When you apply for Social Security disability benefits, you need to have medical evidence that identifies your medical or mental health problem and treatment records that show ongoing visits to the doctor. Social Security periodically changes its definition of “acceptable medical sources.” The last such change became effective on March 24, 2017 and you can read the current requirements in SSA’s Program Operations Manual here:
Health care providers that have been added to the list include advance practice nurse practitioners, audiologists and physician assistants. Note that these newly added providers as well as previously recognized AMS can only offer medical opinions about conditions within their areas of expertise. A podiatrist, therefore, would be an AMS for a foot issue but not for a visual impairment associated with a disease of the cornea.
As I discuss in this video, evidence from medical providers not included on the list of acceptable medical sources will not help your case. While SSA will acknowledge that you sought treatment, the conclusions and diagnosis from a provider not on the AMS list will be given little to no weight by the Social Security adjudicator or judge.
Chiropractors are an example of a health care provider who may help you feel better, but whose records will not help your case because chiropractors are not acceptable medical sources for Social Security disability purposes.
If you have questions about whether the health care provider you are seeing is an acceptable medical source, please call me at 305-309-0529 to discuss. #acceptablemedicalsource #howtowinsocialsecuritydisability #socialsecuritydisabilityevidence
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Stuart Barasch
Social Security Disability Attorney
305-309-0529
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