DDS should carefully review all MER policies and practices to ensure every reasonable
effort is made to obtain sufficient, accurate, and timely documentation from the claimant's
treating and other medical sources prior to purchasing a CE. These policies and practices
should include the following activities:
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Schedule contacts on a priority basis with medical sources who are extremely slow
or uncooperative in reporting or whose reports generally lack necessary objective
data and other components of a complete report to educate them regarding program needs.
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Make arrangements for receipt of MER via the ERE website or other SSA approved secure
electronic communication methods through fax, or teledictation, unless US mail is
the only option.
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Review development practices, questionnaires, and form letters used to request MER
to ensure the wording of each request will elicit all available pertinent clinical
and laboratory findings and opinions needed for adjudication.
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Make maximum use of telephone contacts to obtain supplemental objective treating source
medical evidence and to document the severity of any alleged impairments prior to
consideration of the purchase of a CE. Similarly, this technique could be used to
clarify the results of CEs.
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Review all procedures and practices in approving payments for MER to ascertain that
all requirements are met before payment is made.