Jul 29, 2008

E-Pulling Gets Poor Reviews

Several anonymous posters on the ALJ Discussion Forum discuss the software that the Social Security Administration is starting to use to "E-pull" exhibits. When files on Social Security disability claims reach the offices of Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) they are a mess. There are many pieces of duplicate medical evidence. Pieces of medical evidence often overlap. (For instance, the file may have a set of records from Dr. Smith covering the time period January 1, 2005 to July 31, 2007 but another set covering the time period December 1, 2006 through December 31, 2007.) The records are in no order. It is confusing and time-consuming to review the file without "pulling" the exhibits, that is removing duplicates and overlaps and putting things in order, but Social Security lacks the personnel to "pull" the exhibits. So Social Security is touting "e-pulling" of exhibits, a computer program that supposedly "pulls" exhibits. "E-pulling is not getting good reviews from the field, but when you think about it, would you really expect this to work?

No comments: