TN 30 (04-24)
The CE will be conducted according to SSA standards and accepted medical standards and practices.
CEs must be conducted by providers who know what SSA considers the elements of an adequate CE. The consultative examiner must be currently licensed with no current sanctions, and qualified to perform the CE.
All CE providers should have SSA training materials, such as the:
Disability Evaluation Under Social Security
Consultative Examinations: A Guide For Health Professionals (also known as the “Green Book”)
Training Manuals developed by the state agency if applicable
Pertinent POMS sections, e.g. DI 22510.060 for Speech and Language impairment in children under age three.
Information available to the CE physician should include:
Claimant medical history, and
Current medical findings, if available.
The following minimum scheduling intervals (i.e. time set aside for the individual appointment not the actual duration of the examination) should be used. Allowances should be made for the impact of missed or broken CE appointments.
Comprehensive general medical: at least 30 minutes.
Comprehensive musculoskeletal or neurological: at least 20 minutes
Comprehensive psychiatric: at least 40 minutes
Psychological examination: at least 60 minutes (additional time may be required depending on types of psychological tests administered)
All others: at least 30 minutes
The medical provider should provide a procedure to assure the identity of the claimant using some acceptable proof of identification (DI 22510.015 and DI 22510.013D.3.)
If the claimant is not fluent in English, the DDS should arrange for an interpreter to be present and should pay for these services. Follow the guidelines regarding interpreters for claimants with limited English proficiency (LEP) in DI 23040.001.