coding
Apr 30, 2010

Any info on them? Supposed to be out of AL but when I google them, nothing comes up.  ...