Social security disability : collection of medical evidence could be improved with evaluations to identify promising collection practices.
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....
| Corporate Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Government Document eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
[Washington, D.C.] :
U.S. Govt. Accountability Office,
[2008]
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/LPS112389 |
| 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. |
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| Item Description: | Title from PDF cover screen (viewed on 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"--P.1. "GAO-09-149." Electronic resource. |
| Physical Description: | 58 pages : digital, PDF file. |
| Format: | System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Mode of access: World Wide Web from GAO web site. Address as of 12/21/08: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09149.pdf ; current access available via PURL. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |