As many hospitals, as well as other health care providers and suppliers with pending requests for ALJ hearing are acutely aware, lengthy adjudication delays exist within the Medicare appeals process. These delays are most significant at the third level of appeal, i.e., the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) stage of appeal.
On May 22, 2014, the American Hospital Association (AHA), together with three hospitals, filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, requesting mandamus relief, compelling the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to act within the statutorily required timeframes. Disappointing appellants nationwide, the District Court entered a decision mandamus relief was not warranted.
However, following an appeal of the lower court’s decision, on February 9, 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia reversed the decision and remanded the case back to the District Court for further consideration. A copy of the February 9, 2016 order is accessible here: http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/legal/litigation.shtml.
For an in-depth look at the ALJ appeals adjudication backlog, please see the following articles: https://www.thehealthlawpartners.com/docs/6.6.14.pdf and https://www.thehealthlawpartners.com/docs/5.21.14.pdf.
For more information regarding Recovery Audits, please contact Jessica L. Gustafson, Esq. or Abby Pendleton, Esq. at (248) 996-8510.