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

HIPPA and the workforce - rescuemom

Posted: Mar 11, 2011

Does anyone know how the new HIPPA regulations affect us as employees? I'm starting to read up on it, but it's confusing. I understand the work station. I understand that we are the workforce and I understand that the government is cracking down on electronic medical records. Does anyone know anything else? Thanks.

Where are you finding this to read it? - anon

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I'd like to read it, too!

First of all - Anonymous

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It is HIPAA (health insurance portability and accountability act), not HIPPA. It has been in effect since 1996 so it is nothing new. The Department of Health and Human Services has a website where you can learn all you need to know. You could also try your local library or do a Google search, there is a lot information available. My employer offered seminars for us when the laws were implemented but I guess it would depend on where you work as to how much education is offered. As MTs we don't need to know everything, just that it's important to keep our work computers secure and protect patient confidentiality.

HIPAA - rescuemom

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Ooops thanks for the correction.

I've been reading on line. One site is HIPAA4mt.com.

I would like to know what is being said to the client about our qualifications and how we as "the workforce" comply.

I see that there are huge fines to our employers if there is a violation. Some of us our working for minimum wage with ASR now. Do your realize that? Most of us already care about the patient, but with this kind of compensation, who is really in "the workforce?"

Just asking.....

HIPAA violations - rescuemom

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I also understand that the government is cracking down a lot harder on HIPAA now because of Obama Care. They are aggressively looking for violations.

We could be sued as transcribers - rescumemom

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If there is a violation, we could actually be sued individually, and we are working for minimum wage with this kind of liability.

ASR just misspelled a patient's name. - rescuemom

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Thank God I caught it!!!!

Misspelling a patient's name is not a HIPAA violation - sm

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HIPAA is not about policing errors!!

HIPAA is about confidentiality of the patient record and safeguards against its inappropriate dissemination.

hmmmm. - rescuemom

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We'll have to see about that. Not so sure. What if ASR incorrectly spells a name on a document and it goes into someone else's file.

Time will tell.

if ASR spells name incorrectly, it is YOUR JOB - TO FIX IT

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You are responsible for putting out an accurate report. NOT ASR. YOU!

That is what you are PAID TO DO.

Oh my goodness...what on earth is going on with in your brain?

MY POINT EXACTLY, PAID BEING THE OPERATIVE WORD!!!! - rescuemom

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AGREED

As "professionals" we are "paid" to correct ASR. I do my job thank you very much. The point is who is coming into the field? How much are they being paid now for ASR? minimum wage.

who cares who is coming into the field - live and let live

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If someone is just entering the field and they don't do their job, they will be let go. If they make minimum wage, so be it. I made minimum wage when I started typing for this job eons ago, and I made a ton of mistakes... that is what new people do. What is your point?
I would rather make minimum wage at home than flipping a burger. If the newbies cant handle this job, they will leave and go somewhere else.

What does minimum wage have to do with HIPAA anyway?

sued as transcribers for.... - sm

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Unless you willfully misuse a patient's medical records, you are NOT going to be sued.

An error is not willful misuse. Hold onto your hat already!

we'll see - rescuemom

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Not so sure about that.

Sue me? They already know what I make - a - pittance! Even a 3rd grader - sm

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could do the math that would tell them they could sue me all they want, and never see a penny.

where do you get this information? - sm

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How on earth do you link HIPAA and Obama Care?

Who is aggressively looking for violations? HIPAA is an ACT. It is not an entity. There are no HIPAA police.

Please provide a reference.

HIPAA - rescuemom

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The government is going to start enforcing HIPAA compliance. I think it is an evolving thing. Hipaa was part of an act passed with the health care bill. Don't claim to be an expert, but did find this.

http://www.schwabe.com/showarticle.aspx?Show=11563

Read the info in the box next to date 02/17/2010.

My point is we aren't paid enough for ASR.

you are paid to do your job - MT

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and your job now includes editing SR.

Why do you care who else does what? If you really believe that you personally will be sued for misspelling a patient's name (which, by the way would be in the text and not in the demographics that are entered by HUMANS, not ASR and thus ASR cannot accidentally "file" something in the wrong patient's file), then you better pay attention to your job, shouldn't you?

Your post makes no sense: Ohhhh noooo, I can be sued personally . . . and this "fact" is affected how by who else does ASR? What?

I am not disputing that some people find it difficult to adjust to ASR, but it is here, it is going to stay and, if you want to stay in this industry, you have to find a way to work with it.

OK then, don't pay me half of my transcription rate - Rescuemom

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They cut my rate by close to half a couple years back telling me that ASR would make up for it. NOT TRUE. That was too much!!!

ASR is not good enough to cut my rate in half.

My point is we are important in this new environment of EMR.

You're right. Fined is a more appropriate word.

If you dont like your wage, quit! It will give me more work! - I will do your share too

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I will gladly take your hours! If this work is too hard for what you make, move on.

I bet there are people all over the planet saying I work way to hard for this pay.

Quit your belly-aching and do something with your life then! This is what the job is now, adapt or leave.

WHAT???? - xMT

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Wow, sounds like "rescuemom" spends too much time on the "conservative" websites. I have never heard such garbage in my entire life! HIPAA compliance because of Obama Care...geez louise. When I started as an MT - way back before electricity - most of us were bonded. Then the companies/facilities we worked for took over the reins and carried the malpractice insurance for MTs and other staff. I believe the facility/company you work for is responsible. But the fact of the matter is, as mentioned above, YOU are responsible for correcting ASR just as you are responsible for transcribing a report to the best of your abilities. If you don't like the rate you are paid, go somewhere else. It is YOUR job to make sure the patient's report is as correct as it can be. Pure and simple. Curious about how "rescuemom" received her training.

wow. spoken like a true-blue management clone. - n/m

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management clone? - xMT

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No, not management, just 30+ years in the industry. Why? How do you transcribe? Just whatever you feel like typing? Do you bother to correct the ASR reports because trust me, I have seen some reports go through that I bet were never even looked over. Honestly, what is your definition of a medical transcriptionist? Curious to know.

Yep. Just because you arent actively in mgmt, doesnt - forgive your punitive mgmt. mindset.

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.

hipaa has nothing to do with the new healthcare bill - for crying out loud

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I don't think you understood what you read - sm

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The financial sanctions that extend to "business associates" involve violations due to FRAUD, ABUSE, or WILLFUL NEGLECT.

Someone needs to talk you down!

Constantly told by manager and who checks your work - BEWARE

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Constantly get emails of how we have to be EXTREMELY CAREFUL to put in correct name and doctor information. If it is wrong, the hospital and Medquist has to report the incident to HIPAA. Each HIPAA violation is then reported by the hospital and/or our company which is fined around 500-2,500 for each violation that the MT made. I was told our wonderful company is thinking that each time we put in the name wrong or doctor's name or wrong Med number, etc., the fine should be then be directed to the MT and we should be the ones who have to pay the fine, not Medquist, especially if it is continuous incident by an MT.

So NO, it is not about computer being secured and protect patient confidentiality, but ADT being correct. Funny thing is, the patients do not even know about it and could probably careless.

Confidentiality - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, HIPAA is all about protecting patient confidentiality. Where I work, not locking your PC for lunch/breaks is even considered to be a HIPAA violation, why do you think employees are required to sign a confidentiality pledge, the facility where you work has committed a violation if you have not. ADT is also an issue but HIPAA covers a lot more than that. See the Department of Health and Human Services/Office of Civil Rights website.

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