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Introduction

At the request of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), an agency of the Congress, is reviewing the Social Security Administration’s implementation of the 1984 Social Security Disability Benefits Reform Act’s Medical Improvement Review Standard (Public Law 98-460). Specifically, our objectives are to (1) examine the proportion of beneficiaries who receive medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) and leave the disability rolls, including those who leave because they have medically improved, and (2) determine if the medical improvement standard poses special challenges for SSA when determining whether beneficiaries continue to be disabled. As part of our review, we are conducting a web-based survey to obtain information on the implementation of the Medical Improvement Review Standard (MIRS). This questionnaire is being sent to all Disability Determination Services Directors and includes questions that allow for both categorical and open-ended responses. In our report to Congress we plan to use only aggregate results of this survey, and not identify responses on a state-by-state basis. Please complete this questionnaire within 2 weeks of receipt. It will take between 30 – 60 minutes to complete. After receiving your responses, we may follow up with a brief telephone call if we need to clarify any of your responses. We understand that there are great demands on your time; however, the participation of your state in our study is essential for us to provide requested information to Congress. We appreciate your time and effort in completing this questionnaire.

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Full Report: GAO-07-8

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