Accurate, consistent, and timely medical records are key to an effective Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) application. However, many disabled people find it challenging to visit hospitals or clinics to see a doctor or get medical evidence of their disability.
Telemedicine serves as an invaluable resource for disabled people who find it difficult to travel for traditional in-person visits. With telemedicine, patients can gather important evidence about the limitations caused by their disability and build a stronger SSDI case by getting the healthcare they need.
Keep reading to learn more about the essential role telemedicine plays in SSDI claims.
Role of Telemedicine in SSDI Claims
Extensive medical evidence is the key to a strong SSDI claim.
Additionally, when evaluating a person’s eligibility for SSDI, the Social Security Administration (SSA) looks for evidence that the applicant has attempted to obtain appropriate medical care in an attempt to improve their health.
However, many disabled people encounter various challenges when visiting a doctor’s office, either to obtain medical evidence or for healthcare services.
Telemedicine services make it possible for patients to consult with a wide range of medical professionals (such as primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and mental health practitioners) and medical specialists (such as cardiologists, rheumatologists, and neurologists).
Anyone with an internet connection can use this service, whether at home or in a healthcare facility like a clinic or nursing home. You can connect with your physician using video conferencing technology on your mobile device, tablet, or personal computer, depending on your provider’s policies.
What Does a Telemedicine Visit Cover?
A telehealth visit allows you to:
- Obtain a diagnosis
- Allow doctors to follow up on your health problems
- Monitor and control long-term symptoms like asthma
- Obtain mental health care, such as psychotherapy or psychiatric examinations
- Be evaluated by urgent care professionals for injuries, infections, or illnesses such as the flu
A telehealth visit is quite similar to a regular doctor’s appointment.
You can clear your concerns with the doctor and express your symptoms in the same manner that you would at a clinic. Your doctor can also prescribe medication and provide you with recommendations for the next step.
There are indeed certain activities that you cannot do with a telehealth visit. For example, it is not possible to undertake in-office procedures, such as bloodwork and physical exams, with the help of telehealth visits.
In addition, if you are experiencing a serious medical emergency, you should not rely on telehealth services as a substitute for obtaining emergency services.
Medical Records You Can Obtain with Telehealth
As previously noted, disabled people find it challenging to gather medical records. This is particularly common among people with mobility issues, as they find it difficult to access medical clinics and hospitals. This is something that telehealth services can help with.
Telehealth services can help applicants complete their files by ensuring they have access to the following:
Up-to-Date Records
Up-to-date records are those that are recent enough to be pertinent to your current medical condition. Your specific medical condition will determine how recent your medical records need to be.
For example, you must provide more recent information for a condition that changes rapidly as opposed to one that is gradually progressing or has remained unchanged for years.
Although the Social Security Administration prefers records that are no more than six months old, they may request treatment notes from doctors that are no more than three or four months old for certain conditions.
How recent your records need to be also depends on the claims examiner evaluating your case. Some claims examiners are satisfied with records dating back three months, whereas others may require additional records dating back six months.
However, this does not imply that older records are not valuable. Records that date back many years may be able to provide a better understanding of your medical condition.
Accurate Records
Accurate records are those that describe your condition in accordance with “acceptable medical sources” standards. (We’ll provide a list of sources the SSA considers to be acceptable later on in this article.)
For example, a chiropractor may diagnose subluxation (spinal slippage) based on X-ray findings; however, this diagnosis will not be regarded as valid by Social Security if a medical doctor (M.D.) or another reputable medical source certifies that the X-rays are normal.
Since chiropractors are not technically considered to be medical doctors, Social Security does not take into consideration the records and statements of a chiropractor as evidence of an impairment. However, X-rays taken by a chiropractor may be accepted as evidence in certain cases.
Additionally, Social Security may not accept your doctor’s medical opinion as accurate if they have objective evidence that contradicts it.
Complete Medical Records
Your medical records must contain sufficient accurate information from credible sources for the Social Security Administration to determine the severity of your medical condition independently.
For instance, it is not sufficient to submit a doctor’s note stating that you have cancer. You must provide the Social Security Administration with evidence of your disability.
Acceptable Treatment Providers
The Social Security Administration prioritizes medical records that come from the applicant’s current treating physician. Nevertheless, medical records from other facilities are also acceptable.
The SSA will only take into account medical records that come from “acceptable medical sources.” The following are examples of acceptable sources:
- Licensed treating and examining physicians
- Licensed psychologists/psychiatrists
- Licensed optometrists
- Licensed podiatrists
- Licensed speech-language pathologists
Your application for disability must include a list of all of your treatment providers. The Social Security Administration will send them a medical evaluation form to collect the required medical records.
Notifying your treatment providers of your disability application will ensure that they are prepared to receive the paperwork.
You also have the option of personally obtaining the records from your healthcare provider and attaching them as part of your application.
Conclusion
Telemedicine can play a significant role in helping disabled individuals obtain the medical evidence they need to qualify for SSDI. Telehealthcare empowers patients to manage their medical needs, providing convenience and ease in their lives. Additionally, it enables patients to connect with a broader network of healthcare professionals.
