115-9 DISABILITY DETERMINATION SERVICE
The Disability Determination Service (DDS ) is part of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. DPA has an agreement with the DDS that requires them to make disability determinations for certain DPA applicants and recipients whom Social Security will not render a disability decision due to reasons not related to blindness or disability.
The DDS determines disability for DPA for:
The DDS makes state-only disability decisions for initial applications. They also review the disability for ongoing recipients, if needed. The DDS will, in their initial decision, recommend when a disability decision must be reviewed.
Note:
Under a separate agreement with the Social Security Administration, the DDS also makes disability decisions for Social Security disability programs.
The DDS referral process must include the following steps:
Packet for Adult | Packet for Child |
|
|
A request for DDS to review a decision must include the original DDS decision file. |
If the DDS referral packet is not properly completed, the DDS will return the packet to the referring DPA field office for corrective action and resubmission to DDS .
115-9 B. MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION AND DDS DECISION TIME FRAMES
The DDS has 45 days to make a disability decision for children under the age of 18. If adequate documentation is not received within the 45-day time frame, disability will be denied due to the lack of adequate information. Extensions to the 45-day time frame must be approved by the DPA Long Term Care Coordinator.
Adult DDS decisions may take longer, and could exceed 90 days if additional medical examinations are required.
If a DDS decision is reaching or has surpassed the appropriate 45 or 90 day mark from date of the Medicaid application, DPA caseworkers designated as DDS liaisons may fax to DDS an inquiry request using the Disability Determination Services Claim Status Inquiry Form (MED 10). Portions of the form indicated for DPA to complete need to be completed in their entirety for DDS to reply accurately. DDS will respond with a status update by marking one of the options listed on the MED 10 per the individual claim status and fax back to the requesting DPA office/staff member. It is the responsibility of the DPA caseworker member to document the results of the inquiry properly and clearly in EIS per standard case note procedures. A system alert should also be set to check back on the status of the claim with DDS at the next appropriate interval.
115-9 C. COMPLETING NECESSARY FORMS
In order for the DDS to complete a timely disability decision, it is important that referrals sent by DPA caseworkers contain all of the necessary information. Sending a referral with incomplete forms results in a return of the referral without a decision and delays case processing. The following sections outline the information needed on the DDS referral forms for adults and children.
Prior to sending a DDS referral, the DPA caseworker must review all the forms to ensure they are properly completed. If any forms are incomplete per the guidelines below, the caseworker must pend the case and return the forms for completion.
115-9 D. DDS REFERRALS FOR ADULTS AGE 18 OR OLDER
Required Forms:
1. REFERRAL FOR DISABILITY DECISION (GEN 141)
The caseworker completes this form using the following steps:
2. DISABILITY AND VOCATIONAL REPORT (APA 4 )
The applicant or recipient must provide their name, Social Security Number, address, telephone number, and answer all of the following questions on the APA 4 form:
Section I - Information about Your Condition
Parts A, B, and C of section I must be answered and cannot be left blank.
Note:
Section A must include alleged impairments, not just symptoms.
Section II - Information about Treating Sources
Beginning with the most recent medical or mental health provider, the applicant or recipient must:
Section III - Information about Your Past Work
Parts A and B in section III must be answered and cannot be left blank. It is very important that the applicant or recipient completes Part A: Job Title, Type of Business, and Dates Worked (the dates worked must include the month and the year).
Note:
Section A must clearly state the applicant's or recipient's employment status, including if he or she has never worked.
3. AUTHORIZATION FOR RELEASE OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (MED 2)
The applicant or recipient must complete MED 2 forms by filling in his or her:
Provider/Organization Releasing Information
Provider's Address, City, State, Zip, and Phone
Date signed
All sections of the MED 2 form must be completed by the applicant for each provider.
If any of the sections of the form is blank or incomplete, DPA staff will contact the applicant to complete the form prior to submitting it to DDS .
Note:
A guardian may sign the forms for an applicant or recipient. If a guardian signs, then a copy of the guardianship papers must accompany the MED 2 forms.
115-9 E. DDS REFERRALS FOR CHILDREN UNDER AGE 18
The parent or guardian is responsible for completing all forms for children under the age of 18. In situations of custody or guardianship with the Office of Children's Services, the custody or guardianship papers must be included with the referral.
Required Forms:
1. REFERRAL FOR DISABILITY DECISION (GEN 141)
The caseworker completes this form using the following steps:
2. CHILD'S MEDICAL HISTORY AND DISABILITY REPORT (MED 1)
It is important that the parent or guardian answer all questions and give as much detail as possible.
Section I - Information about Your Condition
Parts A, B, C, and D are required, and date of onset must include the month and year.
Section II - Information about Your Treatment
Beginning with the most recent providers, the parent or guardian must list all people or agencies involved in the child's treatment. The complete address and contact phone numbers must be included in this section. The "Dates first/last treated" must include month and year.
Section III - Other Agencies
If the child is being served by programs such as the Infant Learning Program, this information must be included in this section.
Section IV, V, and VI
The parent or guardian must include both the month and year when filling in the information in these sections. For Section VI, the school address must be included, especially if the child attends a charter school, private school, or pre-school. If the child receives Special Education Services at school, the parent must also note this in Section VI.
Section VII - Activities
It is important that the parent or guardian provide as much detail as possible when completing this section. If more room is needed, the parent or guardian can attach additional pages to the form.
3. AUTHORIZATION FOR RELEASE OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (MED 2)
Have the child's parent or guardian complete MED 2 forms for each provider, school, or school district by filling in the child's:
Provider/Organization Releasing Information
Date Signed
All sections of the MED 2 form must be completed by the child's parent or guardian for each provider, school, or school district. If any of the section of the form is blank or incomplete, DPA staff will contact the child's parent to complete the form prior to submitting it to DDS .
Note:
A guardian may sign the forms for an applicant or recipient. If a guardian signs, then a copy of the guardianship papers must accompany the MED 2 forms.
115-9 F. DDS DECISION AND DECISION FILE
The DDS disability decision is documented on a cover letter that is included in the DDS decision file. In some case, the DDS will recommend a review of the disability. The caseworker must set an EIS or case file alert to monitor when that review must be done.
The DDS decision file is kept at the district office and is considered a part of the DPA case file. If the case file is transferred, the DDS decision file must accompany it.
Occasionally, the DDS may request that a disability decision file be returned. When this happens, the district office will forward the DDS file to Field Services with a note explaining it was requested by DDS .
Questions regarding the status of state-only disability decisions should be directed to designated DDS liaisons in each field office/region. Consult the office supervisor or lead for the name of the liaison in the office.
If a DDS decision is reaching or has surpassed the appropriate 45 or 90 day mark from date of the Medicaid application, DPA caseworkers designated as liaisons may fax to DDS an inquiry request using the Disability Determination Services Claim Status Inquiry Form (MED 10). Portions of the form indicated for DPA to complete need to be completed in their entirety for DDS to reply accurately. DDS will respond with a status update by marking one of the options listed on the MED 10 per the individual claim status and fax back to the requesting DPA office/staff member. It is the responsibility of the DPA caseworker member to document the results of the inquiry properly and clearly in EIS per standard case note procedures. A system alert should also be set to check back on the status of the claim with DDS at the next appropriate interval.
DPA caseworkers can contact the DPA Long Term Care Coordinator for further follow up if there are unusual circumstances surrounding a DDS claim or if a claim is severely delinquent from DDS .
Previous Section | ||