They have an important job in health care, but several medical transcribers are frustrated that they haven't been paid thousands of dollars for their services. An Omaha area company has apparently dissolved and for some, that's a tough financial pill to swallow.
For a patient to get the right treatment, medical transcribers have to follow doctors’ orders word for word. “The drugs he prescribes them, the drugs they're currently on, have to be accurate,” says Tammy Arp.
Working from home, medical transcribers are able to download audio for a clinic put on headsets and spend hours turning doctors words into writing. They're contractors paid by the line. “Lines on this invoice.”
Medigrafix is no longer in business due to the economy and some unforeseen circumstances, which legally they cannot discuss at this time. They are currently going through the dissolution of the company, as I would refer the transcribers/contractors to put their complaints in writing along with any past invoices and mail to 7914 W Dodge Road #377, Omaha, NE 68114.
These will be forwarded to the attorney and bank for review. Medigrafix is still owed money from previous clients and are currently trying to collect on those invoices, so it is their intention to settle with all contractors with outstanding balances.
They would like to remind the transcriber/contractors that they are still bound by a signed confidentiality. The transcribers are independent contractors and not employees. I understand that they are trying to exhaust all their options as there may be monies owed, not knowing who the transcribers/contractors are, some transcribers/contractors failed to meet their requirements or TAT (turn around times).
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, as I believe it can be resolved without the negative publicity on both parties.
Thanks.
Brian
A company called Medigrafix got financially ill, so the transcribers say they're owed from $1,800 to $6,000 in back pay. “It would be about six months worth of mortgage payments for us,” says Jodi Beyer.
“I'm a farm wife, hard times at home, so that money is pretty important right now,” says Carol Hasselbrook.
Medigrafix has ties to an Elkhorn company called PreciseMT and a spokesman says clients still owe money and when that's collected the transcribers will be paid. “He says check’s in the mail, check’s in the mail, we called and no check,” says medical transcriber Francis Legler.
As contractors, not employees, the medical transcribers have nowhere to turn but small claims court. “If the court tells them to pay and they still don't pay, then what?” asks Arp. “What do we do?"
The transcribers are well trained and earn doctors’ trust, but they worry the prognosis doesn't look good for getting the money they've also earned.
A company spokesman tells Fact Finders that Medigrafix is out of business due to the economy and unforeseen circumstances he legally can't disclose. The transcribers we talked to say about 20 independent contractors like them are owed an estimated total of $40,000.
