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Disability Determinations Examiner 4 (Public Relations Officer)

The mission of the Louisiana Department of Health is to protect and promote health and to ensure access to medical, preventive, and rehabilitative services for all residents of the State of Louisiana.


Learn more about Louisiana Department of Health


Join our team and play a key role in supporting timely and accurate disability determinations. In this position, you’ll serve as the primary liaison between Disability Determination Services (DDS) and the medical community, ensuring critical medical records are obtained to support disability case adjudication. You’ll recruit, train, and oversee consultative exam providers, help resolve claimant concerns, and clarify medical report discrepancies. This role also offers opportunities to represent DDS in the community by educating medical and psychological professionals on SSA initiatives at conferences and meetings. If you enjoy collaboration, problem-solving, and making a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply.

An ideal candidate should possess the following competencies:

Communicating Effectively: The ability to convey information, ideas, and emotions using structured communication methods that promote understanding and engagement. 
Making Accurate Judgements: The ability to assess options, weigh risks, and make sound decisions using available information and logical reasoning. 
Thinking Critically: The ability to analyze information objectively, identify connections across sources, and form logical, well-supported conclusions. 
Demonstrating Initiative: The ability to assess situations independently and take proactive steps to address them without being prompted or instructed by others. 
Following Policies and Procedures: The ability to follow, reinforce, adapt, or develop policies and procedures to maintain compliance with federal and state legal requirements, State Civil Service rules, and organizational policies. 
Managing Time: The ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and allocate time to ensure timely completion of work goals. 
Negotiating Agreements: The ability to reach fair, mutually beneficial outcomes through ethical negotiation that builds trust and supports shared goals.
Networking: The ability to build and maintain relationships across internal and external networks. 
Solving Problems: the ability to identify root causes, analyze relevant data, and apply practical or innovative solutions to challenges.
Training Others: The ability to design and deliver training experiences that build knowledge, develop skills, and improve performance. 

 

Requirements

Three years of social services experience plus two years of experience in disability determinations; OR

Six years of full-time experience in any field plus two years of experience in disability determinations; OR

A bachelor's degree plus two years of experience in disability determinations; OR

An advanced degree in social work, education, business, public, or health administration, a social sciences field, or a Juris Doctorate plus one year of experience in disability determinations.

EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTION:
Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.

Qualifications

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.Job Duties:

  • Informs, educates, and builds cooperative relationships with medical and non-medical organizations, agencies, and individuals regarding the disability program, its requirements, and evidence expectations.
  • Serves as liaison between the agency and medical and non-medical communities, maintaining ongoing contacts with providers and professional associations, participating in meetings and conferences, and assisting adjudicators with case development as needed.
  • Conducts studies, surveys, and reviews of medical evidence providers to identify operational or quality issues, takes corrective action, and communicates successes, concerns, and potential problems to Disability Determinations leadership.
  • Recruits, credentials, and oversees consultative examination providers by reviewing licenses and curricula vitae, conducting on-site inspections, evaluating reports for quality and compliance, addressing deficiencies, and monitoring ongoing performance.
  • Investigates and resolves staff and claimant complaints related to consultative examinations, provider performance, scheduling, professionalism, and report adequacy, including conducting unannounced site visits when necessary.
  • Protects confidential and sensitive personal, medical, and vocational information; responds to subpoenas and third-party requests; prepares required Social Security and Disability Determinations reports with appropriate documentation.
  • Promotes and supports the use of Social Security Administration electronic processes by conducting outreach, training, and demonstrations; registering providers for Electronic Records Express options; and coordinating with Information Technology staff to ensure accurate system setup and monitoring.


Position-Specific Details:

Location: Office of the Secretary/ NO Area Office- Disability Determination Services / Jefferson Parish

Appointment Type: This is a promotional opportunity open only to current permanent employees in a classified position with Louisiana Department of Health, Office of the Secretary. 

Cost Center: 3071200100

Position Number(s): 50690012

Compensation: This position is eligible for the following Special Entrance Rate (SER)- $25.25/ hr. 


Individuals selected for positions with the Disability Determination Service (DDS) will go through a complete federal background investigation. A suitability determination by the Social Security Administration is necessary to determine whether an employee can be issued credentials in order to have access to Social Security disability data, records, and systems.  Your conditional job offer and access to Social Security Administration's (SSA's) systems, data, information, and/or premises are contingent upon you passing the SSA suitability process.

*Note: This covers the preliminary screening (pre-screen) and the final background
adjudication stage of the suitability process.

How To Apply:

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page. 

* Information to support your eligibility for the position must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).  Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

Contact Information:

Amber Shaffer

Amber.Shaffer@ssa.gov

LA Department of Health (LDH)

Disability Determinations Services 
225-342-2230

This organization participates in E-verify, and for more information on E-verify, please contact DHS at 1-888-464-4218. 


LDH supports Louisiana’s commitment to being a State as a Model Employer (SAME) by promoting the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities. 


Information on the Louisiana Works, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services is available here.

Date Posted
02/05/2026
Job Reference
OS/AS/217262
Organization
LDH-Office of Secretary
Location
New Orleans, LA
Category
Public Affairs & Communication
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