The Professional Relations Office (PRO) serves as the link between DDS, SSA and the medical community. The office works to foster relationships with medical entities and maintains oversight of their activities, ensuring SSA and the DDS staff have the resources available to adjudicate disability claims for the Social Security program and Medicaid.
The PRO serves as a liaison with physicians, other professionals and interested organizations to inform and educate about SSA’s disability program requirements. The PRO enlists the cooperation and support of disability organizations, medical organizations and individuals on policies and operations affecting them.
Consultative Exam (CE) Providers
The Professional Relations Office is responsible for managing and monitoring the Consultative Examination (CE) process. DDS maintains and utilizes a panel of physicians, psychologists and other health professionals to perform a Consultative Examination (CE) for patients when evidence is unavailable or insufficient to make a determination.
CE providers are paid on a fee-for-service basis by DDS and the exams are conducted at no charge to the patient. The providers performing the CEs are not responsible for making a decision as to whether an individual is disabled or not, but rather collecting information to assist DDS.
Highlights of becoming a CE provider include:
- Providers perform one-time exams in their own office
- Increased patient referrals and exposure of practice
- Flexible schedules based on the provider’s availability Monday through Saturday
- No treatment involved
- Prompt and efficient payment process
- Free teledictation service
- Electronic options for submitting reports
All CE providers must be currently licensed in the state in which they are performing examinations and have the training and experience to perform the type of examination or test SSA requires. CE providers must not be barred from participation in any federally-funded program.
Consultative Exam Fee Schedule
Contact the Professional Relations Office
Disability Determination Services
PO Box 243
Raleigh, NC 27602
E-mail: ERE.NC@ssa.gov
Phone: 1-800-443-9360
Applications
General Medical
PA/NP General Medical
Neurological
Ophthalmological
Optometrist
Orthopedic
Otological
Psychiatric
PA/NP Psychiatric
Psychological
Speech/Language
North Carolina W-9
Additional Information
Electronic Payment Information: If you are a Consultative Exam provider or Medical Records provider and would like to receive electronic payments for reports and records submitted to NC DDS, please complete and submit the form in the link below.
Vendor Electronic Payment Form
Electronic Medical Evidence: Electronic Records Express (ERE) is an initiative by Social Security and NC Disability Determination Services (DDS) to offer electronic options for submitting records related to disability claims. If you have received a request for records about a disability claim, you can choose the method of sending the information that works best for you – online to Social Security’s secure website or by fax to your state DDS or to Social Security. Please visit the following link for more details:
Electronic Medical Evidence
To register for SSA’s Electronic Records Express, please contact us at ERE.NC@ssa.gov (please do not send medical records directly to this email address).