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

want a change...is coding safe from offshoring? - TexasT

Posted: Oct 12, 2011

I am thinking about becoming a CPC and starting my own business. After 14 years of transcribing...want to do something else. do you think this work is safe from India?

No - it is not. Coding is already being - anon

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done outside the US.

As an MT, I am seeing this... - sm

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For about 2 years or so, onn several of the facilities I am assigned to for the OP notes the docs dictate the CPT codes right after the procedures that they perform. Ditto for consults. They seem to have it all figured out ahead of time, to get the maximum reimbursement from the insurance CO. Makes me think coding as a career will not be viable for long.

To as an MT I am seeing this - Anonymous

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I'm an MT turned coder, currently working doing data abstraction. I don't know if you realize it, but those dictated CPT codes are consistently incorrect and any facility who codes directly from an operative report is setting themselves up for big problems. When I transcribed, some providers did not know the difference between CPT and ICD-9 codes and dictated from the wrong code set. The entire stay needs to be coded, and certain modifiers assigned for Medicare and Medicaid. Coding is viable, especially inpatient coding.

Question for anon.. - curious

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Are you a coder?

Coder - Anonymous

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I took a coding course, have not yet taken the certification exam but work as an analyst/abstractor. I've done a coding internship where I work so have some knowledge about the coding world.

May I ask... - Rainy

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What sort of training/certificate/degree is required to work as an analyst/abstractor? I first heard about it a few months ago, but have been unable to find any education info. Thanks.

Rainy - Anonymous

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At the very least, you need to complete a coding course. I'm not certified, but am working toward that goal. I was lucky and basically fell into an abstracting job (I have been an MT forever) with my current employer due to changes in our patient management system and needing to convert data from the old system to the new system. I have seen some jobs advertised, there seems to be a need for people to abstract. It might be a good way to begin if you want to pursue a coding career.

Thanks. - Rainy

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Appreciate the info. I actually am not interested in coding, but my local comm college has a medical office certification course that includes a coding class. Will have to look into it some more.

What - do

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you do as an analyst/abstractor? Can you explain that job, sounds interesting, thanks!

Suggestions for you, Texas - Coder someday

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I have been floating on this board for a long, long time and have read almost all of the current posts and a lot of the archives. I have ultimately decided to take a coding course & test for the CPC,CCS. I just need to get the funds together.

To the point: There is chatter/debate on here about offshoring. It seems that what may/currently be offshored is mainly mundane billing work, not actual coding.

My suggestions to you are as follows:
1. Do not consider the opinion of Any Person who is NOT currently a CPC/CCS. As we transcriptionists say, "You don't know what you don't know." One person who replied to you stated they were an MT, and who knows what the other one does? I would wait until a real coder answers you. (Frankly, you don't even have to listen to me, since I'm not in the biz either!)
2. Go through the posts/archives on this board--do multiple searches in archives, using different terminology. You will garner a lot of information that way.
3. Since you want to be a CPC, I would go to the AAPC website and look for your local AAPC chapter--go to one of their meetings and talk/network with the coders there. They can certainly give you a solid, honest view on the current job market, offshoring, etc.

Good luck to you!!

Thanks to all who shed some light, even if it is opinion! - TexasT

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s

To TexasT - Texas2

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What part of Texas are you from? I am an MT of 25 years and looking into coding..

Coding - anon

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I have just started taking a coding class this fall. I honestly do not see how it could possibly be offshored to a third-world country. I have been an MT for many years and have seen what has happened to this field. It is truly heartbreaking to me. But, in saying that I understand how it can be offshored, I don't like it, but I understand that hospitals don't care about quality in transcription, just the bottom line in their budget.

They do, however, care about quality in coding. I have found that you have to be a "detective" in coding. Finding the greatest specificity in the diagnosis, analyzing the chart and coding correctly. If not, the hospital does not get the most out of reimbursement. I agree with the post above. Billing could possibly be done overseas, but coding (the front line of billing) will be done here in the U.S. by someone who has gone to school and has the proper certificates. No hospital is ongoing to mess with their reimbursement!

Also, I thought - sm

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it was against HIPAA to send medical records outside of the USA. You need to review medical records to code. You do not need medical records to transcribe. Inpatient coding is so complex and difficult there is no way hospitals are going to allow a third world country to do this. Coding brings in money. Transcription does not bring in money.

Coder Someday, does your point #2 - MT

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mean she shouldn't consider your post either?

I addressed that in my post... - Coder Someday

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Perhaps a review on your end is in order?

I personally find it aggravating when people decide to spout blatant mis-information about an idustry in which they have no knowledge/experience, nor have bothered to reseach thoroughly.

Should the OP take what I have to say as gospel? NO. I'm not a coder. I don't know 100% because I'm not in the industry. However, the information I gave her is based off posts I've read that Come From Actual Coders and additional research I have done through both AAPC and AHIMA websites. I think that makes a huge difference and is rather more credible than a "well, MT is offshored, so coding is offshored" or a "my x-y-z who knows a-b-c and does 1-2-3 said so, therefore it's true."

For the most part,yes - SM

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Every time someone asks that question, about once a week, anon pops up to say that it is. Yup, she is an MT and therefore knows all about this. She is an expert by virtue of bystanding, I guess.
This happens so often and the posts look so much alike that I have begun to believe that she posts the questions herself just to gall the coders here. Or that someone from Pakistan does it to drive people away.

This person does not know the field and has no understanding of the jobs available in coding. Her knowledge seems limited to entry level, almost pre-coding understanding. It is inaccurate.
To someone who understands coding better and who understands the industry and all that is involved with it,it is clear that little to no offshorin will ever happen. India may wish for it and clamor that it will happen ,but it is unlikely.

I do not see my jpb going anywhere because it can't be done offshore. I can't even do it from home. My coding-related job requires specialized knowledge of a unique industry, negotiation skills, and sensible shoes. It isnt going anywhere.

As for it being a good choice for starting your own business . . . you need to find out more abut what coding is. Sounds as if you are thinking more of billing.

offshored? - cj

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I will once again play devil's advocate. I am a coder, CCS, and work for a very large hospital/trauma center and medical college. You may have seen my posts here before. We are seeing coding going offshore. we are also seeing computer assisted coding being entertained at our facility, which may not replace coders but will definitely change our jobs and, in all likelihood, our compensation. we will become "code editors." Kind of like what speech recognition did to MT. the computer does it and we fix it! And yes, coding can be done offshore and is being done offshore. I highly doubt that as much coding will go off shore as MT did, but rest assured that some will and has. The coding we saw go offshore went to a highly skilled work force, which, by the way, has many advantages. One of those being that the rest of the world is already using ICD10 while we in the US are years behind and just starting to prepare for it. The requirements for their coders in India are stringent, and I would say that they are better educated than most US-based coders. Those requirements included not only education in coding itself but a bachelor's degree in a human biological science, so their training in A&P and disease processes is far more extensive than what coding courses in the US offer. You can tell yourself your job is to valuable to go offshore, but I think a lot of MTs felt that way a while back, too. I think, unfortunately, a lot of coders will end up in the same situation years from now.

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