Summary

GAO reviewed the Social Security Administration's (SSA) regional structure for ensuring the quality of disability decisions made by state disability determination services (DDS). GAO found that: (1) each SSA region's Disability Quality Branch (DQB) works cooperatively with regional medical consultants (RMC) to review the accuracy of disability decisions; (2) based on DQB review, SSA assesses whether DDS comply with regulatory performance accuracy standards; (3) DQB and RMC organizational placement and Regional Disability Program Branches' technical assistance compromise DQB organizational independence; (4) in 1987, SSA transferred DQB responsibility from regional commissioners' offices to a nonrelated branch of SSA; and (5) although RMC are an integral part of the DDS quality assurance review function, they have remained under the management and supervision of the regional commissioners' offices.