Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

July/August, 1999

SSA Sponsors DHO Conference
by Mary Landreth, Virginia DDS

ON JUNE 15-17, SSA SPONSORED the first ever National DHO Conference. Over 100 DHO and DHO supervisors attended the two and a half-day conference. Plans for any future conferences were noted to be dependent upon the success of this conference and the benefits to Hearing Officers in the work place. It was noted in the regional breakout sessions, however, that everyone seemed to think the conference was a great success and that not only National, but Regional conferences should be conducted on a regular basis.

John Lefko, Chief, Disability Appeals Process Branch (DAPB) gave a brief overview and history of the DHO process. He reminded us of the purpose of the DHU being that the face to face will make the reconsideration level more meaningful in blindness and disability cessation cases; that beneficiaries will be better assured of a fair and accurate determination; and that overall quality of the decision-making process will be improved.

Results of the DHO Steering Committee's recent survey were provided. Production statistics, a subject everyone was interested in, showed a wide range from 1.5 closures per week to amazing 17.7 closures per week. The level of support staff assisting DHOs ranged from none to 16 per office. Not too surprisingly, those with more support had the higher production. Other topics included: Managing the DHU, a CDR Overview, DHO Training and Analysis of Decision Issues. Jeanne Benvenuti of McGeorge School of Law presented refresher training on Decision Writing Techniques and Writing Skills. Glenn Fait, Director of McGeorge Institute of Administrative Justice, provided information on DHO Training. (Mention was made that the DDS administrators will be attending a three-day crash course on the Hearings process at McGeorge.) On the second day, there were break-out sessions covering managing DHU workloads, conducting face-to-face Hearings, and working with Participant at the Hearing, such as attorneys children, and witnesses. Overall the conference was well received by all participants. Many participants expressed the desire to have further such conferences with a larger number of DHOs participating. Regional conferences were suggested to allow for wider participation.