Skip to main content

Disability Determination Bureau: Consulting Opportunities

The Disability Determination Bureau (DDB) is responsible for determining disability under the Social Security Act. To help with this process, we offer ongoing consulting opportunities for health professionals.

Consultative examination providers

As part of our disability evaluation process, we order a consultative exam (CE) when a claimant’s medical record does not provide enough information about their injury or illness.

CEs are important services in our community, and we welcome your expertise. We are looking for the following licensed professionals to perform CEs:

  • Audiologists
  • Optometrists
  • Physicians in all specialties
  • Psychologists in all specialties
  • Speech and language pathologists

Your role as a CE provider

As a CE provider, you perform exams similar to new patient exams or second opinion consultations. We arrange exams with you, based on a flexible, agreed-upon schedule. You do not determine eligibility for benefits, provide treatment recommendations, or follow up with the person you examine. Here’s how the process works:

  • We contact your office to schedule an exam. The appointment is scheduled about 14 days from the date we contact you.
  • You conduct the exam in your office or in an approved rental space. The building and office must be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant.
  • You submit a narrative report within 10 days of the exam. We provide instructions, sample narratives, and access to free dictation services for your report.
  • We pay you within 30-45 days upon receipt of your report and bill.

Resources

Contact us

To become a CE provider, complete the Wisconsin Consultative Examination form, F-00154 (Word). Submit it to the email address listed on the form. Upon receipt, we will contact you to answer any questions and to begin the process of adding you to our statewide panel.

To learn more about becoming a CE provider, email WI.INFRA.PRO.UNIT.ALL@ssa.gov.

Disability case consulting

We contract with medical professionals to provide consulting services. Consultants help evaluate disability applications for Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicaid.

We are looking for licensed psychologists and physicians, with training and recent experience in:

  • Internal medicine
  • Family medicine
  • Pediatrics
  • Neurology
  • Psychiatry
  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation
  • Occupational medicine

Your role as a consultant

As a consultant, you work with our specialists to:

  • Evaluate all types of mental and physical disabilities under Social Security laws and regulations.
  • Review case records without direct contact with the claimant.

During the initial training period, you perform all consulting work on the premises of the Disability Determination Bureau. A hybrid work schedule is available after six months. Review of proposals continue as needed.

Contact us

To learn more about disability care consulting, email WI.INFRA.MC.Coordinator.ALL@ssa.gov.

Glossary

 
Last revised April 24, 2023