March 2011

BUILDING A HOME-BASED MT BUSINESS

Due to lay-offs, corporate down-sizing, and advances in technology, many people are finding themselves out of a job. Starting a home-based business is the answer for many Americans.

Questions to ask before starting a home-based business:

• Can I make enough money as a freelancer/home-based business owner?
• Do I have the skills needed to operate my own home business?
• What experience and expertise do I have in the business I might start?
• Am I willing to work in all aspects of this business- even the parts I may not like or be any good at?
• Am I ready to make the commitment to such a project?

Remember there is more to it than just doing the job itself. You will have to choose a name, figure out how to advertise and get some clients, how to pay the overhead, set up an accounting system, figure out taxes (most are filed quarterly), and determine how much time you have to devote since it is probably more than you think. You have to plan for reasonable work schedules and their respective deadlines and family responsibilities don’t always adapt well to your schedule requirements.

Now think about whether your family budget can afford the extra expenditures and think about the lifestyle changes the business will create. Is there sufficient space in your home that can be allocated as office space? Is the space quiet and away from the television, music, and other distractions? The family has to understand and respect your boundaries in both the “office” area and the time factors.

If you have younger kids that require more attention, maybe set up a child care/share so that you can focus on the business during your scheduled daily task routine.

As you have probably figured out, the first thing is to talk to your family and get their input and thoughts with your required expectations relating to the new rules. They will need to understand and support your work schedule even though you are “working at home.”

Starting a home-based MT service can be a rewarding venture, but evaluating what is really involved and getting the family on-board are the first essentials.

MARKETING YOUR MT BUSINESS

First, develop a business plan. You will find all kinds of information available in your library as well as on the Internet on writing the plan. If you don’t know enough, just make an outline and plug in more detail as you discover more information.

You are already presuming there is a market so next is to figure out the competition. Call around, or email potential clients to see what they are paying. In marketing service, always evaluate the competition. Know what services they are offering, what marketing techniques they are using, and what their pricing structure is. Visit the related websites to see what they say.

• Remember … you are not limited to your own surrounding area; your clientele is all over the U.S. as well as other countries.

It is important to understand that many businesses fail due to lack of clients; therefore, it is important to educate yourself about effective marketing techniques such as creating and mailing out flyers/brochures for clients, developing a winning presentation that you can give to potential clients about the services you offer. Questions to ask yourself regarding your marketing plan are as follows:

• What are the needs of my potential clients?
• What can I offer that the competition doesn’t?
• What value added services can I offer?
• Am I pricing my services correctly? You don’t want to under/over price your services, though you can offer a freebie to get them exposed to your quality work.
• What area should I focus my marketing efforts in?
• How will I deliver services to my clients?
• Am I charging enough to make a profit?

Some good avenues to market your services are in newsletters, online websites, networking with other professionals in the industry, and using direct-mail campaigns to send flyers. You need to have enough money in your marketing budget to effectively solicit clients, but you do not need to do high-end marketing (TV ads, expensive Internet ads) in order to get clients. Keep your marketing simple and targeted to your specific demographic.

Network within the MT community for clients, ideas, and strategies. Make good use of the Internet. Plan to create a website for your business in order to have a good online presence. You can buy template sites that you just pick a design and fill in the pages, no programmer needed, for as little as $7.50 a month. Learn some basic search engine marketing strategies in order to have a get web spider ranking for your website, especially Google. You can find information on basic SEO strategies by visiting your local public library or key it in an online search engine..

If you aren’t already a medical transcriptionist, you need to know that it all starts with excellent foundation training and lots of transcription practice. A good MT program should not just teach you about words and typing, but should include training on how to find work, potential clients, and even how to run your own MT business. The Meditec Online Medical Transcription Training Program includes all you need to know to set yourself up as a businessperson using the HomeBizBook. It’s an A-Z guide on starting your own MT business and is available at no charge to enrolled Meditec students. If you enroll from another school, be sure to call and order your copy: 877-335-4072.

Starting your own home-based MT business can be a rewarding and profitable venture for those who are willing to educate themselves on the process and are willing to do the work involved to reach significant business goals.

The next step is to develop a business plan. All kinds of information on how to develop and prepare a business plan is available at your library as well as on the Internet. Just key in the words, “business plan.”

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

I recently received my certificate for Medical Transcription through Meditec. I had lost a job due to downsizing and there were very few jobs available due to the current economy. Deciding that working from home would be very beneficial and that Medical Transcription sounded very interesting, I did several hours of research and chose Meditec for my schooling. The most appealing aspect was the option of working on the course at your own pace. Being a mother, wife , and still working a part-time job, made the prospect of trying to work around someone else’s schedule daunting. The course is set up in a way that makes it easy to flow from one section to the next, and if I had any questions, someone was just an e-mail or telephone call away. After passing the course, I entered the internship program. I was set up with a great company and was done with the internship in three-and-a-half months. On the last day, I was very excited when the company offered me a job! The staff at Meditec is very supportive, pleasant to deal with, and always makes you feel welcome. I am still in contact with them occasionally to ask their advice, and I would wholeheartedly recommend Meditec for a way to get an interesting career started.

Ellen E

Instructor Response: Ellen, we are so proud of your success as a newly working MT. We wish you the very best! Dawn M, Instructor

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

This month it’s about quick and easy!

• 2 large cans of Campbell’s Chunky Sirloin Burger soup
• 3 cups of white rice, cooked.

Drain the soup a little, and pour over the hot cooked rice. Microwave until hot. Serve with saltine crackers or buttered bread and a fresh garden salad. This recipe is quick and easy for busy, working students!

POSITIVE THOUGHT FOR MARCH

If you think you can or can’t, you are probably right.

• All action first starts as a thought.
• Action follows thought.

If we approach a task with the thought that we can accomplish it, then we tend bring to our disposal all tools necessary to accomplish the task. This happens very naturally by simply being determined to meet the goal. Conversely, if you approach a task with an already defeated attitude, it is likely that defeat is exactly what will happen. What we focus on increases.

• Thoughts actually create energy
• The energy helps you do the task and opens other doors as well

Keep thoughts of success in the forefront of your mind. If defeatist thoughts start to creep into your mind, immediately and consciously change them to a more positive vibe.

All successful people had many failures before reaching their desired goals. The difference between those who ultimately succeed and those who ultimately fail lies in how one thinks. A successful person ignores the word, failure, and just chalks up every happening that has any negativity as a positive learning experience. If they fail an exam or test, they don’t feel like a failure. They learn from that experience what is needed to do better on the next attempt.

• Success and failure happen in the mind first.
• Be thankful for your “experiences” if you learned something.
• Determine now to be successful in all that you undertake

FUNNY STUFF – WORDS & PHRASES

Word origins: ever wondered why the word “wakes” was used when somebody died. How about dead ringer? Where in the world did that come from?
To find out, we have to go back again to the 1500s in England, about wakes and dead ringers.
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and so they were prepared for burial. They were “laid out” on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if the person would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake. Of course, why didn’t I think of that? Because never in a million years would I have figured it out.

Try these on for size, “saved by the bell,” “dead ringer,” and the “graveyard shift,” which literally was a grave yard shift. When England started running out of places to bury people, they would dig up coffins and take the bones to a bone-house, then reuse the grave. When these coffins were opened to remove the bones, one out of 25 coffins was found to have scratch marks on the inside (OMG) and they realized they had been burying people alive. So what could they do to avoid burying people alive? They tied a string on the wrist of the alleged corpse, lead the string up through the coffin and up through the ground and tied it to a bell. That would work, but someone had to sit out in the graveyard all night (the actual graveyard shift) to listen for the bell. Now we can add another expression: “saved by the bell.” If the bell rang, the person who was buried and rang the bell was a “dead ringer.”

Wow, I always thought “saved by the bell” probably came from boxing so that when one guy was pounding the other and the poundee had about had it, the bell rang, so the loser was “saved by the bell.” How wrong I was.

As far “dead ringer,” I think we’ve broadened that meaning considerably. Now it means that someone looks just like another. Jari D wondering about words.

DON’T FORGET STUDENT REFERRALS

How would you like to help a friend and earn $100 in the process?
With our unique referral program, the person you refer gets 10% off ANY of our training programs and the referrer will receive $100 when the student enrolls. Refer as many people as you like, there is no limit on the reward dollars you can earn. For complete details, please refer to the website.
Read all about it: http://www.meditec.com/student-referral-program/

• Paralegal PLUS Legal Transcription – learn it all – discounted from $2474 to $2195 for the entire package; an unbeatable combination – COMPARE TO $7500 elsewhere

Click here to go directly to the Website Specials Page: http://www.meditec.com/specials/
Or call toll free: 877-335-4072 to speak with an enrollment specialist. Don’t wait, just do it!!

February 2011

Work-At-Home Career Training

Meditec offers career training in several areas that are great for those who want to work at home. Many people come to us each year wanting to train in a career that would afford them the ability to work at home and make a decent income.


MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION


Medical transcriptionists work at home transcribing audio dictation to create the patient medical record. Most MTs work at home. This career path requires a comprehensive medical vocabulary, ability to type fast, and great attention to detail. Depending on the time one can spend in the training, it takes about 4-6 months average to learn what is needed to launch a career. Then it takes a few more months of practice, but then an MT with experience can earn anywhere from $15-$20 or more per hour. Meditec’s online MT program also offers an internship program to help graduates get to work faster.


MEDICAL CODING AND BILLING


Medical coders/billers sometimes work at home but usually after some in-office experience. Coders take the transcribed medical record and apply alpha-numeric codes that the insurance company uses to pay or deny claims. It takes about 3-6 months to learn to be a medical coder. Billers enter data charges and send the billing information to the correct payer. They post the payments and do the necessary write-offs as well. It’s a good idea to combine billing with coding (in our program we also include a module on Health Insurance). Meditec’s online coding/billing combination program can be completed in under a year. Medical coders and billers are paid from $14 to $50 per hour depending on experience. The higher end of the income scale is usually for self-employed people who offer consulting services or charge by the code to clients. Billers in business for themselves usually charge a percentage of what is collected.


LEGAL OPPORTUNITIES


Paralegals and legal transcriptionists (LTs) may work at home or in an office. Most LTs work at home. Some paralegals work at home for attorney employers/clients and others set up their own law practice. Legal transcriptionists type dictation from attorneys, paralegals, and may also process depositions, case pleadings, hearings, and court proceeding testimony. The training to become an LT is a fast track process and far easier than medical transcription to learn (though the combination of the two has a great marketing potential). Most LTs make between $10-$20 an hour or more (depending on speed). Paralegals make $15-$75 an hour depending on what they do and whether they work for themselves.


Meditec’s Paralegal Program may be completed in less than a year, and the LT program in 6 months or less.


THE ECONOMICS


Working at home has great benefits – commuting costs, lunches out, vehicle expenses, work clothes, etc. If you have a strong desire to work at home, then training with Meditec in one of our comprehensive, interactive, online programs, is the way to go. Contact us if you’d like a FREE Career Guide in any of the above-mentioned career paths. You will learn what’s involved and what to expect.

Medical Coding and ICD-9 2011 changes

Annually, in October each year, coders have to deal with new ICD-9 and CPT codes that are added or deleted. For example, this year, new cardiology codes, ectasia, congenital malformation, and body mass index (BMI) codes have been added. Here are some of the proposed changes that could impact a cardiology practice.


Ectasia hunt will end at 447.7x


ICD 9 2011 adds four specific codes to aortic ectasia, which could be among the most significant changes for cardiology coders. Ectasia means dilation or enlargement, and aortic ectasia often refers to an enlargement that is milder than an aneurysm. Aneurysms were formerly the only choice as the ICD-9 2010 didn’t distinguish ectasia from aneurysm, linking aortic ectasia to 441.9 and 441.5. The proposed 2011 codes are specific to aortic ectasia so are now a distinguishable category.


New congenital malformations code


Some of the additions deal with congenital malformations of the heart and circulatory system. Code V13.65 will be very helpful. The descriptor is: Personal history of (corrected) congenital malformations of heart and circulatory system


The ICD-9 proposal has expanded the body mass index (BMI) codes to show higher BMIs with five codes. Coders won’t be using V85.4 but will start using more specific V codes.

A NOTE ABOUT OVERPAYMENTS: FINDERS ARE NOT KEEPERS

WHAT ABOUT PATIENT ACCOUNT OVERPAYMENTS?


From a Practice Scenario: We found out that a patient overpaid us on her co-pay. Fifty dollars was the last co-pay we had on record. It turns out that the patient’s plan changed but is still under the same payer. However, her co-pay is now only $25 for an office visit. In this case, can we just credit her account or do we need to issue a refund?


Answer: You do need to issue a refund to the patient; however, how you do that is up to the patient. As soon as you find out that a patient has overpaid you, your practice should notify the patient.


You cannot hold onto the money for an indefinite period of time.


You can credit the patient’s account, however only if the patient agrees to that. If the patient will be returning to your office you can suggest that you apply the overpayment as a credit toward the patient’s co-payment for the next visit. But again if the patient does not want to apply it toward a future visit, you must return the overpayment.


You should offer two options:
A credit on the patient’s account that you’ll apply to future services or a refund of the overpayment. You may find it easier to just send the overpayment amount back to the patient with a letter explaining the situation, rather than notifying the patient and discussing options. Go for whichever process works best for your practice. Bottom line: You cannot and shouldn’t keep an overpayment – from a patient or a payer. That practice may land your provider into big trouble. The pact to return any overpayments is fundamental to a provider’s eligibility to participate in the Medicare program. Section 1866(a)(1)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1395cc) calls for participating providers to furnish information about payments made to them and to refund any payments paid incorrectly. The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act creates new obligations under the False Claims Act (FCA) whereby a Medicare provider who fails to report timely and refund an overpayment may be subject to substantial damages and penalties.


Excerpted from – James Smith – On code descriptors & guidelines and other tools for 2010 CPT code, HCPCS lookup that help coders and billers to excel in the work they do every day.

Happy Valentine’s Day from Meditec

• Thursday -11:00-Noon Central- MT/Medical Students
• Friday- 11:00-Noon Central- Legal Students
• Saturday- 2pm-3pm Central- MT/Medical students
• Sunday- 2pm-3pm Central- Legal Students

• 3-5 pounds of lean ground beef
• 1 large frozen bag okra
• 1 large can diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 bag frozen green peppers
• 1 jar chopped red peppers
• 1 large container bread crumbs (can use 2 containers if using 5lbs beef)
• 2 packets Lipton onion soup mix
• 3-5 eggs
• Ketchup, black pepper

Mix all ingredients together except ketchup and pepper. Bake 350 for 30-45 minutes. Top w/ ketchup and pepper and bake another 20 minutes.

January 2011 Newsletter

New Beginnings

Ah, a brand new year! A time to reflect, plan, hope and implement. This is a good time to re-evaluate life paths. Am I happy? Maybe just content? Am I productive? How am I doing financially? Are the goals I set a lifetime ago or just last year still on track? Are they achievable? Looking back at the past year, did I improve things? Did things change for the better or for the worse? How did I/do I measure up? It’s a good time to reflect on where we are and where we are going. It is a time for new beginnings.

During this time of life assessment, it’s a good thing to map out a plan for the New Year. A life well lived is a life well planned. We cannot expect to have great outcomes in any project, goal, or endeavor without some forethought and planning. In mapping out a plan for the New Year, we are not talking about making a list of resolutions though resolutions can be a good thing for some. The down side is that we tend to put things on the resolution list that we feel we should do rather than what we really want to do. To begin mapping out a plan for the New Year start by asking yourself what you really want. The following questions can assist in assessing your true values and desires over the things you feel you should accomplish.

• What would I change about my financial situation to make it better or more stable?
• What would I change about my life to create more happiness for myself and those around me?
• Do I need more time with family?
• Do I need more money to help make goals/dreams come true?
• Am I happy in my current job/career?

The answers to those questions will help in determining what kind of a plan of action would be effective to improve upon any of the negative answers. If you need more time with your family, then how can you effectively make that happen? If money is an issue, how can you increase income creatively? If you are unhappy in your present job or career, what steps can you take this year to get closer to your goal of career achievement? By answering these questions, you begin to understand what you might consider in order to reach your goals. Even small steps leading to a major goal are better than not taking any action at all. If you’ve always dreamed of a college degree, then enroll in some classes. If you are unhappy in your current job or career, consider some fast-track career training. If you need extra money, consider starting a small side business that you would enjoy operating. The choice is yours.

Let 2011 be the year that you took positive steps toward creating the life of your dreams.

As you reflect, write your goals down and read them every day. Make notes that relate to items on your list as they open, alter, shift and change (which they always do, part of the fascination of this life experience), and above all….Enjoy yourself!!

Technology companies try to anticipate change and then implement it. After change is proposed or enacted as law, the breaking news is all about the implementation done by some big company or firm, and how others are trying to follow suit.

In 2010, a very major change was proposed and enacted that deeply affected the insurance industry as well as those in need of affordable medical care. Healthcare reforms were implemented and brought tremendous amount of challenge and the need for change in the healthcare sector. The main motive was to make sure that healthcare services are available to one and all within the range of affordable prices. Certainly you noticed it was a political Ping-Pong ball.

Healthcare providers, health insurance companies, employers who provide healthcare benefits to employees were all affected by these reforms. At the same time, agents, brokers and smaller units facilitating the process of health insurance are also impacted.

Along with the changes, lots of opportunities and ideas spring forth from the companies that innovate and development software. The IT (Information Technology) departments of all the healthcare providers and the insurers then scramble to provide the solutions. Like we mentioned in the New Year Plan -health care providers and insurers – no matter how large or small must:

1. Know what type of change is required
2. Design and test the new platforms and delivery tools and systems
3. Implement ways to adapt to the changes
4. Ensure that the compliance to change is monitored and audited
5. Try to preserve any profit margin

It is not easy to adapt to change quickly but survival in the market demands swift action when a change is imposed that affects any kind of business. It is true that the insurance industry certainly opposed the new plan for reform, but faced with the challenges of business, they will likely learn something from the process to make sure they perform as expected to survive the changes. Certainly the reform will have an impact on their profits. Policies will shift and change and lifetime caps will provide no protection for payers. Medicare Advantage Plans will be impacted as well.

The insurance costs and denial of benefits (pre-existing conditions) were the main target that the reforms were trying to address. It is hoped that if insurance costs could be significantly decreased, more of the 23 million uninsured people in the U.S. would be able to afford coverage. Keep in mind that the high costs of care for the “no insurance” category of people creates a huge number of credit-related problems, including bankruptcy.

The mandatory benefit package may cost more than the catastrophic plans, which will ensure that the insurance companies are not in loss column. The healthcare reforms require that insurers provide a certain minimum level of benefits in the health insurance exchanges that individuals and small firms must use to buy coverage. It is expected that the law will reduce about $200 billion in government payments to Medicare Advantage Plans. Healthcare. That may be interesting.

The challenge for healthcare IT companies is to analyze the situation and key areas where they need to change in order to make sure that their business makes the grade. Administrative costs need to be driven down to leverage profits since the premiums are going to slide down and reduce as the implementation goes in full-swing. With the creation of state insurance exchanges, the prices of health plans would hopefully become competitive. At the same time , technology compliance and implementation will require substantial investment to bridge the gap.

Time – NOTE ALL TIMES ARE CENTRAL, so calculate according to where you live

• Thursday -11:00-Noon Medical
• Friday- 11:00-Noon – Legal
• Saturday- 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. – Medical
• Sunday- 2:00 pm-3:00 p.m. – Legal

Also, Meditec is now on Facebook. Please join our Facebook page and enjoy the fun! Meditec’s Online Medical Courses to Online Medical Career Page

INTERESTING WEBSITES

http://www.healthcare.gov/?gclid=CPGdvI77m6YCFchl7Aode2AGnQ Healthcare reform website.

RECIPE FOR JANUARY

Green Pepper Casserole

• 3 lbs ground beef, cooked, drained
• 2 large cans diced tomatoes, partially drained
• 2 cups cooked white rice
• 1 bag frozen chopped green peppers
• 4 large fresh green peppers, chopped
• 1 large can tomato sauce

*Cook and drain ground beef. Cook white rice. Add all ingredients into a large 13x9x2 pan. Top with tomato sauce. Bake for 45 minutes 350 degrees.

Student Spotlight

My name is Kathy T. Due to childcare issues, I had to quit my job about four years ago. Once I found suitable childcare, I was unable to find a job. We live in an area that has been hit hard by the economic downturn and jobs are scarce around here. I talked to a friend who went through Meditec’s program about 7-8 years ago and she encouraged me to try it. I did some research and thought being an MT would be very interesting. Plus, I can find a job for a company outside my area and work from home. After researching other MT courses and hearing about my friend’s experience, I decided to go with Meditec. The internship program was an added bonus to the program. I loved that I could work at my own pace. During the course of my studies, I had to stop for extended periods a couple of times due to other things going on in my life. It was so nice not to lose everything I had worked for when I had to stop for awhile. Also, every time I called Meditec needing advice or help with a problem, the people I talked to were always very helpful. I got the feeling they really care and really want us to succeed. I have finished my MT course and am now working on my internship. I am excited about this new opportunity in my life. Thank you Meditec!

Congratulations to Kathy T from the Meditec staff. Way to go, Kathy! We are glad that we could assist you in meeting your goals of becoming a work at home MT. Please stay in touch with us!

March 2010 Newsletter

How to Avoid Getting Taken for Ride by School Scams

by: Dawn Moreno, Meditec Program Manager/Instructor

I read an article in BC Advantage magazine this month about an online billing school owner that enrolled numerous students, took their money, and then disappeared. Thinking about scams of this nature reminds one that diligence must be used before turning your hard-earned money over to any school.

Some tips to assist in avoiding the scams include:

1) Make sure the school you wish to attend is licensed by the state they operate in. In many cases, licensed schools must post a bond in order to become licensed and this gives students some safety and recourse if the school goes under or doesn’t follow through on their promises.

2) Check the Better Business Bureau for excessive complaints against the school.

3) Talk to current students and former graduates. Are their graduates employed and are current students happy?

4) Choose a school that has been in business many years and has stood the test of time.

In this time of recession, when people are out of work and looking for new career paths, the problem of school scams is growing. Be a wise consumer. Meditec has been in business over 40 years, is licensed by the state, and has a stellar BBB rating. Additionally, we are one of the few schools that offers an MT internship program to assist our students, and even graduates of other programs, to get working quickly.

Do your research, and choose well.

Medical Billing Service as a Home-Based Business-Is it Lucrative?

Medical billing service as a home-based business may sound like a great business idea but it is not that simple. If you are assuming that you are going to make big money from this venture, you are likely to be disappointed unless you are realistic about your expectations.

It is very important not to fall into the trap of different ads that have been posted on various sites as many of these are scams. Make sure your eyes are wide open before you decide to jump into this field of business.

Below are five keys to success:

1. Do your research. In order to make this business successful, it is important that you find out all the requirements and gain complete knowledge about this field. It is also very important to know medical terms and medical billing terminology, how to conduct transactions on the Internet, correct coding procedures and diagnosis in order to avoid any denials etc.

2. Build some experience first. Billing is very tough if you have no experience or if you haven’t worked elsewhere in this field before. So before starting your own home-based business it is advisable to gain some work experience, as the people who have successfully started their business and are doing extremely well have had traditional work experience in the field of medical billing.

3. Take the time to set up right. Setting up is a process which should be done carefully and each step has to be thoroughly analyzed before putting it into action. It is important to work in a quiet atmosphere without any interruptions. Any help you get is good. Always remember, one small mistake can cost you a big deal or even a client.

4. Expect to have to invest at first. When you initially set up this business, your expenditure will be high and you will have to attain all the required books and softwares. Don’t expect to generate high incomes right away, it will take time.

5. Don’t be shy about asking for business. Do not hesitate to go around asking health care professionals or doctors in your locality if they require your billing service. Make calls and send letters to tell them that you are ready to render your help and services. Have patience but at the same time be a little persistent and always maintain a polite attitude.

Be realistic and patient and you will see that you can turn your medical billing business dream into reality.

About the Author: Ms. Pinky is a mom of 3 school children. She is a Systems Engineer, a Technology Researcher and an Independent Medical Billing and Coding Consultant. She and her family is well-traveled all over the world. Her blogs and Web sites focus on stay-at-home moms, dads and students who wants to work at home or build home-based businesses. You can find her at Mommyisworkingathome.com. You may also want to visit her interesting site on Asian Travels and Destinations at GoingplacesinAsia.com. This article is adapted from Articlebase.com.

Is Learning Medical Coding Difficult?

by: Dawn Moreno, Meditec Program Manager/Instructor

Many prospective students who call us asking about a career in medical coding want to know if it is difficult to learn. Whereas everyone perceives levels of difficulty differently, comparably speaking learning medical coding is less difficult than learning medical transcription. Why?

Medical transcription is a wonderful work-at-home career choice but it is very skill-based. It takes a good period of time and persistence to tune your ear to the dictation. For some people this can take a few months’ time, but for others it can take up to a year. Additionally, learning to listen for the nuances in each dictator’s style takes much practice.

Conversely, medical coding is very procedural in nature. Once a student learns the basic procedures and rules concerning medical coding, then it just takes some practice to learn how to effectively put those skills to use.

Medical transcriptionists make excellent medical coders and pick up medical coding very easily because they already understand the patient medical record. MTs can easily pick out the diagnosis, procedures, and supplies used during each medical visit.

Meditec teaches medical coding using special coding reference materials that make learning to find the codes quick and easy. The typical training time to learn medical coding is about 3 months. Whereas, learning medical transcription typically takes 6 months to a year. Of course, there are variances in the “typical” training time based on how much of it is spent each week studying.

Another question that comes up frequently is this: Do I have to be good with numbers to be a medical coder? The answer to that question is emphatically NO! To be a good medical coder you need to enjoy reading the patient medical record, and understand how to apply proper coding procedure. Also, the software available, such as Alpha II, makes medical coding so much easier. In the Meditec course, the student has the option to purchase the Alpha II coding software and to use it while doing the course’s exercises. We do recommend that you do the first 100 exercises manually using only the ICD and CPT code books to get used to manually looking up the codes.

Medical coding is a great career choice. It pays well, and jobs are plentiful. The training time and expense is very reasonable as compared to other career fields. From training time to finding your first job as a medical coder could be as little as just a few months.

If you are interested in this career path, request your FREE career e-book Everything About Medical Coding & Billing.

How to Start a Home-Based Medical Transcription Business

First of all, what is the typical day in the life of a medical transcriptionist?

Basically, a medical transcriptionist listens to dictated recordings made by health care professionals such as physicians. Then, he or she transcribes them into medical reports and other correspondence. Part of the job involves editing materials and checking for inconsistencies. The transcriptionist then returns the transcribed items to the medical professional.

These transcription documents can include physical exam and operative reports, autopsies, discharge summaries, progress notes, consultations and other medical-related materials. Although fairly basic work, there are a variety of different types of documents, keeping the work interesting.

Why start a medical transcription home-based business?

The Internet has made transcription work easier and faster to complete at home. Many transcriptionists telecommute, which has sparked an interest with entrepreneurs who want to work for themselves in the comforts of their homes.

It is easy to understand why medical transcription is quickly becoming a popular home-based business. Although advanced education is not required to become a medical transcriptionist, completing a 2-year associates degree or 1-year certificate program is highly recommended. In addition, you can demonstrate a higher transcription skill level and qualification with a “designation”. You can earn the designation of a Registered Medical Transcriptionist or a Certified Medical Transcriptionist, both of which require ongoing education to pass re-certification every 3 years. This is a good selling point to clients, especially when you run your own business.

Speaking of clients, a good way to find medical transcription clients is through online medical transcription networking sites like MT Daily. You may also be able to land contract work through online job Web sites dedicated to medical transcriptionist careers such as MT Jobs.

But I am getting ahead of myself. When you start your medical transcription business, you will need transcription equipment. Initially, you will have to choose between the standard mini-cassette transcriber method and the newer digital dictation style using the Internet and your computer. This will determine the equipment you will need, such as a computer, high speed Internet connection, word-processing software, headphones, a foot pedal, copier, printer, a server and a data storage device.

Sometimes you can find great deals on eBay.com. Next, a medical dictionary is also a good item to have in your office. You can find several used dictionaries at bargain prices on Amazon.com. Lastly, as with any job where you sit and type a lot, invest in a comfortable chair and desk. You may also want to take a look at wrist support or an ergonomic keyboard. These will pay for themselves in the long run. Keep in mind that you can start small and then upgrade your equipment as your business grows. Your clients may also dictate (pardon the pun!) the type of equipment you use, depending on their needs and requests.

Addendum by Dawn Moreno: The Meditec medical transcription training course is equivalent in semester to 1 year of college time (33 semester hours). Our program is comprehensive, self-paced, and online with textbook back-up.

About the Author: Sue Barrett has been the Director of Business Solutions at Home Business Center, Inc. for over 10 years. Specializing in small and home business issues, she provides quality insight and reputable training, licensing, financing and tax resources for those wanting to start, manage and grow their own home-based medical transcription businesses. From Articlebase.com.

POSITIVE THOUGHTS FOR MARCH

By: Dawn Moreno, Meditec Program Manager/Instructor

As our economy is slowly recovering, many people are finding it still difficult to get by. When things get tough, it’s easy to lose our perspective and fall into a negative cycle of thinking. This nearly always keeps that negative cycle fueled with energy and ongoing.

Remembering to take a moment to align our thoughts with positivity, faith, hope, and compassion can help us weather life’s storms. we were never promised a rose garden in life, but we do not have to bask in thorns day in and day out. Seek to find your own inner joy!

Affirmations for March

• I embrace and accept change.
• I embrace and accept new opportunities.
• I am constantly attracting new and exciting opportunities.
• I give and receive love freely.
• I forgive myself and everyone else for past mistakes.
• I am open to giving and receiving love abundantly.

MEDICAL FUNNIES:

Doctor: Nurse, how is that little girl doing who swallowed ten quarters last night?

Nurse: No change yet.

From: http://www.1millionjokes.com/jokes/87.html

Referral Program

Do you know someone who is interested in career training? Refer them to Meditec and if they enroll in our one of our programs within the next 3 months we’ll send you $100 as a thank you gift. That’s $100 for every person who enrolls – and there’s no limit to how many referrals you can make.

All you need to do is email us at with their first name, last name and what state they live in (so that we can keep track of your referrals).

Returning Student Discount

As a special thank you, all past Meditec students (those not currently studying with us) will receive 25% off for any training programs in which they enroll.

This Month’s Recipe

Eggplant Parmigiana

Ingredients:

1) 2 large washed eggplants, sliced in 1/4″ thick slices

2) Flour

3) 6 Eggs

4) Oil

5) 1 large jar Ragu Spaghetti sauce

6) Mozzarella cheese – shredded 4 cups

7) Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Scramble the 6 eggs. Dip each slice of eggplant in the egg mixture, and then in the flour to bread it and set aside. Do this with each piece of the sliced eggplant. Fry each slice of eggplant in a frying pan under tender, and set aside on a paper towel lined plate (to help absorb some of the oil). Once all the eggplant slices are fried, spoon some of the spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a 13×9×2 baking dish. Then add a layer of the fried eggplant, top with more sauce, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Continue layering eggplant, sauce, and cheese until you run out of eggplant or space in the pan. Top with a layer of mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake in over preheated over at 350 degrees for approximately 30 to 45 minutes or until all the cheese is melted and it’s nice and hot all the way through. Take out of oven and let stand for 15 minutes or until slightly cooled before slicing. Serves great with garlic cheese bread or buttered french bread and a nice crunchy garden salad. Enjoy!

Variation:  

You don’t have to layer the eggplant like a lasagna. You can just put some of the spaghetti sauce in the pan, and then put all the eggplant in, then top with more sauce, and cheese.  Additionally, you do not have to slice the eggplant into slivers but can slice it thicker and then cut into quarters, and bread and fry it that way.

February 2010 Newsletter

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POSITIVE THOUGHTS FOR FEBRUARY

By: Dawn Moreno, Meditec Program Manager/Instructor

As our economy is slowly recovering, many people are still finding it difficult to get by.  When things get tough, it’s easy to lose our perspective and fall into a negative cycle of thinking.  This nearly always keeps that negative cycle fueled with energy and ongoing.  Remembering to take a moment and align our thoughts with positivity, faith, hope, and compassion can help us weather life’s storms.  Whereas we were not promised a rose garden of life, but we do not have to bask in thorns day in and day out. Seek to find your own inner joy!

MEDICAL FUNNIES:

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This Month’s Recipes

TATER TOT CASSEROLE

Brown hamburger meat. Add cream of mushroom soup and stir together continuously.

Let simmer on low heat for 15 minutes.

Place mixture in the bottom of a casserole dish. Lay tater tots neatly on top of the mixture.

Place in oven on 350′ and let the tater tots brown.

Sprinkle with cheese; melt it in the oven and ENJOY.

(Side note from Dawn M: You could add a little sour cream to the cream of mushroom soup for a bit more “zip” to this recipe).

Submitted by: Danielle Watson

Excerpted from COOKS.COM

Medical Coding Case Studies

Changes have been made in the description of diabetes codes. They are no longer termed “insulin dependent” and “non-insulin dependent.” The distinction now is on the functioning of the pancreatic beta cells. The use of insulin is not a determining factor in the type of diabetes a patient has.

Type 1 = absence of pancreatic beta cells (these patients must use insulin) Type 2 = refers to lack of proper functionality of the pancreatic beta cells (may or may not use insulin)

The changes are in the 5th digit, removing the terms “insulin dependent” and “IDDM” from 5th digit 1, and “non-insulin” “NIDDM,” and “adult onset type” from 5th digits 0 and 2.

New V code also relates to diabetes: V58.67 = long-term insulin use and is assigned as an additional code and used for type 2 diabetics that take insulin as well as women with gestational diabetes.

Example: The patient is a thin 48 year old female with well controlled type 2 diabetes. She had onset about 3 years ago and was put on insulin because she was not producing enough to sustain her. She has done well on insulin and her general health is good.

She was seen in the office today with severe nausea and vomiting for the preceding 6 hours. She stated the nausea began last night with stomach pain and diarrhea, followed later by vomiting. Labs confirmed dehydration and acute viral gastroenteritis. Her blood sugar was elevated to 190 and she was advised not to take additional insulin until the vomiting and diarrhea subsided. She was given medication and instructed to call back. The coding:

276.5 dehydration
008.8 gastroenteritis, viral type
250.00 diabetes type 2, controlled
V58.67 long term (current) insulin use

The second patient had onset of gestational diabetes during pregnancy. The codes are:

648.8# diabetes, gestational, complicating pregnancy
V58.67

If you are working in a medical provider’s office, be sure to tell the staff about this change so the diagnoses may be recorded and coded correctly.

Provider Education Training

Medical Career Training Programs

The practice should adopt the educational criteria into its policies and procedures and ultimately into the compliance plan. The compliance plan should communicate the practice’s policies and procedures clearly so they are fully understood by all physicians and staff, as well as independent contractors whose services are billed under the practice’s provider number, or who bill for the practice. Monitoring is also an important requirement.

Training is an ongoing process and standards for continuing education must be included. The training may be done creatively, should be easy to understand, and examples should be provided of noncompliant behavior.

• seminars and video presentations
• meetings
• outside presentations
• on-line learning sources (that’s where Meditec comes in)
• questionnaires are used to assess how well the staff understood the material

In addition, maintain lists (or get Meditec to do it for you) of those who have attended training sessions, and keep copies of all the training materials or syllabuses. If the practice or a provided is investigated, you will need to be able to show what staff members were taught and prove that they actually attended training. Meditec will provide that information for the practice.