Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Settlement about?
2. What are the terms of the Settlement?
3. Who is eligible for the settlement benefits?
4. What are the Settlement Benefits?
5. What do I need to do to participate in AHDI’s programs?
6. How do I object to or exclude myself from the Settlement?

1. What is the Settlement About?

   The suit alleges that MedQuist manipulated its computer systems to underpay medical transcriptionists for transcription work that was compensated on a per-line basis. Defendants deny that they did anything wrong. The parties have agreed to settle the lawsuit.

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2. What are the terms of the Settlement?

   MedQuist has agreed to injunctive relief and to pay $1.5 million in cash, less attorneys’ expenses and settlement administration costs, to the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (“AHDI”). There will be no monetary distributions to class members. No fees were paid to Plaintiffs’ Counsel for their work on behalf of the class. A complete copy of the Stipulation of Settlement between the parties is available in the Class Notice and Legal Documents section of this website.
   
   The injunctive relief requires MedQuist to:

   1. implement and disseminate a formal written policy that expressly states all definitions of payroll lines used by MedQuist transcription platforms for compensating medical transcriptionists;
   
   
   2. make all definitions of payroll lines used by MedQuist transcription platforms available to MedQuist employees, candidates for employment, and the general public by including it within MedQuist's internet website;
   
   
   3. make all definitions of payroll lines used by MedQuist transcription platforms available to MedQuist employees, including managers, recruiters, and medical transcriptionists by including it in MedQuist's employee handbook or other materials distributed to medical transcriptionists for their ongoing reference;
   
   
   4. make available all definitions of payroll lines used by MedQuist transcription platforms to candidates for employment as a medical transcriptionist prior to or in connection with any verbal or written offer of employment;
   
   
   5. identify for all medical transcriptionists who are paid based on a payroll line unit of measure, prior to or in connection with any verbal or written offer of employment, the payroll line definition that will be used to calculate their pay; and
   
   
   6. provide written notice to the affected transcriptionist employees in the event that MedQuist alters the definition of a payroll line or otherwise causes transcription work to be calculated for payroll purposes according to a different payroll line definition.

   The bulk of the $1.5 million settlement payment was distributed to AHDI. The payment to AHDI will be used to fund programs for the general benefit of medical transcriptionists and the medical transcription industry. In addition, qualifying class members will be eligible to participate in certain AHDI programs free of charge. More information about these AHDI programs is available below in the answer to the FAQ "What are the settlement benefits?"

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3. Who is eligible for the settlement benefits?

   The Settlement Class includes all medical transcriptionists who transcribed for MedQuist from November 29, 1998, to August 11, 2008, and were paid on a line-based unit of measure for their work.
   
   You are not a Settlement Class Member if you are not included in the definition of the Settlement Class described above or if you chose to exclude yourself from the class and timely notified the Court of your intent.

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4. What are the settlement benefits?

   Settlement Class Members will not receive individual monetary distributions from the Settlement Fund.
   
   As part of the settlement, AHDI is offering certain of its programs free of charge to qualifying class members who register with AHDI by July 1, 2010. A description of program options is available here.You can learn more about these program options and apply to participate through AHDI's website at www.ahdionline.org. Registration with AHDI will commence on July 15, 2009.

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5. What do I need to do to participate in AHDI’s programs?

   If you would like to take advantage of the programs offered by AHDI, you must register by July 1, 2010. Please note that spaces are limited and will be provided on a first come, first served basis. Registration with AHDI will commence on July 15, 2009.

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6. How do I object to or exclude myself from the settlement?

   The deadlines to object or to exclude yourself from the settlement have passed. If you are a class member and did not timely file your request to be excluded from the class, you are bound by the terms of the settlement.

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