Article archive / August 1, 2012
Originally published: . Volume 3, No. 12. Source pages: 7.
In January this year the Louisiana Psychological Association hosted a webinar in which New Orleans clinical and neuropsychologist Dr. Michael Chafetz presented results from a series of research studies he conducted. He highlighted statistical methods that could improve psych- ologists’ accuracy in assessing mental disorders in social security evaluations. He presented findings regarding malingering by claimants on exams.
Mental disorders constitute 60.5 percent of all diagnoses in social security disability recipients, according to the Social Security Administration Annual Report, December 2010. In Louisiana, mental disorders account for 56.2 percent of disability claims.
Psychologists, who are trained in psychometric and statistical methods, are typically hired by social security and also the court system, to help make accurate determinations.
Prior to the LPA webinar, Ms. Terri Spurgeon, Executive Director of the Louisiana Disability Determination Services, sent a memo dated January 11, 2012, to Consultative Examination Providers cautioning them about the presentation.
Ms. Spurgeon noted that the seminar was not “reviewed” or “sanctioned” by the Social Security Administration, and had not been checked for “compliance with SSA and DDS policy, rules, and regulations on evaluating mental impairments for Social Security Disability.”
In the memo, dated January 11, 2012, she advised consultative providers to “continue to adhere to all guidance and instructions you have received directly from DDS professional relations officers […] and psychological consultants.”
The Times attempted to contact Ms. Spurgeon for comment, and to ask her to explain the intent of her memo, in January and February. No one responded or returned calls.
The Times tried again in May and talked with Mr. Danny Johnson, who was polite, courteous, and said he did not want to “overstep” and needed to find out more about the issue. He said, “We will respond to you as soon as possible.” But no return communication was received.
Last week the Times talked with Mr. Joseph Ferguson in public affairs, Baton Rouge. Mr. Ferguson was also courteous, and said he would get back in touch but it may require some time.
According to Kaiser State Health Facts website, Louisiana ranks 11th on percent of its population on social security disability, at 5.9 percent of the population. Among all states, Louisiana is the second highest in the category of “Intellectual Disability,” with 44.3 percent of its total mental health disability recipients falling in this category.
Dr. Mike Chafetz is board certified in Clinical Neuropsychology, a reviewer for Applied Neuropsychology, Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, and on the Board of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology. He was named Distinguished Psychologist by LPA for 2012-2013 and presented his research on this topic at the American Psychological Association as an invited speaker, in 2011.
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