Social security disability : collection of medical evidence could be improved with evaluations to identify promising collection practices.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

United States. Government Accountability Office

Contributor:

United States. Congress. House. Committee on Ways and Means. Subcommittee on Social Security

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Social Security Administration--Rules and practice.

United States.

United States. Social Security Administration.

Social security--United States.

Social security.

Disability insurance--United States.

Disability insurance.

Disability evaluation.

Genre:

Rules and practice.

Rules.

Physical Description:

58 pages : digital, PDF file

Other Title:

Collection of medical evidence could be improved with evaluations to identify promising collection practices

Place of Publication:

[Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, [2008]

Summary:

The timely collection of relevant medical evidence from providers, such as physicians and psychologists, is key to the Social Security Administration (SSA) process for deciding whether an estimated 2.5 million new claimants each year have impairments that qualify them to receive disability benefits. The initial determinations are generally made by state agencies called Disability Determination Services (DDSs). We evaluated: (1) the challenges, if any, in collecting medical records from the claimants' own providers and ways SSA and the DDSs are responding to these challenges; (2) the challenges, if any, in obtaining high-quality consultative exams and ways SSA and the DDSs are responding to these challenges; and (3) the progress SSA has made in moving from paper to electronic collection of medical evidence. We surveyed 51 DDS directors, visited 5 state DDSs, reviewed sample case files, and interviewed officials with SSA, DDSs, and associations for claimants and providers. GAO recommends SSA identify DDS evidence collection practices that may be promising, evaluate their effectiveness, and encourage implementation of successful practices in other states, as applicable. To do so, SSA should cost-effectively compile and assess additional data on the collection process. SSA should also work to identify and address barriers to expanded use of its online medical evidence submission options.

Notes:

Title from PDF cover screen (viewed Dec. 21, 2008).

At head of title: Report to the Subcommittee on Social Security, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives.

"December 17, 2008"--Page 1.

Includes bibliographical references.

"GAO-09-149."

OCLC:

289099046