Category 4: Using Innovative Technologies to Deliver Simple, Seamless, and Secure Services
OFFICE OF HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND ELECTRONIC POLICY (OHITEP),
OFFICE OF DISABILITY POLICY (ODP)
Social Security Administration
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Melany Byerly
Branch Chief
Heather Murr
Division Director
Cammie Jecelin
Technical Expert
Marty Prahl
Senior Advisor
Akshin Bakhtiyarov
Implementation Project Manager
Jennifer Castro
Implementation Project Manager
Kassandra Harris
Implementation Project Manager
Mercedes Hernandez
Implementation Project Manager
Anastasya Prisby
Implementation Project Manager
Kaitlyn Stotmeister
Implementation Project Manager
The Social Security Administration’s Office of Health Information Technology and Electronic Policy (OHITEP) and Office of Disability Policy (ODP) are 2025 Service to the Citizen Award winners in Category 4: Using Innovative Technologies to Deliver Simple, Seamless, and Secure Services.
Together, OHITEP and ODP have transformed the disability claims process through the innovative use of Health Information Technology (HIT). By fully automating the request and retrieval of medical records, they have drastically reduced processing times, from weeks or months to just minutes. This streamlined approach means disability examiners now receive vital medical evidence faster, allowing them to make quicker, more accurate decisions for millions of Americans.
The automation also extends to payment systems and reduces administrative burdens for both the SSA and healthcare providers. For example, HIT enables SSA to pay once for records from an entire healthcare network, rather than issuing multiple requests to individual providers, saving time and money. The structured format of HIT data allows for easy integration with SSA systems, highlighting key medical evidence and enabling better data analysis.
Claimants benefit from decisions up to 50% faster, with some cases resolved on the same day, providing critical financial and healthcare support more quickly. At the same time, increased use of HIT has led to significant cost savings for SSA and reduced uncompensated care for healthcare systems, as more claimants qualify for Medicare or Medicaid earlier in the process.
In FY24 alone, HIT usage increased significantly: SSA onboarded 20% more health systems and expanded the availability of participating facilities by 10%. Nearly 50% of disability claims now include HIT-sourced evidence, proving the scalability and impact of this innovation.
By collaborating with federal committees to expand U.S. Core Data Interoperability (USCDI) standards, OHITEP and ODP are not only improving current services but also shaping the future of disability adjudication. Their forward-thinking approach and commitment to public service exemplify how technology can deliver better outcomes for citizens, faster, more securely, and with fewer barriers.