Ssa And Va Record Sharing

[nomochow]

Hi All,

I know that when applying for SSDI youre required or would like to release records from VA to them but how about the other way around? do you have to authorize VA to get SSA records or is it automatically shared? I seen some conflicting/unclear posts here on this. can someone post the facts?

thanks

[free_spirit_etc]

http://stanford.wellsphere.com/healthcare-...ary-2010/873153

Social Security To Start Sharing Electronic Records with VA and DOD in February 2010

Posted Nov 09 2009 10:01pm

Records have been exchanged between Social Security and the VA, but it has been digital paper formats and not actual data. The article also states that Social Security is about ready to show some demonstrations of mapping healthcare information to HeatlhVault. The Health Internet – Government Looking to Expand The National Health Information Network For Public UseSocial Security is also working with the Connect Software from the Government and was the first to use the the NHIN to connect. BD The Social Security Administration plans to start sharing health information electronically with the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments to speed the processing of claims by veterans who apply for SSA disability benefits, the agency’s top health IT executive said Nov. 6.In February, SSA, VA and DOD will begin exchanging structured, machine-readable health data across a network that conforms to nationwide health information network (NHIN) standards, said Jim Borland, SSA’s special advisor for health IT.

Full article at website

But then here is one from 1996

http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/npr/library/news/vetssa.html

10/21/96: VA and Social Security Administration Create New On-line Link to Streamline Claims Processing

New York, Oct. 21/PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office in New York and the Social Security Administration (SSA) recently signed an agreement to share information on-line that will significantly improve claims processing for disability applicants.

Citing benefits like cheaper, faster and more accurate claims processing, officials from both agencies say this landmark agreement will make filing disability claims easier and reduce government administrative costs at the same time.

"Our goal is to provide the best customer service possible and make the whole process easier," said Joseph Thompson, director of the New York VA Regional Office (VARO). "Veterans who have already applied for benefits from Social Security won’t have to provide the same information to VA, and in some cases, can have their claims processed the same day."

Under the agreement, veterans applying for disability pension benefits may file their claims at the VA Regional Office. A case manager will then go on-line to access information on their Social Security benefit payments, proof of marriage, children’s birth records etc., without veterans having to provide the same information a second time, and eliminating any delay caused by requesting proof through the mail.

In addition, the two government agencies, with written permission from the applicants, will also share certain disability information from Social Security’s records, thereby eliminating the need for some VA physical examinations. When fully implemented, the new on-line initiative is expected to reduce the average time to process a veteran’s claim for non-service connected pension benefits from as long as a few months to just a few days.

Officials from the New York VARO and SSA have been working together since October 1995 to make sure the proposal meets all the statutory and regulatory requirements for both agencies. "Our primary concern, " Thompson said, "is to protect the privacy of all beneficiaries who apply for benefits at VA or SSA. The process we have in place ensures that goal will not be compromised."

Another benefit is that in phase II of the of the pilot, VA will be able to quickly and accurately access the amount of Social Security benefits a veteran is receiving. This will avoid possible overpayments that require recouping the benefits -- a burden to veterans and a costly administrative process for VA.

SSA has worked closely with the VA Regional Office and VA Medical Centers on numerous projects. Currently the agencies are cooperating on an outreach effort to homeless veterans. SSA Regional Commissioner Beatrice Disman said, "These initiatives are reflective of two premier government agencies devoted to providing world-class service to their customer."

The New York VARO was established as a Reinvention Lab under Vice President Gore’s National Performance Review (NPR) . The Object of NPR is to reinvent government to make it work better and cost less.

Vice President Gore established the Hammer Award to recognize outstanding achievements in this government-wide initiative. The New York VARO won the very first Hammer Award for innovative changes in veterans claims processing. To date, it has been awarded three Hammer Awards.

-0- 10/21/96 /CONTACT: Benjamin Weisbroth of Veterans Affairs, 212-807-3420, or John Clark of the Social Security Administration, 212-264-2500/

Edited December 31, 2009 by free_spirit_etc

[free_spirit_etc]

It means in my husband's lifetime they could have awarded him on their own medical evidence but they simply refused to and managed to ignore the VA shrinks med records and tests done on him until I raised Hell.

Grrrr.

I am sure your husband would be SO PROUD of how hard you have fought for his honor.

Free

[Loma Linda Bill]

They (VA) told my 2 Senators and my COngressman-in writing- that the SSA had refused ,after 3 VA requests, to send them my husband's records even though he had sent VA an authorization form to obtain them-

This was over a decade ago so maybe things have changed as to the VA needing any form like that.

I was so pissed I called SSA in Baltimore and told them I would stay on the line until someone could help me straighten this out.

A man got on the line and said they had never gotten any notice or authorization or any request whatsoever from the VA for these records. The SSA records were then immediately sent to the VA.Rod was still alive then.

Over 4 years later the VA made posthumous award -100 % P & T for PTSD (what the SSA award was for)

They had the SSA records listed as evidence but never mentioned them in the narrative and awarded basically on reports from his Psychiatrist.

(BTW -the SSA award for PTSD was solely based on Rod's VA records) figure that.

It means in my husband's lifetime they could have awarded him on their own medical evidence but they simply refused to and managed to ignore the VA shrinks med records and tests done on him until I raised Hell.

Maybe this SSA authorization form isn't even used anymore.

Berta,

can you tell me where to find the exams they give you or where to go to on the internet? I have PTSD, sexually traumatized, back in 8/1971, and am going to loma linda BHOST see a dr. he has me on meds but they declined me what should i do?

Bill