As this doctor said, ABSOLUTELY NOT. Filling out forms is NOT my job.

Unfortunately, that type of a response leaves his patients subject to an examination and an opinion rendered by someone hired by an insurance company. Many people feel the doctors hired by insurance companies will not be fair. These doctors are often viewed as "hired guns" by the individuals insured and filing a claim.

The doctor you quote, Spike, is clearly stating he will not accommodate any patient with paperwork needs. I only hope he announces his policy upfront, before anyone needs paperwork completed.

I have never heard a doctor say such a thing. I am sure there are some doctors saying this. All of my specialists say they will do anything they can to help, fortunately.

A doctor that would say that to me would not be my doctor for very long.

I know in Canada, Doctors are allowed to charge the company that wants the paperwork up to a set dollar amount, after that the remains get pushed onto the client. WCB would ask you to get your doctor to sign forms, he/she'd fill them out and charge WCB. Same for the Disability, it would be charged to either Provincial or Federal (depending on which paperwork you are doing). Which seems to work. Walk in clinics do NOT offer this paperwork scheme. They can do sick notes, and WCB claims. That's it, they won't do Disability because they just don't have that repitorie with you. It works well out here, but there is still that HUGE crunch, as we are always critically short on doctors, putting more pressure for them to make appointments as quick as possible.

WC is a nightmare for docs in CA (as well as many others). Paperwork is generated in mass volumes to discourage docs and patients from requesting meds and/or procedures. My last doc decided to stop treating WC patients because it was costing him too much overhead. My current doc has a few WC patients and won't accept anymore.

Regarding SSI/SSDI, there is a major misconception from claimants and many doctors about their input into a patient's claim. Saying the patient is disabled or can't work means nothing to SS. What SS does care about is the medical documentation of the patient's functional limitations, side effects from meds, long term prognosis, etc. Claimants are approved all the time without anything more than copies of their regular medical documents. Once in a while I'll hear that a doctor's office refuses to even forward medical records and that is a real problem. Anyone applying for SSI/SSDI should really do their homework about what's needed before applying. Since RSD/CRPS is not a Listed Impairment in the SS Blue Book, and because our symptoms and severity, and how frequently we can experience changes in those things, can make it easier for some and much more difficult for others to be approved.

BTW, it's not at all uncommon for a claimant to file for SSI/SSDI thinking they'll be approved with little to no documentation and then attempt to find a doctor once they realize they need it to prove they qualify. This is of particular issue in some parts of the country where application rates are much higher than the norm.

Hi Spike, I think you addressed this in a later post. Yes, definitely get a new doctor if they are not willing to fill out the necessary paperwork and fight for you. I am a bit removed from this as I went through all this so many years ago, I know it's so super stressful though each and every time you need to submit more paperwork. I just had to submit "I'm guessing" the short SSDI form, that was stressful enough and didn't even require anything from my doctor. Thoughts are with you all having to go through this

I am new here and have had many set backs recently and some possibly (I hope not!!!) bad news after MRI results Friday, so I am just extremely stressed (trying to be positive) and just want to help others to distract myself from focusing on what "could be". If anyone here needs support or wants to PM me for any help, please do so, I really need the distraction.

Paperwork has become almost a 4-letter word in the medical field. We (in the US) live in such a lawsuit happy country that we are taught to document everything to avoid being sued and in case you ever do end up in a legal situation your notes will help rather than hurt. There were days that I felt I spent more time on charting than time spent with my actual patients.

I agree with Lit Love about the amount of paperwork associated with WC is ridiculous. I keep copies of everything pertaining to my case including appointment summaries, radiology reports and any legal paperwork. I now have a large plastic tote to hold everything.

With regards to SSI/SSDI I was initially declined (as are the majority of people) but my WC lawyer is now handling my appeal. It made sense since he already had copies of my medical records. I had asked about letters from my treating physicians and he said not to waste my time because they usually don't even read them.

To go back to my original point about medical paperwork I would talk to your doctor and see if they would give a reason. I would not be surprised for them to say time is the biggest issue. I have not run into this issue as a patient but have dealt with it many times as a nurse.