Disability Claims To Be Sped by New Social Security Data

U.S. Social Security will begin to use a computerized health information network during the next year, allowing far shorter waits on disability decisions for the agency.

The system being adopted is called the Nationwide Health Information Network, or NHIN, and has been tested in pilot programs over the last year in several government agencies and private-sector entities. The Social Security Administration will be the first government agency to officially use the system.

'Saves Days If Not Weeks'

"Social Security is proud to be a leader in the use of health information technology," said Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue in a statement. "This safe and secure method for receiving electronic medical records will allow us to improve our service to the public by cutting days, if not weeks, off the time it takes to make a disability decision."

NHIN provides instant access to medical records, which must be examined during the application process for disability payments. In the past, Social Security has relied on doctors, hospitals and others to provide records for the 2.6 million disability applicants nationwide every year. With medical records easier to obtain, the wait time for such decisions will fall dramatically, and will cut down on labor-intensive bureaucracy requirements being placed on medical professionals.

NHIN will begin operation in Virginia but is expected to expand to the rest of the nation quickly to provide a "secure, nationwide, interoperable health information infrastructure that will connect providers, consumers, and others involved in supporting health and health-care," according to Social Security's Web site.

D.S.