Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the MedQuist Class Action Settlement
Q. What is the Settlement About?
Information regarding the underlying class action and settlement is contained in the class notice mailed directly to settlement class members and available through the website operated by the settlement administrator at www.transcriptionistsettlement.com.
Q. Who is eligible for the settlement benefits?
All medical transcriptionists who transcribed for MedQuist Inc. or MedQuist Transcriptions Ltd. from November 29, 1998, to August 11, 2008, and who were paid on a line based unit of measure for their work. Excluded from the settlement class are those persons who timely and validly requested exclusion from the class pursuant to the Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Class Action.
Q. What are the settlement benefits?
The benefits of the settlement are detailed in the class notice and include the opportunity to participate in certain free programs offered by AHDI to qualifying class members through July 1, 2010. Program options include a choice of one of the following:
- free one-year individual AHDI membership, or
- free one-year subscription to AHDI's web-based knowledge base and information portal, or
- free registration for up to five (5) online AHDI educational webinars; or
- free registration for one (1) credentialing prep course and one (1) specialty online educational course, or
- free AHDI educational CD product bundle.
Certain participation limitations apply.
Q. How can I take advantage of the free programs offered by AHDI?
The settlement was approved by the court on March 31, 2009. Participation in the programs described in the settlement notice will become available no earlier than May 29, 2009. More information, including instructions for registering for one of the five program options, will be posted here when it becomes available.
Q. Why is AHDI involved?
We want to clarify that AHDI did not solicit this arrangement or settlement money from MedQuist. We were never privy to what was going on with this court case, that the plaintiffs had not met their burden of proof, nor that the attorneys were discussing a settlement. We were approached by the MedQuist attorneys who were seeking our agreement to receive the settlement funds and oversee the programs being offered. The program offerings had to be approved by MedQuist and had to be reviewed by the plaintiff's attorneys. It is important for people to understand that we are merely administering this benefits program for MedQuist. Membership in AHDI is not required. AHDI agreed to participate in this settlement because we saw an opportunity to provide services and products to MTs who we might not otherwise have had access to.
Q. Why is there a cap on the AHDI offerings?
AHDI felt it essential that we put a cap on those offerings to limit our expense to no more than what the settlement offered. In other words, given the high number of past and current MedQuist employees, if every single one of them came forward for these benefits, the outlay for providing those benefits would greatly exceed the settlement money being provided, and AHDI cannot subsidize that additional cost. The offerings will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and for a limited window of time (July 1, 2010). Interested qualifying employees will need to take advantage of those resources during that time. It was the only way AHDI could agree to manage the settlement funds and programs.
Q. Who can I contact regarding my rights as a member of the class?
If you have questions regarding the underlying class action or settlement, you may contact the independent settlement administrator appointed by the court at:
MedQuist Settlement Administrator
PO Box 1949
Faribault, MN 55021-6092
Toll Free: 800-657-1162
www.transcriptionistsettlement.com
Q. I’m not a member of AHDI but I did work for MedQuist during that time frame, am I eligible?
Yes. Membership in AHDI is not required to take advantage of the benefits granted to settlement class members.
Q. I’m an AHDI member and received a membership renewal form. I was planning on taking advantage of the complimentary membership benefit. Should I wait to renew?
No. AHDI membership is an annual membership. If you do not renew your membership your membership will lapse and you will miss out on important benefits and information your association membership includes. If you’d like to use the complimentary membership option provided the settlement goes through, we can extend your membership for one year based on your anniversary date.
For example: If your membership is renewed in March 2009 through March 2010, we can apply the one year’s membership to go through March 2011.
Q. I still have questions. Who do I contact?
For any questions regarding the class action lawsuit or settlement, you may contact the independent settlement administrator appointed by the court at:
MedQuist Settlement Administrator
PO Box 1949
Faribault, MN 55021-6092
Toll Free: 800-657-1162
www.transcriptionistsettlement.com
For any questions regarding AHDI or the free programs offered by AHDI to qualifying class members, you may contact the following AHDI representative:
Kelly Kappmeier
Marketing & Professional Relations Manager
kkappmeier@ahdionline.org
800-982-2182 x2472