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

Coders, please forgive a stupid question, but - MT looking to train as a coder

Posted: Jan 22, 2012

... how are coders paid?

What I really mean is, do you get wage/salary, or are you on production? Or does it depend on whether one does inpatient or clinic coding?

I'm a longtime MT who has been seriously contemplating a career change to coding, and I'm now at the point to stop contemplating and start moving ahead. I'm willing to put in the effort/$$$ for good training (Andrews), and not seek shortcuts.

If the coding profession means still being on some sort of production pay system, I'll accept that, but I'm so weary of the MT production treadmill that I'm kind of hoping otherwise. :)

It isn't anything like what you see in MT - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
Whether you are paid on salary or per record, it is nothing like what you see in MT.

Coders are typically paid quite well. There are annual salary surveys for coders on the AAPC website. There are surveys covering a wider range if health information specialties from AHIMA.

Coding isn't a job where you mosly just "be there." There is always a lot of work to do and limited time in which to do it. Backlogs have a very negative effect on revenue and other measures. We do not lounge around at work.

There is a shortage of qualified, certified coders right now and this is expected to worsen when ICD 10 is implemented in October of 2013. This is good in terms of job prospects, but does add to our workload.

You will see both salaries and piecework in coding. There are also production pay systems having a base hourly rate plus additional pay for production. Most jobs do have production requirements, but this is not like those in MT.

I know coders who work quite a lot of overtime because of the large number of records their facilities have. I also know a lot of HIM managers and salaried coders who do contract coding on the side because it pays so well.

Coding is unlike MT in most respects. Coders get more respect, better pay, and have more opportunities for advancement. They also have higher requirements for continuing education and certification. Education for coders is not just a matter of nice-to-know CEUs, but a continual matter of keeping up with huge amounts of change whether you get CEUs for it or not.

Very informative, thank you - MT looking

[ In Reply To ..]
I appreciate knowing that the pay structure is different, for sure, but you've given me so much more than that. I am by nature a focused worker who doesn't look at the clock but gets the work done, even if it means OT. I also like the fact that continuing education in coding is actually useful and immediately applicable to the work. You've convinced me that I'm definitely making the right career move. My thanks again to you and all of the coders here, it's a very informative board with a minimum of ... well, other stuff.

Coders get paid well because coding is hard! - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Coding is nothing like being an MT. I actually use my brain as a coder. MTing got to the point of doing VR and it felt like I wasn't using my brain much. For me, inpatient coding is so hard and you have to know exactly what you're doing. Good education is the key to passing the CPC or CCS to get a job. Without this, you won't go far.

We don't have time for the ... well, orher stuff. ;) - Busy Working

[ In Reply To ..]
Focused is good. Here are some other good things. You ...

Have high standards. You look for your own errors and figure out ways of avoiding making more. You continuously improve and do things better.

You seek out feedback. The prospect of being audited does not disturb or anger you.

You are able to, or interested in learning to, analyze criticism and defend yourself using well-supported arguments. You can find valid support for what you did and discuss professionally.

Are self-starting. You organize and schedule. You hold to the schedule. You can rearrange the schedule when unforseen things occur, yet still get it all done.

You require little to no supervision. You actively self-supervise anticipating requirements.

You are confident and able to work cooperatively with employers and supervisors. You are not a doormat. The phrase "I only do what I am told" is not something you would say. You would not say it to justify not doing more than the minimum. You would not say it to justify not doing what is right . You would not say it to justify not looking for a better way.

You have high ethical standards. You can accept responsibility for the accuracy of your work. You can accept that you may have to decline to participate in fraud and that this may mean seeking a new job.

You accept that credentials are important and necessary. You understand that they are nationally accepted evidence that you are competent. You know that they are important for you in getting and keeping a job, but you are able to look beyond your immediate need to see that credentials are part of your employer's compliance program. You can accept that you are responsible for the cost of this even if your employer does not contribute. (Many do, but it is still your responsibility.)

You have fairly good interpersonal skills. If not, you are willing to do something abot getting them.

You recognize that this field is professional and that appearance plays a part in it. You recognize that your appearance reflects your ethics and competencies and that you represent your employer. You already project a professional image, are willing to get that image, or you accept that you may look long and hard for even a minimally acceptable job.

You do not require to work at home. If you do, you recognize that you may need to work on site for a while and that you will need exceptional skills to get that.

You recognize that student status involves taking direction. You are willing to accept this gratefully in a mature and professional manner.

You are not a person who cannot stand having anyone else telling them what to do. You do not have issues with authority figures. You do not have a hair-trigger, uncontrollable temper. You do not have anger-mangement problems. These things are less compatible with coding than MT. If you do have these problems, yet choose to go into coding anyway, you recognize that keeping a job and even staying in school may be difficult if you do not overcome them.

You have no criminal record that would appear on a background check, you have never been removed or fired for abuse, fraud, theft, etc., and you have never defaulted on a student loan. If you choose to use student loans to pay for your coding education, you recognize that the school is very likely to have a low success rate, that you may be unable to repay the loans, and that defaulting will immediately prevent you from getting nearly every possible job in coding. You recognize instead that funding this yourself might be a happier and less stressful option.

I'm in the same boat (sm) - CMTx2

[ In Reply To ..]
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