Medical records costs/Social Security Appeals/Get a LAwyer

[Guest guest]

Dear Norma/Ann/Whoever (I lost track),

Usually SSA will obtain medical records for you or

sent the releases to you for signature and then they

want them returned and THEY send them to the Docs ---

the reason is they want the records sent from the

Doc's office to the Social Security Admin. DIRECTLY to

assure completeness (ie., they don't trust anyone).

Another option would be to also apply for STATE

BENEFITS from your local State Agency. I am unsure

about all 50 states, but often they will pay to have

them copied.

Further, sometimes if another Doctor asks for a

patients records they send them FREE as a professional

courtesy, and its only when the patients asks (which

is the way I reccomend it is done so you can read what

they said BEFORE you send them on) for the records do

they want to charge.'

As for a $300 charge, that is OUTRAGEOUS and you

should NOT tolerate it and start making complaints but

first ask for a waiver or some arrangements, but if

that fails, make a formal complaint and explain your

disabled, no income, etc. (as always, do so in

writing, with copies kept for your records, and send a

copy to JCAHCO, your State Medical Board, the

licensing board of the Doc, if he is a specialist to

that organization --- the squeeky wheel gets the oil,

so make some noise). DO NOT LAY DOWN AND LET THEM

DESTROY YOUR APPEAL SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY TO

PAY SOME OUTRAGEOUS PRICE FOR MEDICAL RECORDS! I HAVE

NEVER HEARD OF $300 AND MY MED RECORDS COULD FILL A

BOOK --- Something fishy is going on with that.

At worst, send a letter to the Social Security

Administration (SSA) explaining that you have been

asked to pay $300 for your records and cannot afford

it, and I am sure they will do something.

Finally, ANYONE seeking Social Security Disability

should have a lawyer as they do it on contingency

(they get paid when they win) and it is limited (I

think max is $4000 or so out of back pay only) and

they are MUCH better at doing SS claims than anyone

who is now disabled --- look in the phone book for

them or in a closest big town as little towns probably

don't have any Attys. specializing in Social Security

Disability. Its the best bet for winning benefits.

Finally, I would urge that you seek out large forms

with a dedicated Social Security practice if possible.

Thats not to say some sole-practitioners can't do it

as they can and some are real good, but if I had to

choose I would go with a large firm.

AGAIN, THEY DO SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY ON

CONTINGENCY, MEANING NO UP-FRONT MONEY IS NEEDED AND

THEY ARE LIMITED ON WHAT THEY CAN GET AND THEN ITS

ONLY IF YOU THEY WIN FOR YOU. IF ITS DENIED THEY WILL

APPEAL. IF THEY LOOSE TOTALLY YOU, THE CLAIMANT, OWN

NOTHING (EXCPT MAYBE SOME SMALL COSTS). DO NOT ABANDON

IT AS SOMETIMES IF YOU DO, YOU CAN'T GO BACK AND

REFILE AS YOUR WORK HISTORY IS TOO OLD THEN.

Murph