In 2009, Social Security became the first federal government agency to use the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN). This initiative will cut the time it takes Social Security to get medical records — from weeks or months to only minutes — for people who apply for disability benefits. Initially this will affect a small number of the people applying for disability benefits, but it will gradually expand.
This year, Social Security will handle almost three million disability claims and make over 15 million requests for medical records from over 900,000 medical providers. Providers have a number of options to respond to these requests, but all require manual intervention before evidence can be entered into Social Security’s electronic disability folder.
Using the NHIN, when an applicant lists certain medical facilities as treating sources, Social Security’s computer system automatically sends an electronic message to the hospital’s system requesting the medical record and providing the patient’s authorization. The hospital’s system automatically responds. Within minutes, the medical evidence is available for evaluation by Social Security’s disability decision maker.
In addition, Social Security identified medical codes that match portions of 43 conditions in our medical listings. The agency’s computer system analyzes the data for these codes after receiving hospital records and alerts our disability decision maker so the case can be processed more quickly.
At Social Security, we’re doing our part to make the disability determination process more efficient. You can do your part, too. If you need to apply for disability benefits, do it online. You can learn about Social Security disability benefits, take advantage of our online disability planner and even apply for benefits online at www.socialsecurity.gov/disability. You don’t have to complete the application all in one sitting; you can take a break and log back on to complete it later without starting over. Also, you’re able to check the status of your pending application online after you’ve electronically submitted it to Social Security.
With innovative new technologies like the NHIN, medical codes, and the online application, Social Security is working to reverse the agency’s growing disability backlog and reduce the time it takes to make a disability decision. To learn more about disability benefits, visit www.socialsecurity.gov and select the “Disability” button along the top banner.
John Williams is Social Security public affairs specialist for east central Indiana. His column appears every other Monday on the Business page.
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
John Williams: Social Security disability process improved by new technologies
Time to get records goes from weeks or months to minutes
- Local News
-
-
Portwood accepted into drug court program
Amber Portwood, a star of MTV’s “Teen Mom,” was accepted into drug court Thursday afternoon. As part of her acceptance, Portwood was ordered to complete rehabilitation while living at Sister 2 Sister Ministries, a halfway house that serves women coming out of jail.
-
Eastern Kentucky professor conducts Wigwam survey
Interest in the 9,000-seat Wigwam has spread a lot farther than here in Anderson. A professor of economics at Eastern Kentucky University sent out 800 surveys about the historic gymnasium in November.
-
Iraq veteran displaced after apartment fire
Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames at Courtyard Apartments, 2725 W. 16th St., but the damage had been done. With the exception of the sweatpants and sweatshirt he slept in, Brandon Wilson lost everything.
-
Local man kept Super Bowl books
Brad Bowman didn’t hobnob with Hollywood stars or escort sports notables around Indianapolis. Important as those duties were Super Bowl week, his job as chief financial officer of the host committee was more vital, if less glamorous.
-
Police discover drugs, paraphernalia in home
Police have arrested two men they say were involved in the manufacturing and selling of methamphetamine.
-
Mostly cloudy skies
Mostly cloudy skies today with highs in the mid 40s.
-
State police arrest man for trafficking with Pendleton inmate
State police made an arrest Wednesday morning, after prison staff at the Correctional Industrial Facility noticed a man throw a package over the fence.
-
Adult education GED classes offered
Anderson Community Schools is offering classes in GED preparation, English Language classes and Basic Education Refresher classes for the 2011-12 school year.
-
Measles can lead to more sicknesses
Some people may question if the measles outbreak is a big deal or if 13 confirmed cases in central Indiana is a worrisome number. But health officials have their reasons to be concerned and to want the rare virus to be contained.
-
Legislature looks at expanding historic preservation tax credits
Under a bill that’s gaining support in the Indiana Legislature, the maximum annual amount of historic-preservation tax credits available to investors would quadruple.
- More Local News Headlines
-
