The Social Security Administration has launched a new electronic medical evidence system that aims to expedite the process for determining disability and allow physicians to more quickly receive payment for their services.
Submit Disability Claims Electronically For Quicker Processing
By News Staff
12/6/2005
Known as eDIB, the system augments traditional mail by enabling physicians to fax or otherwise electronically submit patient records to the SSA or state Disability Determination Services office. The SSA or state DDS will transfer the information to the patient's electronic claims file for processing. Patient privacy will be maintained by use of a bar code that electronically identifies the patient without disclosing identifying information to unauthorized personnel.
How to Participate
To participate, physicians must register with the SSA. They can request registration information by e-mailing SSA at eme@ssa.gov. If a physician uses electronic health records, the SSA will send information on how to gain access to its secure eDIB Web site for submitting electronic medical evidence. The agency also will send a fax number for physicians wishing to transmit paper records via fascimile.
Physicians must submit a signed Form SSA-827, "Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration," (PDF file: 2 pages / 88 KB. More about PDFs.), which can be scanned into a computer and sent electronically as an attached document, faxed to the SSA, or mailed through the postal service.
The SSA will assign a bar code to each patient who submits a disability claim. Physicians will include the patient's bar code on all correspondence with the SSA or state DDS.
Electronic Submissions Preferred
Though SSA will continue to accept paper medical evidence records mailed through the postal service, it is encouraging use of electronic submissions through the use of fax machines or electronic health records.
To ensure compliance with privacy rules, physicians who use fax submissions will be asked to preprogram a toll-free SSA number into their fax machines and then confirm that a test transmission has succeeded before sending actual patient information. The SSA or state DDS will digitally transfer faxed information into patients' electronic claim files for processing.
Another option: physicians with paper records can scan patients' records into their office computers and then send the documents as attachments to the SSA Web site.
Physicians with EHRs can submit medical evidence to the SSA through their EHR systems. They can send individual or multiple patient records, as well as consultative examination reports, to the SSA Web site.
How to Participate
To participate, physicians must register with the SSA. They can request registration information by e-mailing SSA at eme@ssa.gov. If a physician uses electronic health records, the SSA will send information on how to gain access to its secure eDIB Web site for submitting electronic medical evidence. The agency also will send a fax number for physicians wishing to transmit paper records via fascimile.
Physicians must submit a signed Form SSA-827, "Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration," (PDF file: 2 pages / 88 KB. More about PDFs.), which can be scanned into a computer and sent electronically as an attached document, faxed to the SSA, or mailed through the postal service.
The SSA will assign a bar code to each patient who submits a disability claim. Physicians will include the patient's bar code on all correspondence with the SSA or state DDS.
Electronic Submissions Preferred
Though SSA will continue to accept paper medical evidence records mailed through the postal service, it is encouraging use of electronic submissions through the use of fax machines or electronic health records.
To ensure compliance with privacy rules, physicians who use fax submissions will be asked to preprogram a toll-free SSA number into their fax machines and then confirm that a test transmission has succeeded before sending actual patient information. The SSA or state DDS will digitally transfer faxed information into patients' electronic claim files for processing.
Another option: physicians with paper records can scan patients' records into their office computers and then send the documents as attachments to the SSA Web site.
Physicians with EHRs can submit medical evidence to the SSA through their EHR systems. They can send individual or multiple patient records, as well as consultative examination reports, to the SSA Web site.
