Doctor confused: How to complete patient's EDD SDI form with their claim number?

As a medical provider, you need to log into SDI Online with your provider account, then select "Medical Provider Services" from the main menu. From there, choose "Submit Medical Certification" and enter your patient's claim ID number when prompted. The system will pull up their pending certification, and you'll need to complete all required medical information including diagnosis codes, examination dates, and projected recovery timeline. Make sure to have their medical record handy as you'll need specific dates and condition details.

same problem last month! the EDD website is soooo confusing for doctors. took me like 3 tries to figure it out lol. make sure ur using the medical provider portal not the regular one

If you're still having trouble after following the steps above, you might want to try Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect with an EDD representative directly. They can guide you through the provider certification process step by step. I used their service when I was having similar issues with provider forms, and they connected me with an actual EDD agent within minutes. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd

Hey doc! From a patient perspective - THANK YOU for trying to figure this out. My disability claim was delayed by 6 weeks because my previous doctor couldn't figure out how to submit the electronic certification, and I almost lost my apartment waiting for benefits. You have no idea how much your patients appreciate you taking the time to do this right.

OMG the EDD website is THE WORST! I work in a medical office and we hate dealing with disability forms. One tip: make sure you're using the right claim number format. Sometimes patients give the wrong number or format. It should start with a specific letter followed by numbers. Also check if they filed for SDI or PFL because those are different!

I handle provider enrollment with EDD and can confirm what others have said. Additionally, make sure your medical license information is correctly entered in your provider profile before attempting to complete any patient forms. The system will validate your credentials against their database. Also, if you're part of a large practice, you may need to be added as an authorized certifier under your group account rather than using a separate individual account.

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to successfully submit the medical certification? If you're still having trouble, I'd recommend checking if your patient filed an SDI claim or a PFL claim, as the certification process differs slightly between them. For SDI, you'll need to complete a DE 2501 form electronically, while PFL requires different documentation.

Great to hear you got it sorted out! For other medical providers who might stumble across this thread, I'd also recommend bookmarking the EDD Medical Provider Handbook (available in the resources section of SDI Online) - it has step-by-step screenshots that make the process much clearer. Also, if you're planning to do these regularly, consider setting up email notifications so you know immediately when patients submit claims that need your certification. Saves a lot of back-and-forth with patients asking about status updates!

As a former EDD case worker, I want to add that timing is crucial when submitting medical certifications. Try to complete and submit the form within 10 days of your patient filing their claim - delays can cause automatic denials that require appeals. Also, be very specific with your medical language and avoid vague terms like "patient reports pain." Use objective findings, specific functional limitations, and measurable restrictions. The reviewers need concrete medical evidence to approve claims, so detailed documentation is key to getting your patients approved on the first try.

As a fellow healthcare provider who went through this same struggle, I want to emphasize something important that helped me avoid future headaches: always verify the claim type (SDI vs PFL) with your patient before starting the certification process. I once spent 20 minutes filling out the wrong form because I assumed it was SDI when it was actually PFL for family leave. Also, if you're working with patients who have complex medical conditions requiring multiple certifications over time, consider creating a simple tracking system in your office. We use a spreadsheet to track claim numbers, submission dates, and follow-up requirements. It's saved us from missing deadlines and has made our office much more efficient with these forms. The initial learning curve is steep, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to help your patients much more effectively!

Just want to add another helpful tip that saved me time - if you're dealing with workers' compensation cases that might also qualify for SDI, make sure to coordinate the timing of your certifications. I had a patient whose WC claim was denied, and we were able to quickly pivot to SDI because I had already gathered all the necessary medical documentation. Also, keep copies of everything you submit through the online portal. The system sometimes has glitches, and having your own records can be crucial if you need to resubmit or reference previous certifications. The patient really appreciates when their doctor is organized and proactive about these things, especially when they're already stressed about their medical condition and financial situation.

As a medical office administrator who helps coordinate between our physicians and EDD, I want to add that it's worth establishing a good relationship with the EDD medical provider support line early on. Even though wait times can be long, the representatives who specialize in provider issues are incredibly knowledgeable and patient. They can walk you through not just the immediate problem, but also help you understand the nuances that aren't obvious from the online interface. For example, they explained to us why certain diagnosis codes get flagged for additional review and how to phrase functional limitations to avoid unnecessary delays. Once you have a good grasp of the system, you might also consider offering brief training to your office staff - having a backup person who can handle routine certifications can be really valuable when you're tied up with patients.

This entire thread has been incredibly educational! As someone new to the EDD system, I'm amazed at how many helpful tips and insights everyone has shared. I particularly appreciate the step-by-step guidance from Ethan, the insider perspective from Zoey about timing and documentation specifics, and all the practical workflow suggestions from other providers. It's clear that while the initial learning curve is steep, having a supportive community like this makes all the difference. I'm bookmarking this thread and planning to implement several of the suggestions mentioned - especially the tracking spreadsheet idea and the tip about verifying claim types upfront. Thank you all for taking the time to help fellow providers navigate this complex system!

As a newcomer to this community and someone who will likely be dealing with EDD medical certifications soon, I can't thank everyone enough for this incredibly thorough discussion! Reading through all these responses has been like getting a crash course from experienced professionals. I'm particularly grateful for the specific step-by-step instructions, the insider tips about timing and documentation requirements, and all the practical workflow suggestions. It's clear that while the EDD system has a steep learning curve, having access to this kind of collective wisdom makes it much more manageable. I'm definitely going to implement the tracking system idea and bookmark the medical provider handbook that was mentioned. This is exactly the kind of supportive community resource that makes challenging administrative tasks less overwhelming for healthcare providers!

As another newcomer to this community, I want to echo everyone's appreciation for this incredibly helpful thread! I'm a family practice physician who's been avoiding the electronic EDD system and still using paper forms, but reading through all these detailed explanations has convinced me it's time to make the switch. The step-by-step guidance from experienced providers, especially the tips about using the Medical Provider Services section and verifying claim types upfront, gives me confidence that I can navigate this successfully. I'm particularly impressed by how this community supports each other through these administrative challenges - it's exactly what healthcare providers need when dealing with complex government systems. Planning to set up my SDI Online account this week and implement the tracking spreadsheet idea right from the start. Thank you all for sharing your expertise so generously!