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MM offering coding training - HDS2Coder

Posted: Mar 10, 2014

it says if we qualify we will have three months of training, then spend three months in their apprentice program, and then will be given positions with them as coders. We then have to work for them for 2 years or pay back for the program. It doesn't talk about compensation or any certification. Do you think this is a good idea?

In regards to same as OP, curious to know - Average pay for a coder

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Thanks!

Coding pay - varies

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Coding pay varies depending on the part of the country, experience, if you are certified, etc. By OP do you mean outpatient coding? I think I have seen stuff about pay on the AAPC's website or else you can try AHIMAs. I am an OP coder but started as a new grad but had the certifications already.

Link to salary survey - Coder

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Unemployment percentages are nearly half of what they were last year. For instance, those holding a Certified Professional Coder (CPCÂ®) credential enjoy 1.7 percent unemployment rate, compared to the latest numbers of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisticsâ�� national average of 7.4 percent, as shown in the Unemployment chart.

This dramatic increase in employment across the board means a number of the 15,000 members who responded to our survey were only recently hired and are at, or near, starting salary levels. As a result, the survey shows a slight decrease in the overall average salary: $46,847 (compared to last yearâ��s $47,870). The survey also shows, however, that the average salary jumps up to $48,925 for those who have more than two years of experience in their field. In other words, the average salary continues to climb steadily for those who have been in the healthcare workforce for a few years.

Experience Impacts Salary

As experience increases substantially, so does the average salary, with those who have more than 15 years of experience making an average of $56,667 annually (as shown in the Salary by Experience graph). Itâ��s interesting, ho Vwever, to note that the most substantial salary increases take place in the first 20 years of experience. Beyond that, the increases are marginal at best, with a little less than a 5 percent salary increase for every five years of experience.

but what about - no certification?

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the info we got doesn't say anything about leading to any kind of certification. TIA.

Coding certifications - Coder

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There are many certifications for coding from both AHIMA and AAPC. I could list them all on here, but you could visit those webbsites from more information.

Nowhere did anyone say there was no certification - Coder2

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First, training programs do not give you a certification. You have to apply to take an exam administered by the AAPC or the AAPC and pass it to get certified as a coder.

Second, coders are not marketable without certification. Hospitals and facilities are expected to hire only certified coders, and that includes any companies contracted to do their coding. Even MM.

Since your certification is a requirement for MM,, MM's training program has to be enough that you can pass a certification exam, which will likely be the CPC.

Do coders ever work evening or weekend hours. Not interested in - in Mon - Fri 9-5. TIA

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x

Coding Schedule - Flexible

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Im sure you could work flexible hours, but it may depend on if you are in a hospital setting or in a clinic. If the clinic is closed they may not want you there after hours, but as hospitals are 24/7 Im sure you could. The hospital I work for will let their coders flex their hours after 90 days and work whatever we want as long as we stick with it. I could outpatient and was actually going to go to nights due to space but now there are openings on days so I get to stay on days. Im sure it depends on the facility, manager preference, hours of department, etc.

Yup, they do - Coder

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I know a lot of coders who work flexible shifts, and more who work a regular shift during the day and go home to work on contract coding in the evening or on weekends.

There are also coders who fly in to a work site, work like a tiger for 3 days, then fly home for a long weekend.

Need contact info for this program - enigma

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I don't work for M-Modal, but I am a current medical transcription who Is interested in this program. Would someone who has the contact info for this program please post it here, or PM me if you would prefer. Thanks so much!

Sorry, it's for MModal employees only - anon

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It's to help transition some of us because of the bankruptcy announcement - it's only for MModal employees and they are only admitting 60 of us into the program.

Bankruptcy??? - GrtMT

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Its not because of bankruptcy. This program has been in the works for a while. And they're admitting 60 who can pass the test.

But their timing is pretty suspicious, don'tcha think? - I dont think its just circumstantial.

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Does it matter? - No

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It really makes no difference if it seems "suspicious" or not. It is still paid training and experience, after which you can write your own coder ticket.

While it might seem that this whole thing was some nefarious plot they cooked up within a day or two because of the restructuring, the fact is that they couldn't have planned something like a coder training program that fast. The events are almost certainly unrelated.

Sure as heck DOES matter. We're dealing with - the shadiest company on earth.

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XX

Honey, it could be with Vlad Dracul ... - sm

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It is free, PAID training with 2 years of a guaranteed PAID job, and that is such a good deal that even if it was offered by Vlad Dracul I would tell you to take it and try not to be too annoying.

Well, good luck with that. - NM

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Look them up online and phone someone there - to ask about it. nm

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NM

I hope they give you - all the details!

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How can you decide if they don't lay it all out for you? Two years seems long, and what is the amount? What would you have to pay back? We had a hospital do something like this, and they gave all details, what they would be paid, everything. Maybe when you apply individually they will tell you?

Leaving out what you will be paid is VERY suspicious to me. - anon

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What a crucial detail to omit. Who would sign a contract to work for 2 years in a job without knowing the pay? And asking what the average rate for coding I think is useless. M*Modal utilizes a "computer-assisted" coding program called Fluency for Coding. I can't imagine that they won't use that to pay a lower than normal rate.

So far, no one has been offered a contract to sign - Coder2

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Looks like they just asked for interested persons to submit resumes for an opportunity to test. That doesn't constitute signing a contract.

If you aren't a problem employee, and you have one of the top 60 scores on the test, they will explain the rest. It is nobody's business but the selected employees.

I wouldn't explain it to everyone else, either, because the chronic malcontents and conspiracy theorists would rip it apart all over the internet. Just like they are doing here.

Yeah, because the computer makes everything so easy ... - me

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...and coders don't do any actual work. You make people here VERY angry when you say that.

And also you'll be very disappointed if and when you actually code.

Your knee-jerk reaction missed my point - anon

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You obviously don't work for MM. If you think they're NOT going to use the 'benefits' of a computer-assisted program to justify lower than average pay for their coders, you're in denial. Fluency for Transcription/VR was used to slash pay in half, although it is not faster than traditional transcription. Doesn't matter. Pay is still half. They now have developed Fluency for Coding for 'faster' coding.

As I've mentioned in a previous post: Obviously, from a business standpoint, M*Modal will want to become successful and profitable in the coding business. To do that, they will have to obtain as many coding accounts as possible. And to do that they will have to underbid other coding companies to get them and convince facilities how much money they can save by outsourcing the coding departments (the same way they did with MT). This in turn means they will be paying their coders less than the going rate. There's no way around it.

I think the smartest thing coders could do to help - themselves is to unionize before its too late.

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nm

Coders better prepare for their field to end up like MT when - Mmodal gets through with it. NM

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x

they've been doing coding for - awhile now

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they've kept it low key, but they have definitely had their fingers in that pie for a few years already.

They haven't been flooding the market with their - sm

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own brand new schooling program though. They'll be turning out certified coders with 2 years' actual work experience in droves, so expect wages to start taking a dive. This is what they do. Look what they've done to MT, and now their sole focus is on coding.

Will you work while - you are taking it?

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Do you have to keep working doing transcription while you take it?

20 hours working - 20 hours training each week nm

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nm

yes, 20 hours a week work, 20 hours a week - training/study. NM

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xx

That is a great deal. - A lot of us had to

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Take our courses online while we were working full time. They are giving you a good deal with that.

And ... we had to pay for the course... - Nm

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Nm

But you got a course that employers respect. - Will they respect the MM "McCoder" course?

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First there was McTranscription that sucked up all the hospital and clinic accounts. Soon it may be McCoding.

"McCoder" just wanted to say LOL - Accurate too. NM

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xx

Any employer will accept an OJT program - not that it will matter

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On the job training is well-respected in coding, but they will be looking more at your credentials and experience. Neither of those will be a problem.

Your brain is going to be fried - Not ready for prime time

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You will soon learn how difficult it is to switch gears between MT and coding. You will think your head will explode from all the coding guidelines you will have thrown at you and for nearly every rule there are going to be exceptions. You are probably also going to have homework and quizzes. Whoever told you that it was going to be intense was telling you the truth.

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