(a) Right to a hearing. The following parties are entitled to a hearing:

(1) A contract applicant that has been determined to be unqualified to enter into a contract with CMS under Part C of Title XVIII of the Act in accordance with §§422.501 and 422.502.

(2) An MA organization whose contract has been terminated in accordance with §422.510.

(3) An MA organization whose contract has not been renewed in accordance with §422.506.

(4) An MA organization who has had an intermediate sanction imposed in accordance with §422.752(a) through (b) of this part.

(5) An applicant that has been determined to be unqualified to offer a Specialized MA Plan for Special Needs Individuals.

(b) Burden of proof, standard of proof, and standards of review at a hearing.

(1) During a hearing to review a contract determination as described at §422.641(a) of this subpart, the applicant has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that CMS' determination was inconsistent with the requirements of §§422.501 and 422.502 of this part.

(2) During a hearing to review a contract determination as described at §422.641(b) of this subpart, the MA organization has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that CMS' determination was inconsistent with the requirements of §422.506 of this part.

(3) During a hearing to review a contract determination as described at §422.641(c) of this subpart, the MA organization has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that CMS' determination was inconsistent with the requirements of §422.510 of this part.

(4) During a hearing to review the imposition of an intermediate sanction as described at §422.750, the MA organization has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that CMS' determination was inconsistent with the requirements of §422.752(a) and (b).

(5) During a hearing to review a determination as described at §422.641(d) of this subpart, the applicant has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that CMS' determination was inconsistent with the requirements of §§422.2; 422.4(a)(1)(iv); 422.101(f); 422.107, if applicable; and 422.152(g) of this part.

(c) Timing of favorable decisions. Notice of any decision favorable to the MA organization appealing a determination that it is not qualified to enter into a contract with CMS must be issued by September 1 for the contract in question to be effective on January 1 of the following year.

[75 FR 19813, Apr. 15, 2010, as amended at 77 FR 22168, Apr. 12, 2012; 80 FR 7962, Feb. 12, 2015]