The Social Security Administration (SSA) manages claim approval for those seeking disability benefits through SSI or SSDI. In some cases, the information in your medical history may not be sufficient to make a decision on the claim. When this happens, the SSA may order (at their expense) a consultative examination.
Consultative examinations in Kansas City can be an important step toward receiving SSI or SSDI disability benefits, and our Social Security Disability attorneys can help you prepare for the examination. Since 2021, our office has been actively engaged in litigation against certain CE providers and the SSA, highlighting serious issues in how these examinations are conducted.
The details of your consultative examination will depend on the specifics of your individual disability claim. For example, claims that are based on physical disability will likely focus on mobility, strength, reflexes, and range of motion. Claims based on mental health (such as depression, anxiety, or a mood disorder) will likely focus on psychological assessment.
In accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations, the exam must be conducted by a licensed medical professional. Please see our other posts regarding some of the challenges and shortcomings of consultative examinations.
The examination will likely take place at the medical professional’s office.
As you prepare for your consultative exam in Kansas City, you should make a list of all medications (prescription and over-the-counter) and all treating physicians and medical professionals. On the day of the examination, be sure to bring a photo ID and your scheduling letter.
You should wear comfortable clothing that does not restrict movement, and you should bring any assistive devices you use for hearing, sight, or mobility aids.
You can bring a support person with you, but they may not be allowed in the examination room — a decision that is at the provider’s discretion.
Take notes after your appointment. Document how long the exam took and your recollection of the events. Once the consultative examination report is available, it is often worth comparing your notes to what appears in the report. Inaccurate or incomplete reporting is one of the many concerns we’ve identified in our legal action.
The consultative examination is strictly for informational purposes. It helps to fill in gaps or conflicts in your medical history or to provide updated information if you have not seen a doctor recently. The report will be sent to the SSA, where the results will be one of many factors used to determine the response to your disability claim.
While the consultative examination results will not be the only determining factor in the results of the claim, they are taken into consideration. Unfortunately, some of these examinations may not be completed by licensed medical professionals, nor do they produce accurate results. Some contractors who work to complete these exams are not necessarily concerned with conducting them thoroughly or addressing their patients’ concerns, but are instead more concerned with making a profit by completing the exam for the SSA.
This concern has been the focus of lawsuits filed by our firm, and was also the subject of media investigations by KSHB and the Kansas City Star, which documented troubling practices within the CE system.
If you believe the results of your consultative examination were not reflective of what actually happened during the exam, our office is here to help you object to the results of your examination.
There are many ways our team at BurnettDriskill, Attorneys, can represent you as you prepare for your consultative examination in Kansas City. We’ll bring our experience and knowledge forward to answer any questions you have and make sure you understand the process. If there is a challenge necessary, we can represent you as you provide additional supporting evidence for your claim.
Call our office today to discuss your claim. We will work to provide any clarity you need to head into the examination confident and informed.
(816) 781-4836