Do doctors have deadlines?
 

How long do doctors have in which to submit medical info back to SSA? Or can they take as long as they want?

I ask because one of my doctors took three months to send me a copy of four visits and totally ignored my other request for copies of my medical reports for a three month period. I'm hoping requests from SSA have more pull than I do with this doctor...

I think...
 

I have heard that from the time you sign your authorization to release your records to SSA, each place (hospitals, doctors, therapists etc.) have thirty days to provide them and a decision will be made according to all the information they have at that time, the end of the 30 day period. I wish I remembered where I heard that so I could link you!

However, if your doctor is so late in sending you, the patient, requested copies of medical records, I would stay on him/her for confirmation of the receipt of those records to the SSA. SSA (i don't think) will have any more pull on your doc.

Sloppy, sloppy doc.

Good luck!

My doctor really dragged his feet when it came to submitting my medical records. I kept on getting these threatening letters from SSA stating that a decision will be made shortly based on the info they already have if my doc does not get the records in asap. However the person assigned to my case was patient and understood that there was very little I could do to speed things up. Finally my doc sent my records and all the other crap that was needed to prove my case and I was awarded SSDI.

SSA cannot force your doctor to do anything within any amount of time.

Most states have laws connerning ther length of time they have to respond to a "written" request for records from the patient. I don't know that those same laws apply to a third party request (the SSA).
What state do you live in?

Only took a little mmore than a month.
 

My wife's doc returned everything in the 30 days but we got denied. :( She has agoraphobia so bad she cannot go outside or drive to look for work. We're gonna appeal.

I live in Arizona.

AZ laws about medical records
 

This ia a quote fromaq booklet put on on AZ medical rights

"• See and get a copy of your medical record.
Your health care provider usually must let you see your medical record or give
you a copy of it no later than 30 days after they receive your request. This right iscalled the right to access your medical record.
In many cases, your health care provider is allowed to charge you a fee for
copying your record. They can also charge you the actual cost for postage if you
have the copy mailed to you.
• Correct your medical record by having information added to it.
You have the right to have information added to your medical record to make it more complete or accurate. This right is called the right to amend your record.
• File a complaint.
You have the right to file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services if you believe your health care providerh as violated your right to see, get a copy of, or amend your medical record. You cana lso file a complaint with the state agency that regulates your health care provider."

The complete booklet website is http://ihcrp.georgetown.edu/privacy/...ides/az/az.pdf
Good Luck!

I'm sorry she was denied. Good luck with your appeal.

Thanks Trudi. This is very helpful.

I tried calling my doctor's office yesterday to inquire if they've had any contact with SSA but got bounced around a few times so will try again on Monday.

If I get the documents through this route I will try to submit them to my caseworker. I'm a newbie to all this so bare with me...even if I submit my medical records to SSA from this particular doctor, he still has to complete a document on me, correct? And if he doesn't, at what point does SSA realize they're not going to get it?

As a side note Trudi, your advice on how to submit an initial application was of great help to me. I could barely squeeze the documents into the envelope!

Maybe I can help shed some light on the subject...

When we request records, we give the doctors/hospitals about 3 weeks to get back to us. If we don't receive records in that time frame, we contact the office and make sure they got the request, check the status, etc. Sometimes offices are just backlogged and we take that into account. However if the records aren't sent there is nothing we can do. I personally will generally call the claimant to let them know and have them see if they can call the doctor too.

If I were you I'd call your examiner regularly (regularly meaning maybe once a week, not twice a day) and see how things are coming or if you can help out in some way. Try to be as involved in your case as you can :)

And remember, if your doctor doesn't submit records, that's not YOUR fault. Your examiner will not see you in a negative light because of what the hospital/doctor didn't do.

If we don't get the records and there is insufficient medical evidence in file, then we generally have to send you to an exam with one of our contract doctor, which is another topic entirely.

Hope this helps.

Yes, this does help.

I'm embarrassed to say I don't know who my examiner is or that I could contact them. All I know is the name of the guy that contacted me via email after I completed my ap on line in early July. Every time I go to a new doctor I send him the info and he always replies, 'sent to medical examiner'. I guess I'll ask him for the examiner's phone number and/or email.

When I check online to find out my status it always says it's under medical review.

Thanks for the feedback.

You are not going to get much more specific answers from the online status.

I found out who my examiner is! I called him and he's just waiting on the psychiatrist info before he sends my info 'off to the doctors'. I wanted to ask him what that meant but he didn't sound like he wanted to be on the phone much longer.

Sorry if this sounds routine to you but I don't know this process and don't want to tick anyone off at SSA by bugging them.

I visited the psychiatrist for the first time three weeks ago so it's understandable that they're waiting on him. And to think this wasn't even the doctor I thought was dragging his feet...

It sounds like a decision should be made 60-90 days from when the doctor's get it, according to the info 'kallixenia' posted.

Thanks to all!

Just so you know, the 60-90 day average starts when the examiner gets the case. Once the doctor gets the case, he or she has 2-3 weeks to review it and make their recommendation and you would probably be 20-40 days in already. The case can take longer if the doctor wants more info.

If you want to help out you could get in touch with the psychiatrist and remind him or her that you have a disability claim pending so they can send the records.

The examiner receives the records, reviews them, summarizes them, and refers it to a doctor for consultation (this is what your examiner means by "sent to the doctor"). And don't be afraid to ask your examiner to clarify any questions you have, and please don't be intimidated by him! We want to help you out in any way we can. You might have caught your examiner at an "off" time when you called, but don't let that put you off.

I hope that helps! If you have any other questions about the process feel free to ask or PM me :)

kallixenia, you're very kind to help. Great info.

It just so happens I have an appointment with the psychiatrist tomorrow so I'll ask him.

I don't like the feeling of not knowing what's going on in a new situation and this forum has helped immensely.

Thank you.

none
 

your lucky he sent them. i had one psychiatrist that never sent them in at all to ss