Part II. Appeal of Adverse Actions
12VAC30-141-40. Appeal of adverse actions or adverse benefit determinations.
A. Upon written request, all FAMIS applicants and enrollees shall have the right to a state fair hearing of an adverse action made by the local department of social services, CPU, or DMAS and to an internal appeal of an adverse benefit determination made by an MCO.
B. During the appeal of a suspension or termination of enrollment or a reduction, suspension, or termination of services, the enrollee shall have the right to continuation of coverage if the enrollee requests an internal appeal with the MCO or an appeal to DMAS prior to the effective date of the suspension or termination of enrollment or suspension, reduction, or termination of services.
C. An appeal of an adverse action made by the local department of social services, CPU, or DMAS shall be heard and decided by an agent of DMAS who has not been directly involved in the adverse action under appeal.
D. An internal appeal of an adverse benefit determination made by the MCO must be conducted by a person or agent of the MCO who has not been directly involved in the adverse benefit determination under appeal.
E. Pursuant to 42 CFR 438.402(c)(1)(B), after exhausting the MCO's internal appeals process, there shall be opportunity for the enrollee to request an external medical review by an independent external quality review organization. "External quality review organization" means the independent contractor assigned by DMAS to handle quality reviews and to conduct final review of MCHIP adverse actions for FAMIS. The review is optional and shall not be required before proceeding to a state fair hearing. The review shall not extend any of the timeframes for issuing a decision and shall not disrupt any continuation of coverage granted to the enrollee.
F. There will be no opportunity for appeal of an adverse action to the extent that such adverse action is based on a determination by the director that funding for FAMIS has been terminated or exhausted. There will be no opportunity for appeal if the sole basis for the decision is a provision in the State Plan or in a state or federal law requiring an automatic change in eligibility or enrollment or is a change in coverage under the health benefits package that affects all applicants or enrollees or a group of applicants or enrollees without regard to their individual circumstances.
G. The burden of proof shall be assigned to the party who is attempting to make a change per 12VAC30-110-220 C.
H. At no time shall the failure of the local department of social services, MCO, CPU, or DMAS to meet the timeframes set in this chapter or set in the MCO or DMAS written appeal procedures constitute a basis for granting the applicant or enrollee the relief sought.
I. Adverse actions related to health benefits covered through the FAMIS Select program shall be resolved between the insurance company or employer's plan and the FAMIS Select enrollee and are not subject to further appeal by DMAS or its contractors.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia; 42 USC § 1396 et seq.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2003; amended, Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 26, eff. October 4, 2006; Volume 35, Issue 20, eff. June 26, 2019; Volume 40, Issue 22, eff. August 1, 2024.
12VAC30-141-50. Notice of adverse action or adverse benefit determination.
A. The local department of social services, CPU, or DMAS shall send written notification to enrollees at least 10 calendar days prior to suspension or termination of enrollment.
B. DMAS or the MCO shall send written notification to enrollees at least 10 calendar days prior to reduction, suspension, or termination of a previously authorized health service.
C. The local department of social services, CPU, DMAS, or the MCO shall send written notification to applicants and enrollees of all other adverse actions within 10 calendar days of the adverse action.
D. Notice shall include:
1. The determination the LDSS, CPU, DMAS, or MCO has made or intends to make;
2. The reasons for the determination, including the right of the enrollee to be provided, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to and copies of all documents, records, and other information relevant to the determination;
3. An explanation of applicable rights to request an appeal of that determination. For adverse benefit determinations by an MCO, this shall include information on the MCO's internal appeal process and, after the internal appeal process is exhausted, a state fair hearing pursuant to 42 CFR 402(b) and 42 CFR 402(c);
4. The procedure for exercising these appeal rights;
5. The circumstances under which an appeal process can be expedited and how to request it; and
6. The circumstances under which enrollment or services may continue pending appeal, how to request benefits be continued, and the circumstances, consistent with state policy, under which the enrollee may be required to pay the costs of these services.
Statutory Authority
§32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia; 42 USC § 1396 et seq.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2003; amended, Virginia Register Volume 35, Issue 20, eff. June 26, 2019.
12VAC30-141-60. Request for appeal.
A. Requests for internal appeal of MCO adverse benefit determinations shall be submitted orally or in writing to the MCO. Unless the enrollee requests an expedited appeal, an oral appeal request must be followed by a written appeal request. The enrollee must exhaust the MCO's internal appeals process before appealing to DMAS.
B. If the MCO fails to adhere to the notice or timing requirements set forth in this part, the enrollee is deemed to have exhausted the MCO's internal appeals process and may initiate a state fair hearing.
C. Requests for appeal of adverse actions made by the local department of social services, CPU, or DMAS or of internal appeal decisions by the MCO shall be submitted to DMAS.
D. Any communication expressing a desire to have an adverse benefit determination by an MCO reviewed shall be treated as a request for an internal appeal. Any communication expressing a desire to have an adverse action by the LDSS, CPU, or DMAS reviewed shall be treated as a request for a state fair hearing. Any communication expressing a desire to have an MCO's internal appeal decision reviewed shall be treated as a request for a state fair hearing.
E. To be timely, requests for internal appeal of an MCO's adverse benefit determination shall be received by the MCO no later than 60 calendar days from the date of the MCO's notice of adverse benefit determination.
F. To be timely, a request for an appeal of an adverse benefit determination upheld in whole or in part by the MCO's internal appeal decision shall be received by DMAS within 120 calendar days from the date of the internal appeal decision.
G. To be timely, requests for appeal of a local department of social services, DMAS, or CPU adverse action shall be filed with DMAS no later than 30 calendar days from the date of the notice of adverse action. Requests for appeal of an agency determination shall be considered filed with DMAS on the date the request is postmarked if mailed, or on the date the request is received if delivered other than by mail, by DMAS.
Statutory Authority
§32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia; 42 USC § 1396 et seq.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2003; amended, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 14, eff. April 15, 2009; Volume 35, Issue 20, eff. June 26, 2019.
12VAC30-141-70. Appeal procedures.
A. At a minimum, the MCO internal appeal shall be conducted pursuant to written procedures as defined in § 32.1-137.6 of the Code of Virginia and 42 CFR 438.400 et seq. Such procedures shall be subject to review and approval by DMAS.
B. Any adverse benefit determination upheld in whole or in part by the internal appeal decision issued by the MCO may be appealed by the enrollee to DMAS in accordance with the DMAS client appeals regulations at 12VAC30-110-10 through 12VAC30-110-370. DMAS shall conduct an evidentiary hearing in accordance with the 12VAC30-110-10 through 12VAC30-110-370 and shall not base any appealed decision on the record established by any internal appeal decision of the MCO. The MCO shall comply with the DMAS appeal decision. The DMAS decision in these matters shall be final and shall not be subject to appeal by the MCO.
C. Appeals of adverse actions by the LDSS, CPU, or DMAS shall be conducted pursuant to 12VAC30-110.
D. Copies of the procedures shall be promptly provided by the MCO or DMAS to applicants and enrollees upon receipt of timely requests for internal appeals or state fair hearings. Such written procedures shall include the following:
1. The right to representation by an attorney or other agent of the applicant's or enrollee's choice, but at no time shall the MCO, local department of social services, DSS, or DMAS be required to obtain or compensate attorneys or other agents acting on behalf of applicants or enrollees;
2. The right to timely review of files and other applicable information relevant to the internal appeal or state fair hearing decision;
3. The right to fully participate in the internal appeal or state fair hearing process, whether the internal appeal or state fair hearing is conducted in person or in writing, including the presentation of supplemental information during the internal appeal or state fair hearing process;
4. The right to have personal and medical information and records maintained as confidential;
5. The right to a written final decision:
a. For internal appeals to the MCO, within 30 calendar days of receipt of the request for an internal appeal; or
b. For state fair hearings, within the time limitations for appeals imposed by federal regulations and as permitted in 12VAC30-110-30;
6. For eligibility and enrollment matters, if the applicant's or enrollee's physician or health plan determines that the 90-calendar-day timeframe could seriously jeopardize the applicant's or enrollee's life or health or ability to attain, maintain, or regain maximum function, an applicant or enrollee will have the opportunity to request an expedited appeal. Under these conditions, a request for an expedited appeal shall result in a written final decision within 72 hours after DMAS receives the expedited appeal request from the physician or health plan with the case record and information indicating that taking the time for a standard resolution of the appeal request could seriously jeopardize the applicant's or enrollee's life or health or ability to attain, maintain, or regain maximum function, unless the applicant or enrollee requests an extension;
7. For health services matters for FAMIS enrollees receiving services through an MCO:
a. If the enrollee's physician or health plan determines that the 30-calendar-day timeframe for a standard internal appeal could seriously jeopardize the enrollee's life or health or ability to attain, maintain, or regain maximum function, an enrollee will have the opportunity to request an expedited internal appeal. Under these conditions, a request for an internal appeal shall result in a written decision by the MCO within 72 hours from the time the expedited internal appeal is requested, unless the applicant, enrollee, or authorized representative requests a delay. If a delay is requested by the applicant, enrollee, or authorized representative, then the expedited internal appeal may be extended up to 14 calendar days.
b. If the adverse benefit determination is upheld in whole or in part by the expedited internal appeal decision issued by the MCO, and if the enrollee's physician or health plan determines that the timeframe for a standard appeal to DMAS could seriously jeopardize the enrollee's life or health or ability to attain, maintain, or regain maximum function, and enrollee will have the opportunity to request an expedited appeal to DMAS. Under these conditions, a request for a state fair hearing shall result in a written decision within 72 hours from the time an enrollee requests the expedited appeal, unless the applicant, enrollee, or authorized representative requests a delay. If a delay is requested by the applicant, enrollee, or authorized representative, then the expedited appeal may be extended up to 14 calendar days; and
8. For health services matters for FAMIS enrollees receiving services through fee-for-service, if the enrollee's physician or health plan determines that the 90-calendar-day timeframe for a standard appeal could seriously jeopardize the enrollee's life, health, or ability to attain, maintain, or regain maximum function, an enrollee will have the opportunity to request an expedited review. Under these conditions, a request for an expedited appeal shall result in a written decision within 72 hours from the time the expedited appeal is requested, unless the applicant, enrollee, or authorized representative requests a delay. If a delay is requested by the applicant, enrollee, or authorized representative, then expedited appeal may be extended up to 14 calendar days.
Statutory Authority
§ 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia; 42 USC § 1396 et seq.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2003; amended, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 12, eff. March 28, 2014; Volume 35, Issue 20, eff. June 26, 2019.
12VAC30-141-80. [Reserved].
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 21, eff. August 1, 2003.