Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

March/April, 1999

Nade Correspondence

nade
February 1, 1999

The Honorable Nancy L Johnson,
Chairman
Subcommittee on Human Resources
Committee on Ways and Means
B-317 Rayburn House Office Bldg
Washington DC 20515-6351

Dear Representative Johnson:

Members of the National Association of Disability Examiners (NADE) share the concerns expressed by the GAO, members of Congress and the public regarding fraud and abuse in the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. We welcome your efforts to craft a bipartisan solution to this problem and appreciate the opportunity to provide input.

With the exception of Sections 10 and 11, the amendments promulgated in the draft bill would not impact on the development or adjudication of disability claims. While Section 10, “The exclusion of attorneys and physicians convicted of violations from participation in Social Security disability programs”, would impact on the development of claims; the language, as proposed, appears clear and straightforward. We would support this provision and would not anticipate problems implementing it.

Section 11, “Annual reviews by State disability determination services of professionals conducting consultative examinations”, is less clear. While we support vigorous review of professionals conducting consultative examinations, as well as efforts to assure the accuracy of medical evidence of record, we are not sure what this provision anticipates is to be evaluated, or what information is to be captured. The only specific requirement described is that, “Such evaluations shall include a thorough analysis of the extent to which any patterns of abuse have arisen in the referral process. Since the DDSs are responsible for referring applicants to a specific consultant, (which we would consider to be the “referral process”) it would appear that the DDSs would be reviewing themselves, rather than the consultants. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this section with you or your staff and develop alternate language.

Again, thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on this very significant legislation which we feel should receive widespread, bipartisan support.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey H. Price
NADE President

Martha Marshall
Legislative Committee Chair