Kati
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"Why I’m skeptical of the growing number of disability beneficiaries" DAVID MOKOTOFF, MD | PHYSICIAN | MARCH 29, 2013
My office consultation for the 50 year-old woman was her complaint of chest pain. I could not help but glance at her insurance and it was for Medicare. I have always been fascinated with what types of disability people have which qualifies them for Medicare and SSD, (Social Security Disability), before the usual age of 65. To say that I have observed bizarre and inequitable awards would be a gross understatement. In this case, my patient was on disability because of hepatitis C. Really?
Now despite being a cardiologist, I know a thing or two about hepatitis C infections. You see my deceased wife died from it, in 2004, along with an unhealthy dose of alcohol abuse. CDC data from late 2012, placed the number of people in the US with chronic Hepatitis C infections at 3.2 million. My patient had gone through interferon therapy, had chronic elevation of her liver enzymes, but was not jaundiced, and was gainfully employed as a massage therapist. Her liver had never failed.
If you guessed that this case was unusual, you would be wrong. I have seen hundreds of middle-aged patients who appear healthy enough to hold down a job, yet are receive Medicare and SSD for diagnoses like fibromyalgia, chronic low back pain, post –traumatic stress disorder, multiple sclerosis, and chronic fatigue syndrome, (to mention just a few.) And yet the truly disabled often have a difficult time qualifying for these benefits. I have many patients who at young ages cannot work, although they might want to, due to advanced and severe heart disease. They never get SSD before they died. I do what I can to help these folks with forms, attestations, etc.; but in my experience they don’t get it until they retain a SSD attorney to help them appeal denials and navigate the bureaucratic morass of applications and hearings.
... Etc
Feel free to answer
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2013/03/skeptical-growing-number-disability-beneficiaries.html
My office consultation for the 50 year-old woman was her complaint of chest pain. I could not help but glance at her insurance and it was for Medicare. I have always been fascinated with what types of disability people have which qualifies them for Medicare and SSD, (Social Security Disability), before the usual age of 65. To say that I have observed bizarre and inequitable awards would be a gross understatement. In this case, my patient was on disability because of hepatitis C. Really?
Now despite being a cardiologist, I know a thing or two about hepatitis C infections. You see my deceased wife died from it, in 2004, along with an unhealthy dose of alcohol abuse. CDC data from late 2012, placed the number of people in the US with chronic Hepatitis C infections at 3.2 million. My patient had gone through interferon therapy, had chronic elevation of her liver enzymes, but was not jaundiced, and was gainfully employed as a massage therapist. Her liver had never failed.
If you guessed that this case was unusual, you would be wrong. I have seen hundreds of middle-aged patients who appear healthy enough to hold down a job, yet are receive Medicare and SSD for diagnoses like fibromyalgia, chronic low back pain, post –traumatic stress disorder, multiple sclerosis, and chronic fatigue syndrome, (to mention just a few.) And yet the truly disabled often have a difficult time qualifying for these benefits. I have many patients who at young ages cannot work, although they might want to, due to advanced and severe heart disease. They never get SSD before they died. I do what I can to help these folks with forms, attestations, etc.; but in my experience they don’t get it until they retain a SSD attorney to help them appeal denials and navigate the bureaucratic morass of applications and hearings.
... Etc
Feel free to answer
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2013/03/skeptical-growing-number-disability-beneficiaries.html