(a) Method and place for filing a request. A party to an organization determination or, upon providing notice to the enrollee, a physician who is treating an enrollee and acting on the enrollee's behalf, must ask for a reconsideration of the determination by making a written request to the MA organization that made the organization determination. The MA organization may adopt a policy for accepting oral requests.

(b) Timeframe for filing a request. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, a request for reconsideration must be filed within 60 calendar days from the date of the notice of the organization determination.

(c) Extending the time for filing a request.

(1) General rule. If a party or physician acting on behalf of an enrollee shows good cause, the MA organization may extend the timeframe for filing a request for reconsideration.

(2) How to request an extension of timeframe. If the 60-day period in which to file a request for reconsideration has expired, a party to the organization determination or a physician acting on behalf of an enrollee may file a request for reconsideration with the MA organization. The request for reconsideration and to extend the timeframe must—

(i) Be in writing; and

(ii) State why the request for reconsideration was not filed on time.

(d) Parties to the reconsideration. The parties to the reconsideration are the parties to the organization determination, as described in §422.574, and any other provider or entity (other than the MA organization) whose rights with respect to the organization determination may be affected by the reconsideration, as determined by the entity that conducts the reconsideration.

(e) Withdrawing a request. The party or physician acting on behalf of an enrollee who files a request for reconsideration may withdraw it by filing a written request for withdrawal at one of the places listed in paragraph (a) of this section.

[74 FR 1542, Jan. 12, 2009]