Does Social Security Want More People to Be Disabled?
Some doctors have complained to the Social Security inspector general that they have been pressured to change their medical opinions to conform to targets or goals set by SSA officials, and they feared they would be fired if they resisted… The inspector general…discovered a doctor in the Alabama disability determination office who approved between 80 and 100 decisions a day. Another Alabama doctor signed off on 30 cases an hour after performing only a “cursory review of each case.” The investigation said several doctors complained of pressure from superiors to approve a higher number of applications to meet statistical goals.
Full article on the new Social Security policy.
The rate of disability approvals is also very high in Porto Rico and West Virginia. There was one federal administrative law judge hearing disability claim denials that made a disparaging comment about all the administrative law judges turning down disability applications, saying “some act like it’s their money.” The same judge is also on record discussing how some of the applicants have few skills and no opportunities. Social Security should not be a welfare program for soft-hearted doctors, bureaucrats and administrative law judges. It should only be for those who are really disabled. Luckily the administrative law judge highlighted in the Wall Street Journal was put on leave after it came to light he was approving nearly all claims.
All we need from the doctor is his signature. The Social Security Administration will fill in the blanks.
The bureaucratization of health care.
An example of how performance measurements can have negative externalities.