In the fifties, acute illness and injury were the primary health care concern. Preventing death occurs more frequently but often those saved have remaining impairment. Currently, psychiatric conditions as a cause of disability are in the ascendancy. Health and disability programs in the private sector today suggest ways for Social Security to move toward a less permanent benefit structure for more people, help people transition back to work and at the same time improve long term financing. Recovery expectations including positive return to work goals are set up front and a plan is followed to assure all available resources are used to assist in recovery of function and return to work.
Case management starts early and provides for gradual return to work.
In contrast, SSDI after making a disability decision, does not systematically manage any cases to assist in return to work efforts. Benefit structures and entitlement periods that are set up to encourage return to work. Some private sector disability programs reduce benefits in relationship to a staged re-entry into the work place and wages earned. Health Care as an essential part of an effective disability program. Health care is a broad continuum of services directed at prevention of illness and injury and maximizing function not just treatment of disease.