Medicare Program; Telephone Requests for Review of Part B Initial Claim Determinations

Currently, our regulations allow beneficiaries, providers, and suppliers (defined as physicians or other practitioners, or entities other than a provider), who are entitled to appeal Medicare Part B initial claim determinations, to request a review of the carrier's initial determination in writing. This final rule allows those review requests to be made by telephone and allows the carrier to conduct the review by telephone, if possible. The use of telephone requests supplements, and does not replace, the current written procedures for initiating appeals. This telephone option also improves carrier relationships with the beneficiary, provider, and supplier communities by providing quick and easy access to the appeals process. Carriers will make accommodations to enable a hearing impaired individual access to the telephone review process.