Optometrists As "Acceptable Medical Sources"

Social Security has published new final rules expanding the situations in which optometrists will be considered "acceptable medical sources" for disability determination. This will allow Social Security to make disability determinations without ordering unnecessary examinations by ophthalmologists (who are M.D.s) for claimants being treated by optometrists (who are not M.D.s) and may allow optometrists to do consultative examinations for Social Security.