Wachler & Associates Health Law BlogA Primer on Medicare Claims Appeals
Appealing Medicare claim denials and overpayments is a common yet often misunderstood part of providing care to Medicare beneficiaries. Any healthcare provider should be familiar with the appeals process and some common issues that may arise. Although Medicare audits were temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they have since resumed.
When a Medicare contractor denies a claim, whether as part of a pre-pay, post-pay, or other type of review or audit, the provider generally has a right to a lengthy appeal process. The process often begins before the denial of the claim itself. The provider may receive Additional Document Requests (ADRs) from the contractor demanding information or documentation on a claim or claims. These requests should be reviewed carefully, however they often contain boilerplate language and it may be difficult to determine which specific documentation the contractor is requesting.
Once a claim has been denied, the first level of appeal is Redetermination before the same contractor that made the initial denial. A provider must request Redetermination within 120 days of the claim denial, or the appeal may be forfeit. A shorter deadline applies to stop recoupment on overpayment demands stemming from the denials. The second level of appeal is Reconsideration before a Qualified Independent Contractor (QIC). The QIC is separate from the contractor that initially denied the claims. A provider often has the opportunity to submit additional documentation at Redetermination and Reconsideration. A provider may also retain an expert to review the contractor’s assertion or submit write-ups on the individual claims.
The third level of appeal is the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). ALJs are employees of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and may conduct a hearing on the appeal, at which witnesses and experts for the provider may testify. The contractor may appear and testify at the hearing as well. Providers may find it difficult to submit new information to the ALJ, as they must demonstrate good cause why it was not submitted at the earlier levels of appeal. The fourth level of appeal is review by the Medicare Appeals Council, also within HHS. The fifth and final level of appeal is review by a judge in a federal court.
Although providers are not required to retain an attorney to appeal their claims, the appeals process for Medicare can be extremely confusing and burdensome—there are also numerous legal and procedural arguments that can be argued by an experienced healthcare attorney.
For over 35 years, Wachler & Associates has represented healthcare providers and suppliers nationwide in a variety of health law matters, and our attorneys can assist providers and suppliers in understanding and appealing audits and claim denials. If you or your healthcare entity has any questions pertaining to healthcare compliance, please contact an experienced healthcare attorney at 248-544-0888 or wapc@wachler.com.