ssa acceptable medical source

Remember, as has been previously mentioned on this blog, claimants are highly encouraged to see a physician/specialist who focuses primarily on their specific impairment. Social Security considers these doctors to be Acceptable Medical Sources: Medical Doctor (MD) Osteopathic doctor (DO) Licensed psychiatrists (mental health) Licensed or certified psychologists at the independent practice level… (b) Adult means a person who is age 18 or older. This includes rules on what it considers to be acceptable medical sources. A. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), Medical evidence is the cornerstone for the determination of disability for both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Q4: What changes did we make to the list of acceptable medical sources (AMS)? These sources include, but are not limited to: (4) Family members, caregivers, friends, neighbors, employers, and clergy. I represent a […] They list the following as acceptable medical sources: licensed physicians (medical or osteopathic doctors); This includes, but is not limited to: (2) Educational personnel (for example, school teachers, counselors, early intervention team members, developmental center workers, and daycare center workers); (3) Public and private social welfare agency personnel; and. (See §§ 416.906, 416.924, and 416.926a.) You need to make sure that you get your medical evidence from a source that is accepted by the SSA. The fact is many medical records often contain progress notes and medical opinions made by medical sources that are simply not acceptable sources by SSA standards. Third, only “acceptable medical sources” can be considered treating sources, as defined in 20 CFR 404.1502 and 416.902, whose medical opinions may be entitled to In a recent post, I mentioned that chiropractors records are not considered medical evidence. (k) Objective medical evidence means signs, laboratory findings, or both. NOTE: Clearly document efforts to resolve any medical source issues. That’s why our Social Security attorney in Louisville has come up with the following list of acceptable medical sources for your Social Security disability application: #1. This website is produced and published at U.S. taxpayer expense. As we announced in September, the Social Security Administration (SSA) invited comments on proposed changes to how they evaluate medical evidence, including adding Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) as acceptable medical sources.We are excited to announce that SSA published the Final Rule in the Federal Register this morning, which will go into effect for any … You will be sent to an acceptable medical source for an examination of your back complaints. These specialists will have the proper credentials, testing methods, and treatment plans for you, and your seeking their help will only serve to make your claim more credible in the eyes of the SSA. In January 2017, the Social Security Administration (SSA) enacted new regulations dealing with the evaluation of treating physicians' opinions and which medical professionals qualify as acceptable medical sources. In addition to evidence from “acceptable medical sources,” Social Security may use evidence from “other sources,” as defined in 20 CFR 404.1513(d) and 416.913(d), to show the severity of the individual’s impairments and how the impairments affect the individual’s ability to function. DI 39569.200 The Social Security Administration (SSA) Program Integrity Standards ... For more information, see DI 22505.003 Evidence from an Acceptable Medical Source (AMS). Under Social Security regulations, the term “medical sources” refers to both “acceptable medical sources” and “non-acceptable medical sources.” See Social Security Ruling 06-03p. Treatment notes, medical documentation or records must be submitted by “acceptable medical sources.” The SSA has two categories of medical sources. (a) Acceptable medical source means a medical source who is a: (1) Licensed physician (medical or osteopathic doctor); (2) Licensed psychologist, which includes: Think back to when you first started a new… Such evidence must be in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Social Security Administration in its publication\"Disability Evaluation Under Social Security\", which is also known as the \"Blue Book.\" The evidence from all sou… Your email address will not be published. For information on who is an acceptable medical source, see DI 22505.003A. Social Security disability can be the answer to a person’s prayers. See 20 CFR 404.1527(a)(2) and 416.927(a)(2). Your email address will not be published. Acceptable Medical Sources According to the Social Security policy, if you first applied on or after March 27, 2017, the rules below will apply to you. For individuals who are working and for whom a disability redetermination is required, we will apply the rules in §§ 416.260 through 416.269. Diagnostic techniques include chemical tests (such as blood tests), electrophysiological studies (such as electrocardiograms and electroencephalograms), medical imaging (such as X-rays), and psychological tests. (8) Licensed Physician Assistant for impairments within his or her licensed scope of practice (only with respect to claims filed (see § 416.325) on or after March 27, 2017). A4: We added three new kinds of medical sources to the AMS list for claims filed on or after March 27, 2017. The doctor must be an “acceptable medical source.” Social Security considers these doctors to be Acceptable Medical Sources: Medical Doctor (MD) Osteopathic doctor (DO) Licensed psychiatrists (mental health) Licensed or certified psychologists at the independent practice level (mental health)… These are the doctors and healthcare professionals who have treated or evaluated you regarding your condition. If you are already approved for disability, you may be wondering which Acceptable Medical Source rules apply to you: 🌻 Old Rules: "I first applied before March 27, 2017" 🌻 New Rules: "I first applied on or after March, 27, 2017" Which Date Do I Use? For this source, qualified means that the speech-language pathologist must be licensed by the State professional licensing agency, or be fully certified by the State education agency in the State in which he or she practices, or hold a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; (6) Licensed audiologist for impairments of hearing loss, auditory processing disorders, and balance disorders within the licensed scope of practice only (with respect to claims filed (see § 416.325) on or after March 27, 2017); (7) Licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, or other licensed advanced practice nurse with another title, for impairments within his or her licensed scope of practice (only with respect to claims filed (see § 416.325) on or after March 27, 2017); or. Not to take away from the benefits chiropractors provide, but in my experience chiropractic records are not nearly as useful in a disability claim as compared to records from orthopedic and spine specialists or even those of D.O.s. That is, the Social Security Administration will adopt the doctor’s opinion as its own. Physicians. (See §§ 416.924 and 416.926a.) Severity The words “marked” and “severe” are also separate terms used throughout this subpart to describe measures of functional limitations; the term “marked” is also used in the listings. (ii) A licensed or certified school psychologist, or other licensed or certified individual with another title who performs the same function as a school psychologist in a school setting, for impairments of intellectual disability, learning disabilities, and borderline intellectual functioning only; (3) Licensed optometrist for impairments of visual disorders, or measurement of visual acuity and visual fields only, depending on the scope of practice in the State in which the optometrist practices; (4) Licensed podiatrist for impairments of the foot, or foot and ankle only, depending on whether the State in which the podiatrist practices permits the practice of podiatry on the foot only, or the foot and ankle; (5) Qualified speech-language pathologist for speech or language impairments only. I would like to address one last question I sometimes get from people suffering from a physical impairment like back  or neck pain. The Social Security List of Impairments Qualifying for Disability, Mental Disability Disability Lawyer Info, Disability Back Pay Medical Source Statements allow Treating Physicians to provide Social Security with information on functional limitations Note: the link for the medical source statement PDF download is at the end of this article. It is a level of severity that meets, medically equals, or functionally equals the listings. Any information provided to the SSA by that chiropractor, no matter how detailed, is not sufficient for the SSA to make a disability determination. When we refer to an impairment(s) that “meets, medically equals, or functionally equals the listings,” we mean that the impairment(s) meets or medically equals the severity of any listing in appendix 1 of subpart P of part 404 of this chapter, as explained in §§ 416.925 and 416.926, or that it functionally equals the severity of the listings, as explained in § 416.926a. Determining whether a psychologist’s or school psychologist's credentials establish the individual to be an acceptable medical source (AMS) A psychologist or school psychologist is an AMS only if evidence documents he or she holds (or held at the time of treatment) … (n) Symptoms means your own description of your physical or mental impairment. (c) Child means a person who has not attained age 18. Not every provider is an approved medical source for diagnosing a disability. Psychiatric signs are medically demonstrable phenomena that indicate specific psychological abnormalities, e.g., abnormalities of behavior, mood, thought, memory, orientation, development, or perception and must also be shown by observable facts that can be medically described and evaluated. (f) Impairment(s) means a medically determinable physical or mental impairment or a combination of medically determinable physical or mental impairments. Many such claimants will see a chiropractor instead of, say, a spine specialist. Social Security disability benefits can be difficult to obtain. Treating Physician Rule Eliminated (See §§ 416.924(c) and 416.926a(e).). Q & A: What medical sources are considered acceptable by the SSA? The SSA considers an “acceptable medical source” to be any licensed physician (this includes D.O.s – Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine), licensed or certified psychologists, licensed optometrists, hospitals, clinics, and other health facilities where a claimant has been treated. Evidence from “acceptable” medical sources can show that a medically-determinable impairment exists, and can be given the most weight by SSA. You must provide verifiable medical evidence from acceptable medical sources to support a claim for Social Security Disability benefits in order to prove that you have a potentially disabling condition. For the electronic claims analysis tool (eCAT) claims, use the “Claims Communication” function in eCAT to document the disability determination explanation. While general physicians are very knowledgeable and skilled (and are deemed to be an appropriate medical source by the SSA), I typically encourage my clients to try and see a specialist whose practice concentrates primarily on their particular impairment. Defining acceptable sources. (m) State agency means an agency of a State designated by that State to carry out the disability or blindness determination function. It is important to understand how the SSA defines acceptable medical sources and how information from them may affect your case. Each condition contains a list of the medical evidence that must be submitted to the SSA by an acceptable medical source to establish its existence, duration, and severity. previous post about the importance of seeking specialized medical treatment, medical records and social security disability claims. Required fields are marked *, Consultations are always 100% FREE & 100% CONFIDENTIAL. (a) Acceptable medical source means a medical source who is a: (1) Licensed physician (medical or osteopathic doctor); (2) Licensed psychologist, which includes: (i) A licensed or certified psychologist at the independent practice level; or. In the eyes of the SSA, not every medical treatment source is “acceptable.” Licensed physicians, psychiatrists, and psychologists are acceptable sources, and their medical records can be used to help prove a claim for disability. (i) Medical source means an individual who is licensed as a healthcare worker by a State and working within the scope of practice permitted under State or Federal law, or an individual who is certified by a State as a speech-language pathologist or a school psychologist and acting within the scope of practice permitted under State or Federal law. An opinion from an “Acceptable Medical Source” must be taken seriously and weighed according to a variety of factors. b. Our Augusta Social Security Disability Lawyers Can Help. First, not all doctors qualify. Highlights of the new rules are discussed below. The meaning of the words “marked” and “severe” when used as part of the phrase marked and severe functional limitations is not the same as the meaning of the separate terms “marked” and “severe” used elsewhere in 404 and 416. The regulations define these terms. The SSA requires evidence from acceptable medical sources to establish the existence of a disabling condition. Only “acceptable” medical sources can give medical opinions, which are statements that reflect judgments about the nature and severity of your impairments. In this post, I discuss what types of medical providers are deemed as “acceptable medical sources” by the Social Security Administration. The SSA imposes several requirements to get to the point where a doctor’s opinion is given controlling weight. SSD is a program to help those who are no longer able to work because of a serious illness. There are a variety of medical providers who treat medical conditions. Chiropractors and physical therapists are not acceptable medical sources. If you are seeing a chiropractor, my best advice is to also seek a diagnosis or opinion from another type of medical source, so that you will be satisfying the SSA’s “acceptable medical source” requirements. (d) Commissioner means the Commissioner of Social Security or his or her authorized designee. (e) Disability redetermination means a redetermination of your eligibility based on disability using the rules for new applicants appropriate to your age, except the rules pertaining to performance of substantial gainful activity. Second, only “acceptable medical sources” can give us medical opinions. The SSA considers an “acceptable medical source” to be any licensed physician (this includes D.O.s – Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine), licensed or certified psychologists, licensed optometrists, hospitals, clinics, and other health facilities where a claimant has been treated. After recontact, if you still cannot verify that the source is an AMS, then you cannot consider that source to be an AMS. An acceptable medical source is a person or institution that can provide evidence to support the existence of your claim for SSDI and/or SSI disability. The SSA states that the documents a claimant provides are to come from “acceptable medical sources” as defined by federal regulation. Hello and welcome to the 7th installment of my Q & A series, which is designed to cover some of the more elusive topics associated with the Social Security Disability claims process. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has various rules on how it evaluates the evidence you submit about your disability. IMPORTANT: The term medical source includes both acceptable medical sources and medical sources who are not acceptable medical sources. However, according to Social Security rules, a “non-acceptable” medical source can provide persuasive evidence of the severity of your medical condition, and the limitations imposed by your condition. (j) Nonmedical source means a source of evidence who is not a medical source. [82 FR 5873, Jan. 18, 2017, as amended at 83 FR 51836, Oct. 15, 2018]. SSA publishes in their rules who they view as Acceptable Medical Sources (AMS). In order for a person to qualify for SSD they must have a medical diagnosis from an approved medical source. However, the Social Security Administration maintains a specific list of medical professionals they consider Acceptable Medical Sources. (g) Laboratory findings means one or more anatomical, physiological, or psychological phenomena that can be shown by the use of medically acceptable laboratory diagnostic techniques. In a previous post about the importance of seeking specialized medical treatment,  for example, an individual suffering from migraine headaches and blurred vision was advised to see a headache specialist or neurologist who could substantiate their claim. Social Security expands its list of Acceptable Medical Sources (AMS) Medical evidence supporting your disability claim comes from medical service providers. When the Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates a claim, they will review the medical evidence submitted by your medical sources. (o) The listings means the Listing of Impairments in appendix 1 of subpart P of part 404 of this chapter. The Social Security Administration needs Acceptable Medical Sources to establish if you have a medically determinable impairment(s). (h) Marked and severe functional limitations, when used as a phrase, means the standard of disability in the Social Security Act for children claiming SSI benefits based on disability. (q) You, your, me, my and I mean, as appropriate, the person who applies for benefits, the person for whom an application is filed, or the person who is receiving benefits based on disability or blindness. In conducting a disability redetermination, we will not use the rules for determining whether disability continues set forth in § 416.994 or § 416.994a. The SSA views licensed optometrists, podiatrists and physicians as sources that are qualified to diagnose conditions within their disciplines. Controlling Weight Factors. Signs must be shown by medically acceptable clinical diagnostic techniques. (p) We or us means, as appropriate, either the Social Security Administration or the State agency making the disability or blindness determination. An acceptable medical source is a person or institution that can provide evidence to support the existence of your disability. (See § 416.987.). I recently applied for SSDI, and I want to make sure that the medical records I am providing to the SSA are from “acceptable medical sources.” Can you explain in detail what the SSA views as an acceptable medical source? 5. Call Ginsberg Now Toll Free at 1-800-890-2262, All rights reserved - Copyright ©2019 Ginsberg Law Offices, PC - Office Location - 1854 Independence Square, Atlanta, GA 30338. SSA regulations require “objective medical evidence” from an “acceptable medical source” to establish that a claimant has a medically determinable impairment. By law, SSA needs specific medical evidence to establish that a claimant has an impairment. Acceptable Medical Sources According to the Social Security policy, if you first applied before March 27, 2017, the rules below will apply to you. (l) Signs means one or more anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities that can be observed, apart from your statements (symptoms). In order to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, your medical records must be assembled and submitted from all your acceptable medical sources. Only the following are considered acceptable medical sources: • Licensed physicians. As the SSA website explains, these sources can consist of a number of different professionals. K ) Objective medical evidence to establish the existence of a disabling condition term medical source for diagnosing disability... Amended at 83 FR 51836, Oct. 15, 2018 ] diagnosis from an “acceptable source”... U.S. taxpayer expense us medical opinions, which are statements that reflect judgments about the importance of seeking ssa acceptable medical source! 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