Proposed Regulation Change

From today's Federal Register:

We propose to revise the threshold billing amount that triggers annual onsite reviews of medical providers who conduct consultative examinations (CEs) for our disability programs under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (the Act). The proposed revision would raise the threshold amount to reflect the increase in billing amounts since we first established the threshold amount in 1991. This proposed revision is intended to restore the level of oversight originally required by our rules.

A Dead Man's Social Security Number

From the Rapid City Journal:

Steven Litz, no age listed, Rapid City, faces federal charges of false representation of Social Security number and false statement in application for disability benefits after an investigation by the Social Security Administration.

According to federal court documents, Litz is accused of using a Social Security number that was not his to apply for disability benefits on May 18, 2005, in Rapid City. Litz allegedly claimed his name was Ronald Vincent Amen. Litz applied for more than $1,000 worth of benefits, documents show.

More Personnel Changes

The information below was posted on the CONNECT board. It appears to be an e-mail sent to Social Security personnel. I am unable to evaluate what this might mean on a policy basis. I can say that it is a major promotion for Andrew Biggs, whose nomination to become Deputy Commissioner at Social Security was recently rejected by the Senate. Biggs is a huge proponent of Social Security privatization. There has been no previous sign that Biggs has any real interest in the day to day policy issues faced by Social Security, particularly in the area of Social Security's disability programs. The information about Jim Winn leaving the Disability Review Board (DRB) to return to his old job suggests that the DRB may not be around much longer.

The following Senior Executive Service assignments are effective immediately:

In the Office of the Commissioner, Office of Executive Operations, David A. Rust will be appointed as the Executive Secretary. David previously served as the Agency’s Associate Commissioner for Disability and has been with the Department of Agriculture since he left SSA in 1989.

In the Office of Policy, Andrew Biggs will be appointed as the Deputy Commissioner for Policy. In addition to his new assignment and to ensure continuity within the organization, Dr. Biggs will continue in his former capacity as the Acting Associate Commissioner for Retirement Policy until I name a replacement. Larry Love will resume his full-time responsibilities as Counselor to the Commissioner.

Manny Vaz, Regional Commissioner in Boston, will replace Martin Gerry as Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs on an Acting basis for the next several months. During this interim period, Susan Harding will serve as the Acting Regional Commissioner in Boston.

Jim Winn, Associate General Counsel for Program Law, who most recently has been serving as the Acting Executive Director for the Disability Review Board, will return to his position in the Office of the General Counsel.

DSI Prospects Poll

Free Web poll for your Web site - freepolls.com

More Job Openings In Woodlawn

This may be coincidental, but there are now job openings at Social Security's central offices in Woodlawn, MD for Associate Commissioner for Research, Evaluation and Statistics and Deputy Associate Commissioner for Personnel. Some of this may be ordinary turnover, but it sounds as if the new Commissioner is making personnel changes.

What I would wonder about if I worked in Woodlawn is whether Larry Dye's new role as Social Security's Liaison to the White House is to pack Social Security with Bush loyalists. If so, there may be little job security at the upper reaches of Social Security.

Results Of Last Week's Unscientific Poll

How do you rate the job that Jo Anne Barnhart did as Commissioner of Social Security?

Excellent (32) 21%
Good (26) 17%
Fair (39) 26%
Poor (53) 35%

Total Votes: 150

Gerry Gone?

There is a report on the CONNECT board that Martin Gerry is leaving his current position as Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs. The surprise may be that he tried to continue in this position after Jo Anne Barnhart's term as Commissioner of Social Security ended. Gerry was brought in by Barnhart and appeared to be her right hand man. With a new Commissioner who appears to be unimpressed with the Disability Service Improvement (DSI) plan championed by Barnhart and Gerry, it has seemed unlikely for at least a month that Gerry could survive in such a prominent position for long.

An Image From 1968