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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 14

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 39 Chapter 14 Work Requirements

14.9.1.F.3 Definition of Physician's Statement The term “physician's statement” means a medical report from a licensed medical professional, including, but not limited to: • Physicians; • Surgeons; • Doctors of Osteopathy; • Chiropractors; • Licensed or certified Psychologist; and • Nurse Practitioners. ➢ Content of the Physician's Statement Generally, the statement must contain enough information to allow the Worker to determine if the client is disabled. If the physician makes a definite statement that the client is permanently and totally disabled, no further information is needed. Usually, however, the physician describes the situation, and the Worker must make the determination. In these situations, the statement must contain: • The type of condition, including the diagnosis if known; • Any unusual limitations the condition imposes on the client's lifestyle; and • The length of time the condition is expected to last. This is required only to set a control for reevaluation; there is no durational requirement for which the condition must exist or be expected to exist. ➢ Making the Determination Once the necessary information is received, the Worker makes the determination based on the following guidelines: • If the condition is one listed in Appendix C of Chapter 13 as a guideline for presumptively approving an Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) Medicaid or AFDC- Related Medicaid case, disability is established. No durational time limits are imposed. • Any other condition must impose limitations on the client's normal way of life. For example, a case of hypertension, requiring only a special diet and daily medication, does not substantially alter an individual's way of life, since eating is part of his daily routine, and taking medication does not significantly interrupt normal activities. However, a