SSA to use health network to evaluate disability claims

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SSA to use health network to evaluate disability claims

http://www.fcw.com/online/news/154748-1.html

The Social Security Administration will begin using the Nationwide

Health Information Network in early 2009 to evaluate disability

claims, according to an agency announcement released Dec. 16.

NHIN is designed to connect providers, consumers and others involved

in health care. SSA will use the network to receive medical records

for some disability applicants. The records help SSA officials

determine how many of the 2.6 million annual disability applicants

should receive assistance. Agency officials hope NHIN will reduce the

time it takes to make an eligibility decision.

" This safe and secure method for receiving electronic medical records

will allow us to improve our service to the public by cutting days,

if not weeks, off the time it takes to make a disability decision, "

said SSA Commissioner Astrue.

NHIN should also make it less labor-intensive for medical workers to

submit records.

SSA is working with MedVirginia, the North Carolina Healthcare

Information and Communications Alliance, and Kaiser Permanente to

implement NHIN.

The network is part of a Health and Human Services Department

initiative that multiple government agencies and private-sector

entities support.