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

Could anyone who works for a coding service help? - sm - Susan

Posted: Feb 14, 2015

Our hospital is losing a lot of coders to services. I don't know which ones, might be the same, might be different. My question is, are these services kind of like MT services where you work for a national company and get a particular hospital to do their coding and get crappy benefits if any? Do they pay per chart?

I have heard that some of these coders are making $5 or more an hour than at the hospital (which isn't hard since it pays for crap) but if you get no bennies and have to work on production, I wonder if they are getting more than they bargained for.

Coming from working for services for a long time in MT, I would never want to work for a service as a coder if it is production based. I like making the same pay w/o busting my hump and would have to since I am a newish coder. I don't really want to know for me but am really curious about how it works. Some of the older coders in my department I think are curious but won't leave because they have too many years in at the hospital to go.

Our hospital has a service to help us and I know they actually know the coders who do the work. Are they in touch with the coders themselves - this never would have happened in MT. However, we might use just a local service, I am not sure, which could work very differently than a national.

Appreciate any insight into this because i have no clue how it works and have been very curious. Thanks.

Coding services are nothing like MTSOs - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
Contract coding is offered by many HIM outsourcing companies. They also offer auditing, other HIM professionals, and even temporary HIM management. They typically have very high standards, especially for coders, because the facilities have to require it for compliance reasons.

Yes, we typically do know who the coders are and we do interact with them. We know what credentials they hold and do their background checks. Some come to our facility to work, while others work remotely. Their names are on their coding and they are just as responsible for it as our own employees.

Pay for contract coding is typically very good. It is often based on production, but that does not mean it is bad. I know loads of coders and even HIM directors and all kinds of management RHIAs who have second jobs as contract coders. Believe me, the money is totally worth it. That is not to say that all contract coding pays well -- the amount M*Modal has been said to pay is pathetic -- but reputable companies that offer AHIMA-credentialed coders do pay well. They often offer good benefits.

Most coders have production requirements, even if they are paid by the hour. The average pay is about 45K and they are worth it. They do a lot of work. It isn't much different to do the same work and be paid by the chart. For very highly productive coders, that is often a good choice. New coders do not have the experience to be that productive, which is why companies like that require experience.

A $5 per hour increase is worth about $10,500 a year.

OK, well that is all nice to know - sm - Susan

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you for that information. I am glad they are not like MTSO's. Hope they don't deteriorate to that.

I appreciate your response.

Susan - My 2 cents

[ In Reply To ..]
Remote coders work hourly or by production. But the production pay is crazy good. If you have been in the MT business long enough, you will remember getting paid 10-12 cents a typed line and making excellent money doing so. National Coding Services are a new animal, if you will. It is like the beginning of the remote MT services 15+ years ago, just a new product. I know people on here have mentioned fearing that coding will be going to India also, like MT. This may very well be true, but I don't believe this will happen for many many years, certainly not in my working lifetime.

Coding is a great field. Andrews is the school to go to get prepared for the certification exam. I graduated and got a job as a remote coder and I am making 50K plus on production (my choice)plus benefits, PTO, etc.

you're making 50k right out of school? nm - bb

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

50K right out of school - Unbelievable

[ In Reply To ..]
I think she also mentioned that she went to Andrews.

Why? - SM

[ In Reply To ..]
I went from 35 the first year, to 40 the next, then 45, then 50K, before bonuses and overtime, and with 30% in benefits, but that was as a salaried facility coder.

She can do 50 fairly easily if she is paid on production. I know someone who makes 110.

Contract coding services are nothing new! - Good grief!

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree with everything in your post except the comment that "national coding services are a new animal." No, they are not! Good grief! Perhaps the one you work for is new, and you might not have heard of them before becoming a coder, but they have been around for decades.

I knew of some in the early 1990s and my facility had an active contract for them at least as far back as 1998.

I posted a link to Maxim, which has been around since forever. For those of you who want to know what a reputable HIM staffing company looks like and what their requirements are and benefits/pay, check the link.

Thanks for that link - sm - Susan

[ In Reply To ..]
Interesting. i guess you have to apply before you see the starting/pay rates. thanks for posting.

"New" animal - My 2 cents

[ In Reply To ..]
Perhaps a bad choice of words. I meant "different" animal, as in different from medical transcription and the way MTSOs are run today.

I already am a certified coder - sm - Susan

[ In Reply To ..]
We have just lost a lot of coders recently to a service so it is new to us in this area. i worked for MT services for 15 years and hoped they did not operate the same but was curious.

I won't leave the hospital I am at. I have too many years in and sometimes familiar is easy. I'm too new to coding to try a coding service.

I appreciate your response!

You could work part-time for a service. - Keep your day job

[ In Reply To ..]
You don't have to quit, you know. Just do it part-time. That is what most people I know do.

I could not possibly sit here more than I do now - sm - Susan

[ In Reply To ..]
I like the job but all this sitting is driving me insane. I go stir crazy so the thought of sitting more than what this job requires would do me in.

It annoys me, too, but . . . - Suggestions

[ In Reply To ..]
Leaping up every now and then to run around is helpful.

I also find that chairs which move with you keep you moving and thus you aren't actually "sitting" all the time. Herman Miller makes a chair (the Mirra) that moves with you as you lean forward and back. It really helps. If you work at home, it's a good investment.

A ball chair is also really good. You actually can't "sit" on it. You have to balance on it. You might not want to spend all day on it, but it can be a refreshing change every so often. You'll get the most exercise and motion from just the ball by itself, but they require work to keep them under you. Gaiam has a base for them which traps the ball and makes it less trouble. Google "gaiam balance ball" on Amazon. Gaiam has a website, too.

Thanks for that - sm - Susan

[ In Reply To ..]
I have a balance ball but could never use that doing transcription b/c of the footpedal. I didn't know they made a stand for it though. Interesting. I will definitely look into that. Appreciate it.

I must be confused ... - are you the OP?

[ In Reply To ..]
I must be confused ... when I read the first post, it sounded as though you were not a coder, so I gave you an answer with that in mind. Then it seemed that you came back saying you were a certified coder, so when you said you couldn't sit that long, I suggested the ball.

Now you say you can't use the ball with a footpedal.

Are you an MT or a coder??? Or are you two different people???

I think I get it - Not the OP

[ In Reply To ..]
I think she was just saying that when she WAS doing transcription she could not use the balance ball because of the foot pedal. Now that she is a coder she doesn't have to worry about that and might try the balance ball.

Thank you very much. You are correct. Sorry for the confusion. nm - Susan

[ In Reply To ..]
xx

Current Andrews student - would love to network with you

[ In Reply To ..]
Hi! I tried to send you a private email but it bounced back to me. I am an Andrews coding student, coming from 12 years as an auditor in MT. Would love to know your secret for obtaining a remote job straight out of the Andrews gate. This is my hope also. Not sure if you can email me from here, as I couldn't get mine to work, but was wondering if you would be willing to divulge who was willing to test you and hire you and would love advice as to how you made this happen. Good for you!

Suggestion ... ask her to meet you on the Andrews board. - And also...

[ In Reply To ..]
Rather than asking people to email you when they don't know who you are, why not just meet on the Andrews board? Much safer.

I am a little leery, I guess, because I don't think that kind of information is secret around Andrews. It is probably on the student board, and I am sure that Linda will be able to advise you if you ask her.

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