Consultative Examinations (Part 2)

Who will perform my consultative examination?

(continued from Consultative Examinations (Part 1))

If you are asked to undergo a consultative examination, the state disability determination agency will arrange for you to be examined by a practitioner with the appropriate experience and credentials. The consultative examiner is typically a doctor or psychologist in private practice who signs a contract to do the exam and provide a report for your disability file.

The state agency will normally try to arrange for you to be examined near your home, but that’s not always possible if the right kind of specialist is not available in your area.

It is possible to arrange for your own doctor to perform your consultative exam. However, your doctor will need to have the right skills and credentials to perform the type of examination or tests that are needed.

If you want your own doctor to perform your consultative examination, you will need approval from your disability examiner or administrative law judge. Your doctor will also have to agree to do it. Your Ocala disability attorney can help make these arrangements.

Although you may want your doctor to perform your examination, your doctor may not agree to do it, even if he or she has the proper qualifications. Doctors sometimes are unwilling to perform consultative examinations on their patients for two reasons. They fear that the patient will hold them responsible if he or she is not awarded disability benefits. Or they do not want to do the exam for the modest payment offered by the Social Security Administration.

If you’re considering applying for Social Security disability benefits, or your claim has been denied, Ocala disability lawyer CJ Henry can help. Simply fill out the form on this page to schedule a free initial consultation.