Documenting Disability for Medical Providers

Syllabus Resource This is your schedule of learning objectives, module topics, and learning activities. Consider printing this document and using it to track your progress through the course.

Documenting Disability for Medical Providers This is your course manual, Documenting Disability: Simple Strategies for Medical Providers. Specific pages are referenced in the course videos, and, in some areas, the manual covers topics in more depth than the videos. Consider printing a version to have with you while watching videos and completing activities.

Letter-writing checklist A simple checklist for persons new to writing letters of support for SSI/SSDI claims.

Disability Evaluation Under Social Security (Blue Book, June 2006) This is the old cover of the last hard copy version of the SSA Listing of Impairments, also known as “The Blue Book.” This resource is now available exclusively online. Consider bookmarking it now. Some activities will have you reference this resource online.

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• explain why it is important for medical providers to plan an active role in supporting applications for federal disability assistance (SSI/SSDI).
• describe the five-step disability determination process.
• describe the barriers for homeless applicants and their medical providers.
• describe what clinicians need to know and do to support SSI/SSDI applications for homeless applicants.
• explain how general guidelines for writing a letter of support are used.

In this module, you will learn to explain why it is important for medical providers to play an active role in supporting applications for federal disability assistance (SSI/SSDI), especially those submitted by individuals who are homeless. The video (11:51 min:sec) introduces definitions of SSI, SSDI, and DDS, explains the application process, and specifies the importance of disability assistance for patients, clinicians, and clinics.This module takes about 30 minutes to complete.

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In this module, you will learn to describe the five-step disability determination process. The video (13:06 min:sec) covers the five-step process; treating sources, medical sources, and non-medical sources; appeals; and representative payees. This module takes about 30 minutes to complete.

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In this module, you will learn to describe barriers for homeless applicants and their medical providers. The video (13:45 min:sec) describes barriers in the application process; inadequate documentation; problematic consultative exams; and confusion about the process and the clinician’s role. This module takes about 30 minutes to complete.

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In this module, you will learn to describe what clinicians need to know to support SSI/SSDI applicationsfor homeless applicants. The video (11:55 min:sec) covers the SSA Listing of Impairments (The Blue Book); mental impairments; DA&A, and “equals a listing.” This module takes about 30 minutes to complete.

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In this module, you will learn what clinicians need to do to support SSI/SSDI applications for homeless applicants. The video (14:07 min:sec) covers working with patients medical and non-medical providers, and DDS workers; and explains the importance of writing letters of support. This module takes about 30 minutes to complete.

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In this module, you will learn to explain how general guidelines for writing a letter of support are used in two actual, successful letters. The videos cover general letter-writing guidelines (5.1, 9:48 min:sec) ; an annotation of a successful letter by Dr. Zevin (5.2, 8:18 min:sec), and an annotation of a successful letter by Dr. O’Connell (5.3, 11:52 min:sec). Module 5.1 will take about 30 minutes to complete, 5.2 about 20 minutes, and 5.3 about 25 minutes.

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In this module, you will take a post-test to measure your change in knowledge after completing the course, and you will complete an evaluation to provide feedback on the Documenting Disability for Medical Providers Online course. This module will take about 20 minutes to complete.