A MEDICAL EVALUATION must be produced before a severely limited capacity for employment can be recognized. The document used describes the person's illnesses and disabilities (functional limitations). It is filled out by a licensed physician chosen by the client, unless an exception applies. However, as of May 1, 2022, a specialized nurse practitioner (SNP) may complete and sign a medical report when the primary diagnosis will be for one of the following chronic conditions:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Hypercholesterolemia
- Hypothyroidism
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
In this document, the attending physician is not required to give an opinion on the person's employability but does give medical information to the designated authorities who must make this decision.
If the person who wants to have a severely limited capacity for employment recognized has already produced a medical report in the past 6 months to make his or her disability known to another organization, a copy of this report constitutes a valid medical evaluation for purposes of studying his or her limited capacity for employment.
An application for recognition of a severely limited capacity for employment cannot be rejected for the sole reason that the required medical information was submitted on the wrong form. If the Income Security Officer needs information that is requested on the prescribed form but is not in the document provided by the client, the client will be informed that he or she must have the medical report filled out.
In certain exceptional cases when a beneficiary refuses to submit a medical report because of serious psychiatric problems, the report can be filled out by a physician designated.