Social Security Administration Enters Agreement With Microsoft for Test Use in Disability Process

On August 27th the Social Security Administration, in a press release, announced that they have entered an agreement with Microsoft to test the use of a new application in the disability process. If you follow the blog, you may remember this post about the Social Security Administration allocating $24 million towards getting the disability process on the computer and out of the mail.

The new application created by Microsoft is called Health Vault. The following is from the official website and walks through how the application works and how it can help health care providers, patients and also shines a light on how the disability process, with the help of this application, can become more streamlined while aimed at the goal of lessening the waiting time.

The Challenge
Today’s healthcare system is complicated and cumbersome. Health information stored mainly on paper is scattered and disconnected. A patient may have health records with several doctors, hospitals, and clinics. Medication and prescription history may be spread across several different pharmacies. Self-care information, such as diet and exercise routines, may be unavailable. And any changes or updates to these records may never reach the treating provider.

The Solution
Put consumers in control of their health information, store it in a central location, and make it easy to share and update. How? With Microsoft HealthVault, a security-enhanced, flexible health solutions platform.

Through HealthVault and the growing ecosystem of connected, patient-friendly applications, people can store copies of their health records obtained from several sources; upload information from health and fitness devices; provide their information to healthcare providers, coaches, and trainers; and access products and services.

HealthVault lets people consolidate their health information into one easily accessible account to help them become more informed and active in managing their health.
Together we can create a connected health community.

Microsoft and the Social Security Administration are currently developing a prototype connecting the two organizations. This first version will be available at the end of this year.

Friday Feed #20

Had a great time yesterday at the MDA Lock Up in Raleigh and we're now looking forward to the MDA Telethon on September 7th.

Like every Friday, it's the Friday Feed.

Why Mowing the Lawn Relieves Stress and Boosts Your Memory
Researchers have discovered that a chemical released by a mown lawn makes people feel happy and relaxed, and could prevent mental decline in old age.

The 25 Worst Business Failures in History
Business Pundit looks at 25 businesses that just didn't Pan out. Notice the capitalized "P" in pan? It's foreshadowing the list.

The World's 5 Fastest Trains You Can Ride Right Now
Popular Mechanics takes a look at 5 trains with some serious speed.

10 Tips from Happy People
HowStuffWorks takes a look at how happiness works.

WRAL Channel 5's Out and About
Check out what is going on in the Triangle Area this weekend.

Adam Bridwell Bailed Out at Today's MDA Lock Up in Raleigh, North Carolina

Well Adam got locked up, but we here at the office along with many other friends and family of Hardison and Associates put up the donations to get him out. When all was said and done Adam brought in $800 for the MDA.

It was a great day at the Capital City Club as volunteers jetted around Raleigh to lock up area business leaders and they came through with the donations. The funds are still being counted, but don't fret, when we hear the final tally we will pass it on to you.

Barbara Gibbs from ABC Channel 11 handled the emcee duties, while everyone was on the phone trying to raise their bail money. Wool E. Bull made an appearance. The North Carolina State ROTC performed the foot patrol duties in Downtown Raleigh. Charlie kept everyone in good spirits with an art contest and wasn't very shy with talking to anyone and everyone. All in all it was a great day for the MDA.

You can view the pictures we took via Blackberry here.

The Lack of Cost of Living Adjustment in 2010 Social Security Benefits Covered by the Mainstream Media

A story that we brought you on May 5th and followed up on with a detailed explanation on July 9th has saw a boom in coverage from the mainstream media this week. Following are a sample articles and a video about the lack of Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) associated with Social Security benefits in the upcoming 2010 year. The majority of the over 800 articles that showed up on a Google News search on the topic are focused on senior citizens and retirement benefits, but the lack of an adjustment will also affect those receiving disability benefits.

Should special provisions be made for a Social Security increase?

Henry Unger of the Atlanta Journal Constitution asks if special provision be made in times like these. A discussion follows his article on the matter.

Seniors Discuss Social Security

Seniors from Iowa share their thoughts in this KCRP report.

Surviving shrinking Social Security checks

NJ.com looks at tips for surviving the lack of COLA in 2010's Social Security Checks.

The MDA is Coming To Lock Up Ken Too

Last week, if you read the blog, you might have spotted that one of our Workers' Compensation attorneys, Adam Bridwell, is getting locked up by the MDA this Thursday. Well since they are taking away Adam we thought we might as well let them lock-up Ken.

So now we'll have two people in the office getting locked away for a great cause. A little competition to get out of jail between Ken and Adam won't hurt. Remember, the event is this Thursday (27th) at the Capital City Club in downtown Raleigh.

No matter who you donate to, Ken or Adam, it will all be going to the same great things the MDA does with the funds. Below are links to both Adam's and Ken's pages if you would like to donate. If you would like more information on the upcoming MDA Telethon or the MDA Lock-up, please contact Mary Gifford at the Raleigh MDA chapter at (919) 783-0222 or mgifford@mdausa.org

Ken's Page

Adam's Page

Friday Feed #19

Big Week coming up with the MDA Lock Up next Thursday. If you haven't checked out who they're locking up, do so here.

Now on with the Friday Feed.

Retired Auto Mechanic Builds Electric Car for Just $500
Using the design of skateboard trunks this retired auto mechanic built a car out of recycled materials, front and back differentials out of a Ford Pinto and some motorcycly brakes.

7 Next-Gen Bandages That Help Heal Wounds
The future of band-aids.

15 Incredibly Decorated Cupcakes
The title pretty much says it all. Fifteen creative and innovative cupcake designs.

The World's Most Unusual Animal Friendships
A giraffe and an ostrich that are best buds? It must be a long neck thing.

Top 17 Extreme S'more Creations - Bacon Included
Again, the title says it all. Seventeen S'mores that are pushing the envelope.

Hardison & Associates Introduce the North Carolina Financial & Services Guide

When times get tough, a little extra help is sometimes needed. To help bridge the gap between tough times and a brighter future we have created a 28 county database to help the general public and our clients find the help they may need in troubling times.

The database features 28 counties in the mid-to-eastern section of North Carolina. After arriving at the main page, the website viewer can then select the county in which they reside then they will be directed to a database of social services, health providers, non-profit organizations, hospitals, Medicare and Medicaid information, Social Security information, nursing home information, financial aid, crisis help and many other services that are centric to their county.

The database will be fluid. As more organizations are created or discovered they will be added.

To view the database: CLICK HERE

Why is an Attorney Needed in a Workers' Compensation Claim?

Immediately after being injured in an accident, you are thrown into an adversarial legal system. In other words, the insurance company or the employer has in place a team of adjusters, investigators, and attorneys who are working against you, seeking to pay as little as possible and to get you back to work as quickly as possible whether you are able to or not.

Many job injury victims, already in distressed physical, mental, and financial circumstances, understandably choose to delay what they consider to be the hassles involved in retaining a workers’ compensation attorney. Some may have had a bad experience with an attorney (in a divorce, for example), or they simply do not like or trust attorneys. These people may attempt to represent themselves.

Some job injury victims, in an attempt to avoid paying legal fees, try to represent themselves, and call an attorney only after they realize that they’ve gotten “in over their heads.” Unfortunately, there are many mistakes (such as providing damaging statements to adjusters) that cannot be “undone” by even the most experienced workers’ compensation attorney. Plus, if you wait too long to get legal help, it gets harder to find evidence and witnesses. You also risk losing your claim because of the deadline for filing a Form 18.

The bottom line is…considering the legalities and complexities of the established system for compensating job injury victims, hiring an attorney is usually necessary to “level the playing field,” and to ensure that you receive maximum benefits for your work injury.

We Hear That Adam Bridwell is Getting Locked Up

We received a call last week from the MDA and they said they wanted to lock up one of our Workers' Compensation attorneys, Adam Bridwell. Well, we aren't stopping them from coming into our offices and throwing the cuffs on Adam for a good cause.

On August 27th Adam, along with many business leaders across Raleigh, will be thrown in the Capital City Club and won't be able to leave until they raise enough bail money. It is known as the MDA Telethon Executive Lock-Up. From 9am to 3pm volunteers working for the MDA will be hitting the streets of Raleigh throwing the cuffs on business leaders for a good cause.

If you would like to donate for the sake of Adam's freedom and to a great cause follow the link below. All donations are greatly appreciated. Please check out the MDA's homepage for more information about the great things they do across the nation.

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Certain Types of Medical Conditions Can Be Determined for Disability Within Days

It is well known that when one applies for Social Security Disability that the process to be approved or denied may be a long one, but select medical conditions can be approved over the course of days rather than months. The Social Security Administration calls these conditions "Compassionate Allowances."

These conditions are so serious that there is no question that they meet the requirements of disability. The following is from the Social Security Administration's website on how they have determined what goes on the list:

The initial list of Compassionate Allowance conditions was developed as a result of information received at public outreach hearings, public comment on an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, comments received from the Social Security and Disability Determination Service communities, and the counsel of medical and scientific experts. Also, we considered which conditions are most likely to meet our current definition of disability.

Social Security Administration Commissioner Michael Astute held a fourth public outreach hearing recently on July 29th in Chicago. The topic of the hearing was Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias.

The list right now sets at 50 medical conditions, but in the future will expand as more research and public hearings are scheduled.

To view the full list of the current 50 Compassionate Allowances, please Click Here.

Friday Feed #18

Friday Feed!!!!

WRAL Channel 5's Out and About
Check out what is going on in the Triangle on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

50 Amazing Ramen Noodle Recipes
Everyone at one time or another has had some Ramen Noodles. Now you can spice them up.

Six of the Craziest Things Sent into Space
We all know humans, dogs and monkeys have made the flight, but sweet potatoes, spiders and drunk astronauts?

25 Things We Miss In Baseball
Sports Illustrated breaks down the 25 things they want to see back in the national pastime.

Obsolete Technology: 40 Big Losers
They're not saying they are bad, just saying they are old.

See everyone Monday.

MDA's "Life Under The Big Top" Picnic Pictures

More pictures from last Saturday's MDA "Life Under the Big Top" Picnic at Crowder Park in Apex, North Carolina.

MDA's "Life Under The Big Top" Picnic Pictures

If you haven't read the blog post from yesterday about MDA's event at Crowder Park over the weekend, then check it out below. As promised, we are bringing you pictures the rest of this week from the "Life Under The Big Top" picnic.

Water gun fights all day long in the heat......

Good food cooked by the local Fire Departments.........

which was served up by the great people at the MDA.

Visit back tomorrow for more pictures from Saturday.

MDA's "Life Under The Big Top" Picnic at Crowder Park in Apex, NC a Success

As we mentioned on our blog, the Muscular Dystrophy Association had to cancel their annual week long camp this year due to a N1H1 Virus scare. In the wake of this news, the MDA Raleigh Chapter, along with the Greensboro and Wilmington Chapters, decided to throw a one day picnic at Crowder Park in Apex, NC. Following is an article detailing the event from Maria at the Raleigh MDA chapter along with pictures. For more information on upcoming events please call the Raleigh MDA office at 919-783-0222. Since there were so many good pictures from the event, each day this week we'll post some pictures.

When driving down Ten Ten Road in Apex, just around a bend, there is a sign that says Crowder Park. Set back in the woods, with trails and a lake, there are picnic pavilions, a baseball field and swing-sets. It is at this park where last Saturday, August 8, the Greensboro, Raleigh and Wilmington MDA offices came together to celebrate children living with neuromuscular disease. Neither the heat nor the distance kept the families from attending the Life Under the Big Top Picnic.

For MDA families, staff, and friends, it was a day for the kids to simply be kids; it was a day where you had the opportunity to see the faces of kids battling Duchenne MD, Limb-Girdle MD, Charcot-Marie-Tooth, etc…; it was a day where you did not have to explain why you are in a wheelchair, or how you are different; it was a day to come together and visit with old friends; it was a day to make memories and see smiles. There are few opportunities to bring together everyone who is working towards a cure, and the Picnic was one of these few, but treasured, occasions.

Upon arriving at the Picnic, participants were given a Life Under the Big Top shirt, sponsored by Hardison & Associates. All the children that came to the Picnic signed four shirts, one for each office and the Durham Fire Department. Mr. Cochran and others from Hardison & Associates attended the Picnic to support the MDA families. As a friend of MDA, the Picnic gave Hardison & Associates the opportunity to put a face to the cause.

The Picnic not only came with food prepared by the Durham Fire Department (thank you Captain Towner and Durham Station #2!), but the Scrap Exchange donated the Arts ‘n Crafts supplies, Fort Bragg soldiers ran the carnival games, and the Scooter Store organized a wheelchair obstacle course. With music playing, some soldiers entertained us all with the Cha-Cha Slide. By the time the sun came out in the afternoon, bellies full and well hydrated, the kids, parents, and volunteers were enjoying the water guns. Several battles were going on, all over the park.

By the end of the day, everyone was exhausted from playing in the heat. Kids were enjoying popsicles; MDA staff were putting their feet in any remnants of ice; Fort Bragg soldiers were resting in the shade in between moving tables. But the day was perfect! And we would all do it again in a heartbeat, if only to see those smiles and to hear that laughter. Until next year…

$24 Million Allocated to Help Accelerate Social Security Disability Claims

In an article last Friday Healthcare IT News reported that the Social Security Administration has allocated $24 million to help speed up the disability determination process by way of electronic file transfer.

Following is an excerpt from the article:

Michael Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, said the agency is looking for healthcare providers, provider networks and health information exchanges to participate in its Medical Evidence Gathering and Analysis through Health Information Technology program.

Astrue said health IT will improve the efficiency of a process which is largely paper-bound. For nearly a year, he said, Social Security has been testing health IT to obtain electronic medical records. Disability applications processed with electronic medical records from test sites in Massachusetts and Virginia have significantly reduced processing times, he said.

"With these competitive contracts, Social Security continues to be a leader in the use of health IT to improve service to the American public," Astrue said. "This technology will greatly improve the speed and consistency of our disability decisions."

If you remember back at the end of June, we wrote a blog post on the Social Security Administration testing this process out in select areas in Virginia and the possibility of this coming to North Carolina soon.

With the commitment of $24 million, it seems like the Social Security Administration feels like this is the future of Social Security Disability determination. Hopefully this commitment will yield faster decisions in the future.

Friday Feed #17

It's Friday, but we're looking forward to Saturday spending time with the MDA at Crowder Park in Apex, NC.

Recommended Daily Dose for Omega-3 May Be on the Way
A heated debate between heart doctors may be coming to an end.

9 Ways Carbon Nanotubes Just Might Rock the World
What is a Carbon Nanotube? We have no idea, but this article how it can make our daily lives just a little bit better.

Top 10 Teaser Trailers
Everyone has seen that early movie trailer where then and there they decide they are going to see the movie. IGN ranks their top 10. With Video!

Beautiful Freaky Surf Shots
Some beautiful nature shots while surfing. Makes you want to wax it up and catch some waves.

Mistakes Victims of Accidents Make in North Carolina: Not Being Honest About Your Criminal History and Medical Provider Visits

Do not try to hide the truth from your lawyer about a past criminal history, or about drug or alcohol abuse. Once again, your lawyer can handle almost any problem if you tell your lawyer about the problem. If your lawyer is “ambushed” by the insurance company with such damaging information, your lawyer has no time to prepare a defense.

Tell your lawyer about every doctor you see. This is very important information for your lawyer, and if you don’t inform them, you may miss out on recovering for those specific medical bills.

(Part 4 of 4 on Mistakes of Accident Victims in North Carolina)

Mistakes Victims of Accidents Make in North Carolina: Not Being Honest About Your Income and Activity Level

Income

Do not misrepresent your income. In many cases, a claimant will have lost income because of the accident. You may only be able to claim that lost income if your past tax returns are correct. You don’t want to risk claiming a loss of income, only to have your past tax returns not back up your claim. Again, being honest with your attorney is essential, because he or she can deal with the problem if informed about it in advance.

Activity Level
Do not misrepresent your activity level. Insurance companies routinely hire private investigators to conduct videotape surveillance. If you claim that you cannot run, climb, or lift, and you get caught on videotape, you’re going to have problems with your claim. There is no good explanation that can overcome the eye of the camera.

(Part 3 of 4 on Mistakes of Accident Victims in North Carolina)

Mistakes Victims of Accidents Make in North Carolina: Not Being Honest About Your Injury History

Do not try to hide past injuries from your lawyer. It should go without saying that you need to be up front and honest with your attorney about any injuries that occurred before or after this particular accident. Again, if you saw a doctor or other health care provider, then there is a record in existence that the insurance company will probably find. Your lawyer can deal with this if he or she knows about it. If you lie about it, and the insurance company finds out, then your case is probably going to be lost.

(Part 2 of 4 on Mistakes of Accident Victims in North Carolina)

Mistakes Victims of Accidents Make in North Carolina: Not Being Honest About Your Accident History

Do not try to hide past accidents from your lawyer. Once you begin a case, the other side will be interested in knowing how many past accidents you have had. The reality is that they probably already know the answer, or at least have easy access to that information. All insurance companies subscribe to insurance databases that contain records of millions of accident claims, and often the only reason they ask you this question is to test your credibility. If you have been in other accidents, your lawyer can investigate this and make a determination as to whether this is a valid problem in your case. But if you do not tell your lawyer, and you try to misrepresent your accident history to the insurance company, then it is almost guaranteed that you’ll lose your case.

(Part 1 of 4 on Mistakes of Accident Victims in North Carolina)