General Discussion

Last edited Thu Sep 28, 2023, 03:27 AM - Edit history (2)

I was a medical transcriptionist, always listening to the accents and styles of foreign and American doctors' dictation, and striving for perfection in spelling and accuracy of information as dictated. I was also a degreed medical records coder with state certification. As an older, non-traditional student, I didn't walk for my community college cum laude graduation; I could not afford the graduation attire, a $60 expense back then. I couldn't find a job doing coding in my super-saturated area. Likely it was the credit score we shared? Do you really think my DH or I would willingly leave his obviously more excellent capabilities that were regularly unemployed and that never mentioned bad performance behind to chase my needs or desires or his daughters' stability in familiar schools, family, or friends? No, but it was a-ok to chase HIS record of success in a career and educational completion so old they could not verify it...

I was always proud to show my initials beneath my work. I now understand why one interviewer found that so funny! She laughed in my face. I had paid for my education out-of-pocket--no debt, in a state that was actively giving that education away for free and paying only a $125 stipend to employers to hire those who received it free! The truth is that physicians don't value women who spit out lists of those who don't sign their orders or notes that might later protect the privacy of their patients health information. It's been nearly two decades since they just attached their electronic signatures without even reading the coded/transcribed documents. They can then better convince juries and/or exploit that privacy themselves with diagnoses that follow patients until their dying day and bills patients can't ever hope to pay without declaring bankruptcy, or win cases by plausible protection for surgical errors if they follow SOP. Oops! Do you know who is civily responsible; the ones that code those lies and falsehoods. Coders must carry personal liability for those directed errors as well; they must keep up CMEs. It's easy unless you must instead save for many rainy days or make sacrifices for your family. Just can't wait to see what AI tracking does with the written word and numbers and electronic signatures, not just an /s on legal evidence. No wonder its all mostly now outsourced to the lowest bidders, ESLs across the ocean. I'll tell you something in jest...I imagine that no one in Dayton still has their gallbladder. I'm even more shocked I once personally knew and worked with a doc, torn between two lovers, that attempted at the very least "infanticide" of his own unborn child with a known off-label pharmaceutical in mommy's sodas (I also knew who the mommy was), and that it was not by her choice! He escaped worst scenario by copping a plea when the evidence, a still-born daughter, could not likely be proven without a doubt. He did lose his license but not number two girlfriend as wife. I NEVER wonder if they had a "happily ever after" moment.

My daughter's employer passed on health "insurance" and gave employees a sketchy health "benefits plan" that has about 8 employees; it's backed by $3M of private equity. Its purpose is to skirt government regulations for privacy, competency, and timely claim payments. The website is full of cost-saving benefits to the employer--not so much his employees' financial and/or medical health because the premium payroll deductions didn't change one bit despite the newbie in town skirting all the "safeguards" of the bloated corporate insurance systems. The outfit merely tells patients to do their work for them. Just have their unvetted docs sign the form and they will pay their claims at lower cost to the employer. No knick on the employer's credit worthiness when the claim goes unpaid beyond 30,60,90 days! How much you want to bet that that corporate employer is also the investor in that portfolio of start-ups killing their patients' credit scores but so confident in the doctors' ethical credentials as the owner/boss keeps his obligations lower but collects interest on that payroll deduction fund, the better to invest in what the free hand of the market will bear, the employees obligations still get sucked from their payroll checks each pay period. OK dear employees, just sign your consent to give up the personal data records that include your private health history, that dear employer has already provided to us via what? thumbdrive? upload?/download? to get you started on your new plan! It's apparently not even considered as a data breach! Cheers my children! I will ALWAYS worry about both of my daughters' total health, privacy, nd safety, especially now!

Medical billing and coding is still touted as one of the "hottest" well-paid occupations in America to do at home. Please note the equipment is not often provided and was expensive then. I went many years without insurance as a result of DH's unemployment, but I do have housing, food, pets and now Medicare w/gap and all that now ancient education. I'm pretty sure my next doctor won't get a clear picture of my aging physical health, emotional health, or dental/vision health as a prisoner of the system without starting at scratch, and I'm not sure I even want to be "cured." I'm terrified I have longevity genes. I tried to have an honest life, but my identity has been stolen. It's tough to be considered a "useless eater," without anyone to stand up for my unsuccessful attempt at being who I am. I will never again have that confidence. Sorry folks, I feel like a Blanche DuBois who will end up depending on government programs and the mercy of strangers I won't trust. That sensed slippery slope of loss can't be cured.