N.J. Admin. Code § 10:49-10.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 10:49-10.3 - Opportunity for fair hearing

(a) An opportunity for a fair hearing may be granted to any provider requesting a hearing on any valid complaint or issue arising out of the Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare claims payment process, exclusive of HMO claims processing or HMO-provider contract issues:

1. Such issues shall include, but not be limited to, denials of prior authorization and denial of claims submitted for payment.

2. Such requests for hearing shall be made in writing within 20 days from the date of the notice of the agency action giving rise to said complaint or issue.

3. For claim denial or payment adjustment, the 20 days' notice starts from the date in the right hand corner of the Remittance Advice Claims Status returned to providers with the Remittance Advice cover page (see the Fiscal Agent Billing Supplement following the second chapter of each Providers Services Manual regarding the Remittance Advice cover page and Claims Status explanations and examples). Providers should include a photocopy of the applicable Claims Status page, highlighting the beneficiary and applicable edit code(s) when submitting a hearing request.

(b) An opportunity for a fair hearing shall be granted to all claimants requesting a hearing because their claims for medical assistance are denied or are not acted upon with reasonable promptness, or because they believe the Medicaid Agent or NJ FamilyCare-Plan A program has erroneously terminated, reduced or suspended their assistance. The Medicaid Agent or NJ FamilyCare program need not grant a hearing if the sole issue is one of a Federal or State law requiring an automatic termination, reduction or suspension of assistance affecting some or all claimants. Under this requirement:

1. A request for hearing shall be defined as any clear expression (submitted in writing) by claimants (or someone authorized to act on behalf of claimants) to the effect that they desire the opportunity to present their case to higher authority;

2. The freedom to make such a request shall not be limited or interfered with in any way, and the Medicaid Agent or NJ FamilyCare-Plan A program emphasis shall be on helping claimants to submit and process their case if needed;

3. Claimants shall have 20 days from the date of notice of Medicaid Agent or NJ FamilyCare program action in which to request a hearing;

4. The fair hearing shall include consideration of:

i. Any Medicaid Agent or NJ FamilyCare-Plan A program action, or failure to act with reasonable promptness, on a claim for medical assistance, which includes undue delay in reaching a decision on eligibility, suspension of assistance or denial of such assistance in whole or in part;

ii. Medicaid Agent's or NJ FamilyCare-Plan A program's decision regarding:

(1) Eligibility for medical assistance in both initial and subsequent determinations;

(2) Amount of medical assistance or change in such assistance;

5. The Medicaid Agent or DMAHS may respond to a series of individual requests for fair hearings by arranging for a single group hearing. A consolidation of cases by the Medicaid Agent or DMAHS may be allowed only in cases which the sole issue involved is one of Federal or State law or policy;

6. In all group hearings, whether initiated by the Medicaid Agent or DMAHS or by claimants, the policies governing fair hearings shall be followed. Thus, each individual claimant shall be permitted to present his or her own case and be represented in accordance with the provisions of N.J.A.C. 10:49-9.13(a) 3; and

7. The Medicaid Agent or DMAHS shall not deny or dismiss a request for a hearing except where it has been withdrawn by claimant in writing or abandoned.

(c) For purposes of these rules, the right to a hearing is considered abandoned if claimants or their representative fail to appear at a scheduled hearing and, within five days after receipt of an inquiry as to whether they desire any further action on their request, no reply is received. Refusal of acceptance of a registered letter inquiring into contemplated further action by claimants shall constitute abandonment effective the date of refusal.

N.J. Admin. Code § 10:49-10.3

Amended by R.1997 d.354, effective 9/2/1997.
See: 29 N.J.R. 2512(a), 29 N.J.R. 3856(a).
In (a), inserted "Medicaid" preceding "claims payment"; in (a)3, substituted "beneficiary" for "recipient"; in (b), substituted reference to Medicaid Agent for references to agency and department throughout.
Amended by R.1998 d.154, effective 2/27/1998 (operative March 1, 1998; to expire August 31, 1998).
See: 30 N.J.R. 1060(a).
In (a), inserted a reference to NJ KidCare claims; in (b), inserted references to the NJ KidCare program, the NJ KidCare-Plan A program and DMAHS throughout; and substituted a reference to N.J.A.C. 10:49-9.12(a)3 for a reference to N.J.A.C. 10:49-9.9(a)3 in 6.
Adopted concurrent proposal, R.1998 d.487, effective 8/28/1998.
See: 30 N.J.R. 1060(a), 30 N.J.R. 3519(a).
Readopted the provisions of R.1998 d.154 with changes, effective 9/21/1998.
Amended by R.2003 d.81 and d.82, effective 2/18/2003.
See: 34 N.J.R. 2647(a), 2650(a), 35 N.J.R. 1116(a), 1118(a).
Amended by R.2008 d.230, effective 8/4/2008.
See: 40 N.J.R. 984(a), 40 N.J.R. 4531(a).
In the introductory paragraph of (a), inserted ", exclusive of HMO claims processing or HMO-provider contract issues".