Healthcare Providers Can Help Social Security Improve the Disability Process
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: April 18, 2025
The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced today a renewed emphasis on expanding opportunities for organizations to join the agency’s Health Information Technology (Health IT) program. Health IT allows SSA to use electronic data exchanges to obtain medical records directly from the provider, resulting in faster disability determinations for people applying for benefits.
Faster allowances means putting much needed benefits in the hands of people in critical need. Additionally, expanding Health IT helps save taxpayer money, as each year SSA receives over 3 million new applications for disability benefits and spends over $500 million dollars to collect medical records for applicants. Health care organization partners benefit through cost reduction, streamlined operations, and providing better customer service to their patients.
“I’ve directed the reinvigoration of the Health IT initiative, as it benefits everyone involved – SSA, our customers, health care providers, and American taxpayers,” said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “We are committed to more effectively and efficiently obtaining medical records through this program. I thank those healthcare providers that exchange information with us through Health IT and encourage other providers to partner with us.”
Health IT enhances the quality and efficiency of the Social Security disability determination process, reducing costs and offering a variety of benefits to customers. The program facilitates the exchange of up-to-date information directly from a person’s sources of care, potentially reducing the need for costly SSA consultative examinations. Receiving medical records sooner enables SSA to make determinations more quickly. On average, the agency identifies allowances 50 percent faster when processing applications with Health IT records.
SSA has successfully used Health IT to obtain medical records for decades, but the portion of information obtained through the process has stalled over the years. The renewed campaign includes partnering with the Department of Health and Human Services; expanding marketing and outreach to healthcare organizations, and leveraging automation to improve the onboarding process.
Current SSA partners include a variety of Health Information Exchanges (HIEs), vendor networks, hospitals, and other qualified health care organizations. The agency has 266 partner organizations covering all 50 states, with about 46,000 participating providers. For the full list of Health IT Partners, visit HIT | Partners | SSA.
To learn more about Health IT, including how organizations can partner with SSA, please visit Health Information Technology (HIT) | SSA.
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Tags: Disability, Federal Agencies, supplemental security income
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.Mary C.
what and how can I start receiving SS Disability. I started the work process at least 5 years ago with no response or resolution.
Tonya H.
You may not like my response, but it should get you results: Get yourself a Disability Law attorney. They will take one third of your initial award, but with your having applied 5 years ago, your initial award ($ dating back from the time you applied to the time you are approved) should be quite hefty. Or would you prefer to wait another 5 years?
James T.
I receive social security disability every month.I pay 100.00 child support out of my check.recently my child support obligation was met,and the child support enforcement office sent paperwork to the social security administration to stop taking money out of my check. But they have taken 2 extra payments out that were entitled to me.when will I get reimbursed?I have been overpaying.
sandra L.
Is it possible to allow to sort or relist by state rather by IT contact name?
Dadayray
That’s why they still taken money out of your check Childsupport office employees are the biggest Man ,Dads,Grandfather ,Transman 2 hating Discrimination Fraudulent documenting agency full woman that don’t give a $uck about anything that has to do with Stoped payments fathers that actually live with their kids and have support payments …I wish I could have put my situation out their.Ill say this children of a disabled parent get axillary benefits..They get a % of the Disabled parents monthly total …Example say you get $500.00 total monthly you get your 500 and each child will get 175.00 monthly payment each month that will offset your total support obligation of 100.00 and mater of fact they have to pay you back the 75.00 extra that they have been illegally taxing you for as long as you’ve Been disabled .Disabilty SSDI Childsupport employees think disabilty payments were earned wages so their for they can garnish disabilty ..for arrears support payments only …I’ll stop here I do know so much more But basically Them Support agency’s and family service Protection agency Needs to be Doge investigated charge with Rico act…sums up everything bout They contract workers Not Goverment workers my opion FYI I did get 17 Individual checks from wellsfargo bank and San Bernardino County department of Childsupport..as the payers. And My Name address And took my daughters cashed them and they spent every single dollar on them selfs..And sent over a picture with a finger in the air with smiles and receipts..
Joan L.
Very Informative.
Norma R.
Thank you for keeping us informed on how this process will help our fellow Americans. Please continue to keep us informed. Now more than ever Americans depend on their social security being available to them when needed.