Division of Disability Determination Services, Department of Social and Health Services




Division of Disability Determination Services Home Page
link to Division of Disability Determination Services Olympia Office page
link to Division of Disability Determination Services Seattle Office page
link to Division of Disability Determination Services Spokane Office page



Who We Are

Definition of Disability

What Happens at the DDS?

Medical Provider Information




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Division of Disability Determination Services

INFORMATION FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

In about 60% of all cases, the information from treating sources provides enough documentation for the final determination of disability. In the remaining cases, a consultative examination (CE) is purchased by the DDDS. Currently the DDDS has approximately 300 medical, psychiatric and psychological doctors who perform consultative evaluations for our office.

If you are a licensed psychologist, MD, DO, audiometrist, speech & language pathologist, or OT/PT that does cognitive and/or motor testing for young children, you may be able to perform consultative examinations for our program. All interested examiners must submit a Request for Qualification (RFQ) to be considered for a contract with our agency. RFQs and information about examination requirements for DDDS CE's can be downloaded from the DSHS Procurements website: http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/ccs/

RFQ 0635-256 Medical CE's (Physical exams and specialty exams)

RFQ 0735-274 Hearing, Pediatric or Vision

RFQ 0634-250 Psychiatric

RFQ 0734-257 Psychological

RFQ 0736-287 OT-PT/Speech & Language/Audiometry

 

Fee Schedule:

10/2005 DDDS Schedule of Maximum Allowances for Medical Services

10/2007 DDDS Schedule of Maximum Allowances for Medical Services

 

Medical Criteria:

Disability Evaluation Under Social Security (The Blue Book)

Disability Digests:

Disability Digest July 2006
Disability Digest October 2006
Disability Digest July 2007

If you are interested in becoming a Consultative Examiner, please contact the Professional Relations Department:

Professional Relations Department:
Disability Determination Services
P.O Box 9303 MS 45550
Olympia, WA 98507-9303
1-800-562-6074

Medical/Professional Relations Manager:
Leann Amstutz
PH: (360) 664-7524
Fax: (360) 586-0851
e-mail: leann.amstutz@ssa.gov

Professional Relations Contracts Specialist:
Ladd Wikstrom
PH: (360) 664-7523
Fax: (360) 664-7418
e-mail: ladd.wikstrom@ssa.gov

Professional Relations/Electronic Records Coordinator:
Jennifer Elsen (Maternity Leave 9/07 to 1/08)
PH: (360) 664-7356
Fax: (360) 664-7418
e-mail: jennifer.jenks@ssa.gov

Professional Relations:
Dawn Bolender (Maternity Leave 4/07 to 9/07)
PH: (360) 664-7383
Fax: (360) 664-7418
e-mail: dawn.bolender@ssa.gov

ELECTRONIC RECORDS EXPRESS (ERE)

Do you have electronic health care records? Would you like to save time and money by submitting requested information to the DDDS electronically?

Electronic Records Express is a Social Security Administration (SSA) initiative that offers a range of options for submitting medical records to the state Disability Determination Service (DDS). You choose the method, or methods, that work best for your organization.

Program Objectives

  • Faster decisions for disability claimants. Fast and reliable electronic delivery increases the likelihood of faster decisions.
  • Increased provider satisfaction. Electronic records get to the DDS with less labor, and more quickly and reliably. The need for follow-up requests is greatly reduced and payment processing can start sooner.
  • Improved use of public funds. The transfer, management, and storage of paper are costly for US taxpayers.

Options For Submitting Records:

Secure Web Site
Transfer records through the SSA Electronic Services secure web site using your existing Internet connection. The only software needed is a Web browser. You type in a small amount of case information from the DDS request letter, then attach your electronic data -- scanned paper records, a report generated by your electronic records system, or a report typed in your favorite word processor. File types accepted: .wpd, .doc, .jpg, .bmp, .txt, .xls, .pdf, .tif, .tiff and .zip files that contain any of these file types. For a DEMO of this site, please visit:
      http://www.ssa.gov/ere/ere_demo_public/index.html

Fax
Use your office fax to send records any time, day or night. Fax software programs may also be used if you can make the first page of the fax the DDDS bar coded cover sheet letter. The faxes are digitized for claims processing.

OLYMPIA DDS TOLL FREE FAX: 1-866-324-3313
SEATTLE DDS TOLL FREE FAX: 1-866-625-3815
SPOKANE DDS TOLL FREE FAX: 1-866-478-0546

For more information about submitting your records electronically, or to obtain a PIN and Password to use the secure web site, please contact Jennifer Elsen or Dawn Bolender on the DDS Professional Relations Staff.

 

BILLING AND PAYMENT

Questions about billing or payments for consultative examinations and medical records should be directed to: 1-800-562-6074 ext 664-7727 or locally (Olympia) 360-664-7727.

Bills may be submitted via fax to 1-800-456-5170. This fax is for bills only . No records please.





Modified: September 05, 2007  Inquiries: contact the Division of Disability Determination Services for more information about the DDDS. For more ways to get in touch with the Department of Social and Health Services go to the DSHS Contact Information Web page . Technical Site Comments: DSHS Webmaster.