New Ruling On Opinions From "Not Acceptable" Sources

Today's Federal Register contains Social Security Ruling 06-03p, concerning opinion evidence from what Social Security terms "not acceptable" medical sources, such as nurse practitioners, physician assistants, licensed clinical social workers, naturopaths, chiropractors, audiologists, therapists and teachers, used in determining disability. The Ruling indicates that opinions from such sources can be valuable evidence, which might outweigh the opinion of an "acceptable" medical source in certain circumstances. This Ruling may be especially useful in disability claims where the claimant has been seeing primarily a nurse practicioner, physician assistant or mental health therapist.