by Suzanna Laker
14. January 2010 23:36
SSA has found a way to cut the time it takes to approve disability claims.
SSA’s Jan. 11 Federal Register notice states that they will use Health IT, an electronic system that provides an easy and secure way to exchange medical information within the healthcare community. SSA is now able to get seemingly “light-speed” response to their requests for the medical records they need to approve disability claims.
Health IT will relieve the labor-intensive paper-trail process that has contributed to the bog-down of disability claims waiting to get through the decision process.
Instead of relying on the traditional methods of getting medical records from healthcare providers, which can drag on for months, SSA will be able to access information within minutes through Health IT.
SSA will pay non-federal medical providers $15 for using Health IT in response to SSA requests for medical records.
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