Triage and Case Management Training for Social Service Agencies, Insurance Companies, and Medical Providers

Attorneys Robert Angermeier and David Traver have formed SSIBC, a company devoted to training and case management for social service agencies, hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and others interested in advancing the disability claims of those they serve.

SSIBC provides training at our facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, or on-site training anywhere in the United States for groups of any size.

Here is a brief summary of what we can offer to your employees:

Triage:

Triage is a methodology that allows up-front case selection of those cases that have a reasonable probability of success with proper case development.

Triage requires a comprehensive understanding of SSA's legal standards, SSA procedures, the adjudication framework, and substantial familiarity of principles of medicine and mental health. This matrix of legal and medical mastery is not gained by reading a policy manual. It requires years of professional legal experience serving the disabled and the disadvantaged.

Triage is the most important step in the SSA advocacy process because it is a great disservice to customers to hold out the prospect of success in a claim where there is no reasonable prospect of success for the claim at the Disability Determination Bureau or the Office of Hearings and Appeals. These customers are best directed towards other educational or vocational pursuits. Good triage ensures proper conservation and allocation of scarce resources. For the advocacy agency, pursuit of meritless claims is a harmful waste of limited assets, and also affects the agency's credibility with the Social Security Administration.

SSIBC took the initiative beginning in 2001 to provide Milwaukee Welfare-to-Work program case managers with a comprehensive understanding of the triage processes. Most recently, advanced training was provided to select managers and staff of a large Milwaukee welfare agency to allow them to make critical triage decisions. Subsequently, additional training has focused on specific real-time cases, with a focus upon triage and case development.

Case Development:

SSIBC recognizes that the best outcome for most social service customers and hospital patients would be sustained full-time employment. Unfortunately, not all customers and patients are capable of such employment, and some will never be capable of such employment regardless of the amount of treatment and care devoted to their rehabilitation. SSIBC case development is the process of marshalling medical and vocational evidence necessary to produce a successful disability claim. It includes directing and facilitating proper treatment for a variety of psychological, psychiatric, medical, AODA, and other barriers to employment. It includes obtaining substantial vocational evidence including vocational evaluations and work histories.

Current and comprehensive medical records must be obtained efficiently. The Social Security Administration gives considerable weight to well supported opinions from treating doctors. Case development includes securing such opinions in a format that is relevant to the disability determination and adjudication process.

The skills required to do successful case development flow from accurate and timely training by qualified professionals. It is not taught in social work classes and it is not gained by simply handling cases without proper training.

The Role of SSI Benefit Coordinators, L.L.C. (SSIBC):

SSIBC is a training and case management company. Its principals are attorneys Robert Angermeier and David Traver.

Attorney Robert Angermeier has 25 years experience in social security disability and SSI claims at all levels of adjudication including numerous cases in the United States District Courts. Attorney David Traver has 13 years experience in social security disability and SSI claims, with a multi-state disability law practice in federal courts. Attorney Traver has a Master's degree in vocational rehabilitation with a specialty in vocational evaluation, and he supervised a large vocational evaluation program in Milwaukee.

Attorneys Angermeier and Traver have developed and implemented proprietary training materials addressing triage and case development. As successful private attorneys, Mr. Angermeier and Mr. Traver have acquired the ability to identify meritorious claims. This valuable expertise has been a central focus of their training materials.

Case Development and Case Management Software:

SSIBC has established a relationship with a commercial provider of case management software, which provides comprehensive case development, tracking, and support for all disability caseloads. Important features of the software are its capacity to generate and track critical due dates and medical record requests, and to give comprehensive reports for auditing and performance tracking upon demand. The software contains all relevant Social Security forms and contact information necessary for efficient case management. Forms and reports may be added as needed.

SSIBC On-Site Support:

SSIBC provides on-site support, which will allow your employees to discuss specific cases and questions with an experienced attorney at all stages of the claims process. Also, SSIBC can meet with your customers and patients on-site, for the purpose of providing confidential consultations regarding their disability cases and related options.

For additional information and a free consultation, call Attorney David Traver at 262-594-2096 or Attorney Robert Angermeier at 414-289-9200.

© 2005-2008 SSIBC, L.L.C.