(a) Basic rule: Time limit for rendering Administrator decisions, Board decisions, and action subject to immediate review. The Administrator, at his or her discretion, may immediately review any decision of the Board specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section. Nonfinal decisions or actions by the Board are not immediately reviewable, except as provided in paragraph (a)(3) of this section. The Administrator may exercise this discretionary review authority on his or her own motion, or in response to a request from: a party to the Board appeal; CMS; or, in the case of a matter specified in paragraph (a)(3)(i) or (a)(3)(ii) of this section, another affected nonparty to a Board appeal. All requests for Administrator review and any other submissions to the Administrator under paragraph (c) of this section must be sent to the Office of the Attorney Advisor. The Office of the Attorney Advisor must examine each Board decision specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, and each matter described in §405.1845(h)(3), §405.1853(e)(6)(ii), or §405.1857(d)(2) of this subpart, of which it becomes aware, together with any review requests or any other submission made in accordance with the provisions of this section, in order to assist the Administrator's exercise of this discretionary review authority. The Board is required to send to the Office of the Attorney Advisor a copy of each decision specified in paragraphs (a)(2)(i), (ii), and (iii) of this section upon issuance of the decision.

(1) The date of rendering any decision after the review by the Administrator must be no later than 60 days after the date of receipt by the provider of a reviewable Board decision or action. For purposes of this section, the date of rendering is the date the Administrator signs the decision, and not the date the decision is mailed or otherwise transmitted to the parties.

(2) The Administrator may immediately review:

(i) A Board hearing decision (as described in §405.1871 of this subpart).

(ii) A Board dismissal decision (as described in §§405.1836(e)(1) and (e)(2), 405.1840(c)(2) and (c)(3), 405.1868(d)(1) and (d)(2) of this subpart).

(iii) A Board EJR decision, but only the question of whether there is Board jurisdiction over a specific matter at issue in the decision; the Administrator may not review the Board's determination in a decision of its authority to decide a legal question relevant to the matter at issue (as described in §405.1842(h) of this subpart).

(iv) Any other Board decision or action deemed to be final by the Administrator.

(v) If the Administrator reviews a Board hearing decision regarding a specific item, or for a Board EJR decision the question of whether there is Board jurisdiction over a specific item, the Administrator's review of such a hearing decision or EJR decision, as applicable, will include, and any decision issued by the Administrator (under paragraph (e) of this section) will address, the Board's specific findings of fact and conclusions of law in such hearing decision or EJR decision (as prescribed in §405.1873(b)(1) and (d)) on the question of whether the provider's cost report included an appropriate claim for the specific item under appeal (as prescribed in §413.24(j) of this chapter).

(3) Any decision or action by the Board not specified in paragraph (a)(2)(i) through (a)(2)(iii) of this section, or not deemed to be final by the Administrator under paragraph (a)(2)(iv) of this section, is nonfinal and not subject to Administrator review until the Board issues one of the decisions specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, except the Administrator may review immediately the following matters:

(i) A Board ruling authorizing discovery or disclosure of a matter for which an objection was made based on privilege or other protection from disclosure such as case preparation, confidentiality, or undue burden (as described in §405.1853(e)(6)(ii) of this subpart).

(ii) A Board subpoena compelling disclosure of a matter for which an objection was made based on privilege or other protection from disclosure such as case preparation, confidentiality, or undue burden (as described in §405.1857(d)(2) of this subpart).

(b) Illustrative list of criteria for deciding whether to review. In deciding whether to review a Board decision or other matter specified in paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section, either on his or her own motion or in response to a request for review, the Administrator considers criteria such as whether it appears that—

(1) The Board made an erroneous interpretation of law, regulation, CMS Ruling, or other interpretive rules, general statements of policy, or rules of agency organization, procedure, or practice established by CMS.

(2) A Board hearing decision meets the requirements of §405.1871(a) of this subpart.

(3) The Board erred in refusing to admit certain evidence or in not considering other submitted matter (as described in §§405.1855 and 405.1865(b) of this subpart), or in admitting certain evidence.

(4) The case presents a significant policy issue having a basis in law and regulations, and review is likely to lead to the issuance of a CMS Ruling or other directive needed to clarify a statutory or regulatory provision.

(5) The Board has incorrectly found, assumed, or denied jurisdiction over a specific matter at issue or extended its authority in a manner not provided for by statute, regulation, CMS Ruling, or other interpretive rules, general statements of policy, and rules of agency organization, procedure, or practice established by CMS.

(6) The decision or other action of the Board requires clarification, amplification, or an alternative legal basis.

(7) A remand to the Board may be necessary or appropriate under the criteria prescribed in paragraph (f) of this section.

(c) Procedures—(1) Review requests.

(i)

(A) A party to a Board appeal or CMS may request Administrator review of a Board decision specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section or a matter described in paragraph (a)(3) of this section.

(B) A nonparty other than CMS may request Administrator review solely of a matter described in paragraph (a)(3)(i) or (a)(3)(ii) of this section.

(ii) The date of receipt by the Office of Attorney Advisor of any review request must be no later than 15 days after the date the party making the request received the Board's decision or other reviewable action.

(iii) A request for review (or a response to a request) must be submitted in writing, identify the specific issues for which review is requested, and explain why review is or is not appropriate, under the criteria specified in paragraph (b) of this section or for some other reason.

(iv) A copy of any review request (or response to a request) must be mailed promptly to each party to the appeal, the Office of the Attorney Advisor, and, as applicable, CMS, and any other affected nonparty.

(2) Exception to time for requesting review. If a party, or nonparty, as applicable, seeks immediate review of a matter described in §405.1875(a)(3)(i) or (a)(3)(ii) of this subpart, the request for review must be made as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 5 business days after the day the party or nonparty seeking review received notice of the ruling or subpoena. The request must state the reason(s) why the ruling was in error and the potential harm that may be caused if immediate review is not granted.

(3) Notice of review.

(i) When the Administrator decides to review a Board decision or other matter specified in paragraphs (a)(2) or (a)(3) of this section, respectively, whether on his or her own motion or upon request, the Administrator must send a written notice to the parties, CMS, and any other affected nonparty stating that the Board's decision is under review, and indicating the specific issues that are being considered.

(ii) The Administrator may decline to review a Board decision or other matter, or any issue in a decision or matter, even if a request for review is submitted in accordance with paragraph (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this section.

(4) Written submissions on review. If the Administrator accepts review of the Board's decision or other reviewable action, a party, CMS, or, another affected nonparty that requested review solely of a matter described in paragraph (a)(3)(i) or (a) (3)(ii) of this section, may tender written submissions regarding the review.

(i) The date of receipt by the Office of the Attorney Advisor of any material must be no later than 15 days after the date the party, CMS or other affected nonparty submitting comments received the Administrator's notice under paragraph (c)(3) of this section, taking review of the Board decision or other reviewable matter.

(ii) Any submission must be limited to the issues accepted for Administrator review (as identified in the notice) and be confined to the record of Board proceedings (as described in §405.1865 of this subpart). The submission may include—

(A) Argument and analysis supporting or taking exception to the Board's decision or other reviewable action;

(B) Supporting reasons, including legal citations and excerpts of record evidence, for any argument and analysis submitted under paragraph (c)(4)(ii)(A) of this section;

(C) Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law;

(D) Rebuttal to any written submission filed previously with the Administrator in accordance with paragraph (c)(4) of this section; or

(E) A request, with supporting reasons, that the decision or other reviewable action be remanded to the Board.

(d) Ex parte communications prohibited. The Administrator does not consider any communication that does not meet the following requirements or is not submitted within the required time limits. All communications from any party, CMS, or other affected nonparty, concerning a Board decision (or other reviewable action) that is being reviewed or may be reviewed by the Administrator must—

(1) Be in writing.

(2) Contain a certification that copies were served on all other parties, CMS, and any other affected nonparty, as applicable.

(3) Include, but are not limited to—

(i) Requests for review and responses to requests for review submitted under paragraph (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this section; and

(ii) Written submissions regarding review submitted under paragraph (c)(4) of this section.

(e) Administrator's decision.

(1) Upon completion of any review, the Administrator may render a written decision that—

(i) For purposes of review of a Board decision specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, affirms, reverses, or modifies the Board's decision, or vacates that decision and remands the case to the Board for further proceedings in accordance with paragraph (f)(1)(i) of this section; or

(ii) For purposes of review of a matter described in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, affirms, reverses, modifies, or remands the Board's discovery or disclosure ruling, or subpoena, as applicable, and remands the case to the Board for further proceedings in accordance with paragraph (f)(1)(ii) of this section.

(2) The date of rendering of any decision by the Administrator must be no later than 60 days after the date of receipt by the provider of the Board's decision or other reviewable action. The Administrator must promptly mail a copy of his or her decision to the Board, to each party to the appeal, to CMS, and, if applicable, to any other affected nonparty.

(3) Any decision by the Administrator may rely on—

(i) Applicable provisions of the law, regulations, CMS Rulings, and other interpretive rules, general statements of policy, and rules of agency organization, procedure, or practice established by CMS.

(ii) Prior decisions of the Board, the Administrator, and the courts, and any other law that the Administrator finds applicable, whether or not cited in materials submitted to the Administrator.

(iii) The administrative record for the case (as described in §405.1865 of this subpart).

(iv) Generally known facts that are not subject to reasonable dispute.

(4) A timely decision by the Administrator that affirms, reverses, or modifies one of the Board decisions specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section is final and binding on each party to the Board appeal (as described in §405.1877(a)(4) of this subpart).

(i) If the final Administrator decision follows review of a Board hearing decision, the Administrator's decision is subject to the provisions of §405.1803(d) of this subpart, unless that final decision is the subject of judicial review (as described in §405.1877 of this subpart).

(ii) The Administrator, in accordance with §§405.1885 through 405.1889 of this subpart, may reopen and revise a final Administrator decision.

(iii) A decision by the Administrator remanding a matter to the Board for further proceedings in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section is not a final decision for purposes of judicial review (as described in §405.1877(a)(4) of this subpart) or the provisions of §405.1803(d).

(f) Remand.

(1) A remand to the Board by the Administrator has the effect for purposes of review—

(i) With respect to a Board decision specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, vacating the Board's decision and requiring further proceedings in accordance with the Administrator's decision and this subpart; or

(ii) With respect to a matter described in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, affirming, reversing, modifying, or remanding the Board's remand order, discovery ruling, or subpoena, as applicable, and returning the case to the Board for further proceedings in accordance with the Administrator's decision and this subpart.

(2) The Administrator may direct the Board to take further action for the development of additional facts or new issues, or to consider the applicability of laws or regulations other than those considered by the Board. The following are not acceptable bases for remand:

(i) Presentation of evidence existing at the time of the Board hearing that was known or reasonably may be known.

(ii) Introduction of a favorable court ruling, regardless of whether the ruling was made or was available at the time of the Board hearing or at the time the Board issued its decision.

(iii) Change in a party's representation, regardless when made.

(iv) Presentation of an alternative legal basis concerning an issue in dispute.

(v) Attempted retraction of a waiver of a right, regardless when made.

(3) After remand, the Board must take the actions required in the Administrator's remand order and issue a new decision in accordance with paragraph (f)(1)(i) of this section, or issue under paragraph (f)(1)(ii) of this section an initial decision or a further remand order, discovery ruling, or subpoena ruling, as applicable.

(4) Administrator review of any decision or other action by the Board after remand is, to the extent applicable, subject to the provisions of paragraphs (a)(2) or (a)(3) of this section.

(5) In addition to ordering a remand to the Board, the Administrator may order a remand to any component of HHS or CMS or to a contractor under appropriate circumstances, including, but not limited to, for the purpose of effectuating a court order (as described in §405.1877(g)(2) of this subpart). When the contractor's denial of the relief, that the provider sought before the Board and that is under review by the Administrator, was based on procedural grounds (such as the alleged failure of the provider to satisfy a time limit) or was based on the alleged failure to supply adequate documentation to support the provider's claim, and the Administrator rules that the basis of the contractor's denial is invalid, the Administrator remands to the contractor for the contractor to make a determination on the merits of the provider's claim.

[73 FR 30262, May 23, 2008; 73 FR 49356, 49357, Aug. 21, 2008, as amended at 80 FR 70602, Nov. 13, 2015]