(a) Right to appeal. If the individual or legally authorized
representative (LAR) has provided complete financial information and
the individual or LAR disagrees with any fees assessed by the Texas
Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), then the individual or
LAR is entitled to appeal such fees.
(b) Obtaining forms to initiate an appeal. To appeal
a fee, the individual or LAR must notify the reimbursement office
at the facility providing support, maintenance, and treatment to the
individual of their intent to appeal the fee. Upon such notification,
the reimbursement office shall ensure the individual or LAR has provided
complete financial information before sending the individual or LAR
a copy of this chapter and a Request for Appeal form. Upon determination
that complete financial information has been provided to the reimbursement
office, the reimbursement office must provide the form to the individual
or LAR within five business days. Additionally, forms can be obtained
at, www.hhs.texas.gov/services/mental-health-substance-use/state-hospitals
and www.hhs.texas.gov/services/disability/intellectual-or-developmental-disabilities/state-supported-living-centers-sslcs.
(c) Initiating the appeal.
(1) The individual or LAR initiates an appeal by completing,
signing, and sending the Request for Appeal form, referenced in subsection
(b) of this section or §910.9(a)(4) of this chapter (relating
to Filing Notice of Lien), to: OCC_Appeals_ContestedCases@hhs.texas.gov
or HHSC Appeals Division, P.O. Box 149030, Mail Code W-613, Austin,
Texas 78714-9030.
(2) An appeal may be initiated before the 45th business
day after notification of charges.
(d) Representation.
(1) The appellant may represent their self or use legal
counsel, a relative, a friend, or other spokesperson.
(2) HHSC is represented by an HHSC attorney.
(e) Type of hearing. The appellant may choose to:
(1) appear by telephone conference, or by virtual platform,
or have their representative appear by telephone conference or by
virtual platform at the hearing; or
(2) have a document desk review hearing in which the
administrative law judge (ALJ) makes a decision based solely upon
documentation filed by the parties with neither party appearing.
(f) Scheduling the hearing. The ALJ shall schedule
the hearing to be held not later than the 120th business day after
the date the Request for Appeal form is received by the Appeals Division.
The ALJ shall consider any request for reasonable accommodations related
to a disability of the appellant or the appellant's representative.
(1) If the appellant chooses to appear by telephone
conference, the ALJ shall schedule a date, time, and phone number
for the hearing. At least 20 calendar days before the hearing, the
ALJ shall notify the parties, in accordance with subsection (g) of
this section, of the scheduled date, time, and phone number of the
hearing.
(2) If the appellant chooses to have a document desk
review, at least 20 calendar days before the document hearing, the
ALJ shall notify the parties, in accordance with subsection (g) of
this section, of the date that all documentation must be filed with
the Appeals Division and copies submitted to the other party or the
other party's representative.
(g) Notification of parties.
(1) The appellant is notified by electronic and certified
mail.
(2) The designated HHSC attorney is notified by intra-agency
mail, fax, or electronic mail.
(h) Ex parte communication. Except for communications
regarding procedural matters, the ALJ may not communicate with a party,
directly or indirectly, on any issue of fact or law, unless both parties
are present, or the communication is in writing and a copy is delivered
to both parties.
(i) Privileged communication. No party is required
to disclose communications between an attorney and the attorney's
clients, accountant and the accountant's client, a husband and wife,
a clergy-person and a person seeking spiritual advice, or the name
of an informant, or other information protected from being divulged
by substantive federal or state law.
(j) Withdrawing. The appellant may withdraw the appeal
or HHSC may withdraw the fees being appealed at any time prior to
the hearing. Upon withdrawal of either party, no hearing is held.
The ALJ will issue an order of dismissal and notify the parties of
such dismissal in accordance with subsection (g) of this section.
(k) Settlement. At any time before the hearing, parties
may enter into a settlement disposing of the contested issues. A settlement
agreement must be in writing, signed by the parties or their representatives,
and filed with the Appeals Division. Upon receipt of the settlement
agreement, the ALJ will issue an order of dismissal and notify the
parties of such dismissal in accordance with subsection (g) of this
section.
(l) Filing documents.
(1) Hearing at which the parties will appear by telephone.
(A) If a party intends to introduce documents at the
hearing, the party shall send such documents to the Appeals Division
and submit a copy of the documents to the other party or the other
party's representative at least 10 business days before the hearing.
Failure to submit copies of documents to the other party will result
in a continuance if requested by the party who did not receive the
documents.
(B) At the hearing, the ALJ may request either or both
parties to file additional documents for consideration in making a
decision. The ALJ shall indicate in writing the date by which the
additional documents must be received by the Appeals Division.
(2) Document hearing. If a party intends for the ALJ
to consider their documents at a document hearing, then the party
shall send such documents to the Appeals Division and submit a copy
of the documents to the other party or the other party's representative
by the date identified by the ALJ as described in subsection (f)(2)
of this section. Failure to submit copies of documents to the other
party will result in a continuance if requested by the party who did
not receive the documents.
(m) Continuance. The ALJ may grant continuances on
the request of either party provided the party shows good cause for
requesting the continuance. A request for a continuance may be written
or oral and may be made before or during a hearing. If a hearing is
continued, the ALJ shall schedule the hearing to be continued on a
day that is not later than the 45th day after the hearing was originally
scheduled. The ALJ must notify the parties, in accordance with subsection
(g) of this section, of the continued hearing date within five business
days of granting a continuance.
(n) Telephone conference.
(1) Telephone conference equipment used for a hearing
must be capable of allowing the parties and the ALJ to hear and speak
to each other at all times during the hearing.
(2) If a party elected to appear by telephone, on the
date and time of the hearing, the ALJ shall initiate telephone contact
with the party using the telephone number provided by the party.
(o) Failure to appear. If the appellant fails to appear
at the hearing, the ALJ shall adjourn the hearing. If the appellant
notifies the ALJ within three business days after the hearing date
and provides evidence of good cause for failing to appear and requests
a continuance, the ALJ may grant a continuance. If the ALJ has not
been notified by the fourth business day after the hearing date, the
ALJ shall close the record and consider all the documents previously
filed by both parties and prepare a decision based on such previously
filed documents.
(p) Evidence.
(1) Documents. Documents provided as evidence for the
hearing do not need authentication.
(2) Testimony. Material and relevant testimony is admissible.
(q) Procedural rights. Each party has the right to:
(1) establish all pertinent facts and circumstances;
(2) present an argument without undue interference;
(3) question or refute any evidence; and
(4) have an audio recording of the hearing proceedings.
The ALJ will provide a recording on request.
(r) Audio recording of hearing proceedings. If the
hearing is not a document desk review, the ALJ shall make an audio
recording of the hearing proceedings. The appellant may request and
receive a copy of the audio recording at minimal charge.
(s) Record. The record of the hearing closes when the
hearing is adjourned or at the end of the business day on the date
that all documents are required to be submitted. The record consists
of:
(1) all documents submitted to the Appeals Division,
together with the ruling on admissibility made by the ALJ; and
Cont'd... |