FMLA and Disability Forms
FMLA and short-term disability
We understand that many of our patients depend on short-term disability insurance/FMLA during recovery periods. To ensure timely filing of these forms, please be aware of the following:
Disability and FMLA forms are completed in the order that they are received. Please allow 5-10 business days to complete. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of requests, we are unable to make exceptions due to form deadlines. It is the patient’s responsibility to provide these forms to our office with enough time to allow for processing.
Per HIPAA protocols, we require a signed authorization in order to send medical records to third parties. Please be sure an authorization form is included in your disability or FMLA paperwork. If not, authorization forms can be provided to you by our front desk staff in person or can be sent via mail, email or fax.
The patient is responsible to their employer or insurance company to verify receipt of the forms after completion.
Long-term disability
Please be aware: our office does not complete forms related to social security, VA disability, impairment ratings, functional capacity evaluation or long term (permanent) disability. Any restrictions or limitations imposed on our patients are limited to post-op surgical patients; said restrictions are typically removed between 2 – 3 weeks after surgery. As such, we are unable to provide documentation certifying impairment on a permanent basis. Neither is our office equipped to measure the extent of impairment. In the event that you would like any of the aforementioned forms completed, we recommend contacting your primary care physician’s office for an appointment or referral to another facility.
paperwork fees
Disability and FMLA forms require significant time on behalf of the clinical staff to complete. As such, repeat form requests may incur a form completion charge of $25 per occurrence.
Paperwork for patients recovering from surgical treatment at Iowa Ear Center will not be subject to a fee.