Office policy on disability exams/paperwork and FMLA paperwork

[cbrons]

Is it legal for a physician's office to have a strict policy on not filling out paperwork for people applying for disability benefits?

What are your office policies on FMLA paperwork?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

Why wouldn't it be legal?

Case by case basis for me, I don't often do FMLA though.

 

[cbrons]

Why wouldn't it be legal?

Case by case basis for me, I don't often do FMLA though.

I suppose I would be concerned about where they could get these evaluations done.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

I suppose I would be concerned about where they could get these evaluations done.

Disability I never do because I'm not impartial. Their lawyers can get those done for them.

 

[hallowmann]

We fill out FMLA all the time. We almost never do permanent disability paperwork. If they are disabled, they're probably seeing a specialist who could better characterize their disability, level of functioning, and future ability to work than me. Occasionally, we provide medical information to lawyers for disability applications, but we don't do the forms themselves.

There's no legality issue here, patients might just be annoyed at you, but if you make it clear from the beginning, I doubt that would be a big issue.

 

[cbrons]

We fill out FMLA all the time. We almost never do permanent disability paperwork. If they are disabled, they're probably seeing a specialist who could better characterize their disability, level of functioning, and future ability to work than me. Occasionally, we provide medical information to lawyers for disability applications, but we don't do the forms themselves.

There's no legality issue here, patients might just be annoyed at you, but if you make it clear from the beginning, I doubt that would be a big issue.

Do you charge people to fill out FMLA?

 

[FrustratedFamDoc]

Don't do SSI disability but do FMLA regularly. Our legal beagles have informed us that we're obligated to.

 

[hallowmann]

Do you charge people to fill out FMLA?

Not typically. Often times requires a clinic visit to discuss the specific time off/reason. If its randomly sent to our office without discussion, MA/RN usually contacts the patient and has them come in if they haven't been seen recently.

 

[deleted87716]

FMLA is nothing. Do those all the time (sometimes charge a fee, just depends on the timing). Disability almost always requires a functional capacity evaluation, which I can't do. Most patients seeking disability are unwilling to do that, so...

 

[smq123]

I suppose I would be concerned about where they could get these evaluations done.

It is extremely rare, at least in Florida, to win a disability case WITHOUT a lawyer. And if they have a lawyer, that lawyer will know where to get those evaluations done.

Plus, there are physicians who do specifically disability physicals. They're easy to find on google.

 

[Fatalis]

As stated above, FMLA if the story/ condition is legit... disability; hell no

 

[cbrons]

FMLA is nothing. Do those all the time (sometimes charge a fee, just depends on the timing). Disability almost always requires a functional capacity evaluation, which I can't do. Most patients seeking disability are unwilling to do that, so...

Why do you charge a fee only sometimes? Isn't it easier to just have a set policy for these things?

 

[deleted87716]

Why do you charge a fee only sometimes? Isn't it easier to just have a set policy for these things?

There is a policy. If the forms are presented during a visit, there's no fee. If we get them after a visit, then there's a fee.