Disability insurance and supplemental security income; qualifications of medical professionals evaluating mental impairments--SSA. Final rules

Section 8 of the Social Security Disability Benefits Reform Act of 1984, Pub. L. 98-460, requires that we make every reasonable effort to have a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist complete the medical portion of the case review and any residual functional capacity (RFC) assessment in unfavorable initial determinations in mental impairment cases. This provision is effective for initial disability determinations made on or after December 9, 1984. As a result of this new provision of the law, we are adding this requirement to the Social Security Administration (SSA) regulations and also explaining in these regulations the qualifications necessary to be considered a qualified psychologist and what we will consider as every reasonable effort to obtain the services of a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist.