Friday, July 4, 2008

Allsup Applauds SSA for Move Toward Electronic Transmission of Medical Records for Disability Applicants

Allsup Applauds SSA for Move Toward Electronic Transmission of Medical Records for Disability Applicants

Allsup, a leading nationwide provider of financial and healthcare related services to people with disabilities, today commended the Social Security Administration for announcing it will begin receiving medical records for some disability applicants electronically next year.

Belleville, Ill. (Vocus) December 22, 2008

Allsup], a leading nationwide provider of financial and healthcare related services to people with disabilities, today commended the Social Security Administration for announcing it will begin receiving medical records for some disability applicants electronically next year.

The SSA said last week it will be the first government agency to use the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN), which will provide instantaneous access to medical records and should significantly shorten the time it takes to make some disability decisions. The agency will first connect its systems to MedVirginia, Virginia's Regional Health Information Organization, with further expansion planned in the future.

"This announcement is another sign of the agency's commitment to embracing modern technology to help break the disability application backlog]," said Jim Allsup, president and CEO of Allsup. "We know from our experience that it can take up to 30 days to receive medical records from many providers. Eliminating that delay should streamline the initial claims review and speed up disability determinations."

This announcement is the latest in a number of technology initiatives the SSA has undertaken. Allsup uses iAppeals, a Web-based appeals process that has supplanted the traditional paper appeals form for all its filings, resulting in faster processing times. Allsup also uses the Electronic Records Express system to submit evidence in support of cases pending at the hearing level. A typical claim that reaches the hearing level consists of 700 to 800 pages of medical evidence, Activities of Daily Living reports, denial letters and a multitude of SSA application documents.

"These electronic initiatives are a step in the right direction and especially important in light of the current backlog of pending Social Security Disability Insurance claims that has left more than 750,000 Americans with disabilities without the government assistance they have been promised," said Mr. Allsup.

ABOUT ALLSUP
Allsup, Belleville, Ill., is a leading nationwide provider of financial and healthcare related services to people with disabilities. Founded in 1984, Allsup has helped more than 110,000 people receive their entitled Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare benefits. Allsup employs more than 550 professionals who deliver services directly to consumers and their families, or through their employers and long-term disability insurance carriers. For more information, visit http://www. Allsup. com.

Contacts:
Rebecca Ray
(800) 854-1418, ext. 5065

Or
Dan Allsup, ext. 5760

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