Note: Medicare Advantage programs must follow the rules outlined in the January 1, 2020, Parts C & D Enrollee Grievances, Organization/Coverage Determinations, and Appeals Guidance.[1]
Important: This notice explains your right to appeal our decision. Read this notice carefully. If you need help, you can call one of the numbers listed on the last page under “Get help & more information.”
Notice of Denial of Medical Coverage
[Note: Replace Denial of Medical Coverage with Denial of Payment, if applicable.]
Date:________________
Member number:___________________
Name:__________________________________
[Insert other identifying information, as necessary (e.g., provider name, enrollee’s Medicaid number, service subject to notice, date of service)]
Your request was [insert appropriate term: partially approved,denied].
We’ve [insert appropriate term: denied, partially approved, stopped, reduced, suspended] the [payment of] [medical services/items or Part B drug or Medicaid drug] listed below requested by you or your doctor [provider]:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Why did we deny your request?
We [insert appropriate term: denied, partially approved, stopped, reduced, suspended] the [payment of] [medical services/items or Part B drug or Medicaid drug] listed above because [provide specific rationale for decision and include State or Federal law and/or Evidence of Coverage provisions to support decision]:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
You have the right to appeal our decision
You have the right to ask [health plan name] to review our decision by asking us for an appeal. [Insert Medicaid information explaining plan level appeal must be exhausted prior to requesting State Fair Hearing or other state external review.]
Plan Appeal: Ask [health plan name] for an appeal within 60 days of the date of this notice. We can give you more time if you have a good reason for missing the deadline. See section titled “How to ask for an appeal with [health plan name]” for information on how to ask for a plan level appeal.
[How to keep your services while we review your case: If we’re stopping or reducing a service, you can keep getting the service while your case is being reviewed. If you want the service to continue, you must ask for an appealwithin 10 days of the date of this notice or before the service is stopped or reduced, whichever is later. Your provider must agree that you should continue getting the service. If you lose your appeal, you may have to pay for these services.]
If you want someone else to act for you
You can name a relative, friend, attorney, doctor, or someone else to act as your representative. If you want someone else to act for you, call us at: [number(s)] to learn how to name your representative. TTY users call [number]. Both you and the person you want to act for you must sign and date a statement confirming this is what you want. You’ll need to mail or fax this statement to us. Keep a copy for your records.
Important Information About Your Appeal Rights
There are 2 kinds of appeals with [health plan name]
Standard Appeal: We’ll give you a written decision on a standard appeal within [insert appropriate timeframe for medical service/item or Part B drug: 30 days, 7 days] [insert timeframe for standard internal plan Medicaid appeals, if different] after we get your appeal. Our decision might take longer if you ask for an extension, or if we need more information about your case. We’ll tell you if we’re taking extra time and will explain why more time is needed. If your appeal is for payment of a [medical service/item or Part B drug] you’ve already received, we’ll give you a written decision within 60 days.
Fast Appeal: We’ll give you a decision on a fast appeal within 72 hours [insert timeframe for expedited internal plan Medicaid appeals, if different] after we get your appeal. You can ask for a fast appeal if you or your doctor believe your health could be seriously harmed by waiting up to [insert appropriate timeframe for medical service/item or Part B drug: 30 days, 7 days] for a decision. You cannot request an expedited appeal if you are asking us to pay you back for a [medical service/item or Part B drug] you’ve already received.
We’ll automatically give you a fast appeal if a doctor asks for one for you or if your doctor supports your request. If you ask for a fast appeal without support from a doctor, we’ll decide if your request requires a fast appeal. If we don’t give you a fast appeal, we’ll give you a decision within [insert appropriate timeframe for medical service/item or Part B drug: 30 days, 7 days].
How to ask for an appeal with [health plan name]
Step 1
You, your representative, or your doctor [provider] must ask us for an appeal. Your [written] request must include:
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Your name
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Address
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Member number
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Reasons for appealing
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Whether you want a Standard or Fast Appeal (for a Fast Appeal, explain why you need one).
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Any evidence you want us to review, such as medical records, doctors’ letters (such as a doctor’s supporting statement if you request a fast appeal), or other information that explains why you need the [medical service/item or Part B drug or Medicaid drug]. Call your doctor if you need this information.
If you’re asking for an appeal and missed the deadline, you may ask for an extension and should include your reason for being late.
We recommend keeping a copy of everything you send us for your records. [Insert, if applicable: You can ask to see the medical records and other documents we used to make our decision before or during the appeal. At no cost to you, you can also ask for a copy of the guidelines we used to make our decision.]
Step 2
Mail, fax, or deliver your appeal. [You can also call us or submit your appeal electronically.]
For a Standard Appeal:
Mailing Address:
[In Person Delivery Address:]
[Phone:]
[TTY Users Call:]
Fax:
[Website:]
[Insert, if applicable: If you ask for a standard appeal by phone, we will send you a letter confirming what you told us.]
For a Fast Appeal:
Phone:
[TTY Users Call:]
[Fax:]
[Website:]
What happens next?
If you ask for an appeal and we continue to deny your request for [payment of] a [medical service/item or Part B drug or Medicaid drug], we’ll automatically send your case to an independent reviewer. If the independent reviewer denies your request, the written decision will explain if you have additional appeal rights.
[Insert additional State-specific Medicaid rules, as applicable.]
How to ask for a Medicaid State Fair Hearing
If [health plan name] denies your appeal request, you can take the steps listed below to request a State Fair Hearing. [States may also have additional language regarding other external review processes.]
Step 1: You or your representative must ask for a State Fair Hearing [in writing] within [insert #] days of the date of the notice that denies your appeal request. You have up to [insert #] days if you have a good reason for your request being late.
Your [written] request must include:
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Your name
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Address
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Member number
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Reasons for appealing
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Any evidence you want us to review, such as medical records, doctors’ letters, or other information that explains why you need the item or service. Call your doctor if you need this information.
Step 2: Send your request to:
Address: _______________________________________________________________
Phone: ________________________
Fax: __________________________
[A copy of this notice has been sent to:]
Get help & more information
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[Health Plan Name] Toll Free:
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TTY users call:
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[Insert plan hours of operation] or [plan website]
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1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours, 7 days a week. TTY users call: 1-877-486-2048
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Medicare Rights Center: 1-888-HMO-9050
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Elder Care Locator: 1-800-677-1116 or www.eldercare.acl.gov to find help in your community.
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[Medicaid/State contact information]
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[State or local aging/disability resources contact information]
[May insert instructions for how enrollees can receive this notice in an alternate language or format from the plan.]
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