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If you put it on a graph, MT jobs go up and down but - they go down more than up

Posted: May 17, 2015

Over the past years, MT has had its ups and downs. The problem is, the downs go down more than the ups go up. Occasionally an MT will see an increase in pay, but then the TAT, quotas, accounts she is given, etc., take that pay increase away plus. I understand that MT is still a good career if someone doesn't care about making very much money, but the graph is definitely trending DOWN.

A similar career is constantly trending up over the years - Remote MT to Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
Medical coding has always been a well-respected career, and it just keeps getting better. The trend for it is constantly going up, more now with changing to ICD-10. I think the difference is that employers have always demanded credentials from coding applicants and they just wanted fast, cheap labor for MTs, and they would just take someone off the street who called themselves an MT and call it good enough. Of course they then made and are still making life miserable for that MT that was originally good enough. Suddenly that MT isn't good enough, doesn't meet TAT or quotas, makes mistakes. Horrors!

Credentialed medical coders, on the other hand have proof that they passed a very rigorous certification exam that most people can't pass. The employers have honored that and paid accordingly. What's wrong with these MTSOs? They could have had it all, quality, credentialed MTs they could depend on, saving money on QA because not as much would have been needed. I know, some of you will say you once met a CMT who did bad work. We hear you. That kind of attitude helped to destroy a perfectly good career that many of us have loved. My career focus has now moved from MT to medical coding now where work is respected and the really top-level credentials, like CCS, are recognized and honored. It has all of the things I've always loved about MT and none of the negatives.

Besides the CMT basher we will all also soon hear from the doom and gloom person - See message

[ In Reply To ..]
You know, of course, that if you mention medical coding, you'll attract certain elements who oppose any kind of success. You're just asking for it. It's like clock-work. Let's see, it's around Noon, so I expect the doom and gloom squad will arrive before 3:00 p.m. Human nature is strange.

Based on what you hear, see, and experience in MT - Worth Thinking About

[ In Reply To ..]
It's absolutely true that you just don't see credentialed coders anywhere that I've looked talking about how they got their pay cut because they bombed an audit or the way lines are counted just changed, etc. No wonder they can get people who have a longer-term career focus, because they aren't verbally abused every time they turn around. They love their jobs and you can tell how proud they are to be medical coders. There are a few that didn't get enough training to be certified or pass employment tests that talk about that, but credentialed coders are very proud of what they do because they are respected and paid well. MTSOs in general with very few exceptions just don't care about the MTs. I'm not sure when that happened or if that has always been the case, but it's the absolute truth.

Absolute truth - Worth thinking about - Whatever

[ In Reply To ..]
Coders who fail audits suffer consequences; possible fines or loss of employment; don't lead people to believe that coding is a gravy train job because it isn't. I worked as an on site MT for over 30 years and currently work as a health information management tech. I have never been verbally abused by an employer, I don't know where that's coming from. I loved MT and I was proud to be an MT. Please people, coding and MT are not the only career choices open to you. Broad your horizons and think outside the box.

A health information management tech is not a medical coder - Clarification

[ In Reply To ..]
Medical coding actually is a terrific job. The employers actually do respect your credentials and appreciate your knowledge and skills. MTSOs do not. Many do hire QA people who are verbally abusive. MTs are getting pay cuts and changes in the way the work is compensated which means less money. Coder salaries are continually going up. Not many careers have as many advantages going for them as coding.

I used to get angry - Not now

[ In Reply To ..]
I used to get angry every time I heard a medical coder talk about how great their job was. Now I have a better understanding of it. It really is that good. Those angry about someone else making a better choice and being successful because of it need to get over it. They can make their own decisions to better their own situations or just get out of the way and let others succeed without putting them down for making a decision they weren't able or willing to make for themselves.

An exception would be an MT getting ready to retire - In my opinion

[ In Reply To ..]
If you're getting ready to retire anyway, it wouldn't make sense to train for a career in anything else. Just make the best of the time you have left in it.

I'm already retired but. sm - Anon

[ In Reply To ..]
even with SS plus a small pension and Medicare, I still need to work to make ends meet. It makes no sense for me to retrain or update my skills for administrative assistant work (I have an A.S. med. sec. degree), nor do I want to do that, so I'll ride it out until the work dries up or by some miracle my mortgage gets paid off.

Exactly. I am nearly 64 and will just stick it out until - I get fired or I get Medicare.

[ In Reply To ..]
Whichever comes first.

ICD-10 - Not sure

[ In Reply To ..]
There have been so many delays in implementing ICD-10, and do you know why? From what I gather it is going to be all automated. I just looked up "ICD-10 automation" on Google the other day. The software suppliers are advertising it already and I believe that is what the delays are about - they're not quite ready to roll with it.

Well, you "gathered" wrong. That is complete nonsense. - Good grief!

[ In Reply To ..]
That is so far off target it isn't worthy of correction. Talk about hatching out conspiracy theories!

The reasons for the delay are no secret. They have nothing to do with anything you mentioned.

Constantly trending up - Okay

[ In Reply To ..]
You need to get over yourself. No employer ever pulled people in off the street and expected them to transcribe. Everywhere that I have worked had preemployment testing and it usually is apparent if a person knows what they are doing. Those who didn't meet the quality or production guidelines got fired. I passed the CMT exam; many in my testing group did not. There are people without credentials who can code. I hope your prediction about the future of coding is true, but I know MTS who spoke the same way you do who ended up being very disappointed.

I know plenty of people who learned MT on the job - Disagree

[ In Reply To ..]
I disagree with you. Lots of MTs learned on the job or in short courses that just mainly taught terminology. Almost never have there been MT jobs that required certification. MTs themselves have laughed at CMTs and talked about how they were the worst MTs they've seen. MT certification has never been recognized or respected. That's a fact. Just tell me how many MTSOs require CMTs only. You'd be hard-pressed to find even one.

I was just looking at job announcements for coding though and they are a lot more demanding about certification. If you don't have the credentials, don't bother to apply for a coding position. They are serious about hiring professional coders, not so much about MTs. They simply don't care about us.

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