Skip to main content

Military Health System

Utility Navigation Links

Need larger text?
TRICARE Operations Manual 6010.62-M, April 2021
Appeals And Hearings
Chapter 12
Section 4
Appeals Of Medical Necessity Determinations
Revision:  
1.0  MEDICAL NECESSITY
1.1  Medical necessity is considered a collective term for determinations based on medical necessity, appropriate level of care, custodial care (as these terms are defined in 32 CFR 199.2), or other reason relative solely to reasonableness, necessity or appropriateness. Determinations relating to mental health benefits under 32 CFR 199.4 are considered medical necessity determinations. For pharmacy claims, a determination regarding pharmaceuticals prescribed outside the guidelines issued by the Department of Defense Pharmacy and Therapeutics (DoD P&T) Committee is not considered a medical necessity determination, even when the determination is based on medical review.
1.2  The contractor shall process factual determinations in accordance with Section 5.
1.3  The contractor may perform medical necessity determinations when a pharmaceutical has been denied under the Pharmacy Benefits Program. Examples of medical necessity determinations include, but are not limited to:
•  Whether medical necessity substantiates providing a beneficiary a non-formulary pharmaceutical or supply at the formulary copay;
•  Where prior authorization is required for a designated pharmaceutical, whether supporting documentation supports authorization of the pharmaceutical; and
•  Where the pharmaceutical is dispensed in accordance with the formulary, but retrospectively found to be not medically necessary for a specific diagnosis.
2.0  INITIAL DETERMINATION
A determination issued (following review by a second level reviewer) that concludes that the health care services furnished or proposed to be furnished to a patient are not medically necessary is an initial denial determination and is appealable under this section.
2.1  Opportunity for Discussion of Proposed Denial Determination in Preadmission, Preprocedure, and Concurrent Review Cases
2.1.1  The contractor shall provide an opportunity to discuss a proposed initial denial determination in preadmission, preprocedure, and concurrent review cases.
2.1.2  The contractor shall:
2.2  Notice of Initial Denial Determination
•  Promptly notify the provider or supplier and the patient’s attending physician (or other attending health care practitioner) of the proposed determination.
•  Afford an opportunity for the provider or supplier and the physician (or other attending health care practitioner) to discuss the matter with the contractor physician advisor and to explain the nature of the patient’s need for health care services, including all factors which preclude treatment of the patient as an outpatient or in an alternative level of inpatient care.
•  Record each successful and unsuccessful contact with a provider, which record must include the date and time, person contacted, context of conversation, and contractor personnel who participated in the contact.
2.2.1  The contractor’s notice of the initial determination shall, where applicable, address waiver of liability for services found to be not medically necessary and include notice of appropriate appeal rights (refer to Section 1 for the content of the notice of initial determination).
2.2.2  The contractor shall include in the provider’s notification if the provider was verbally notified of the initial determination prior to issuance of the written initial determination. The provider’s notification shall include the time and date of the verbal notification.
2.2.3  The contractor shall also provide written Notice of an Initial Determination to:
•  The patient, unless the patient is represented by a guardian or other representative. If the patient is represented by a guardian or other representative, then the notice will be addressed and provided to the guardian or representative.
•  The attending non-network participating physician, or other non-network participating health care provider.
•  The facility, if one is involved.
2.3  Timing of the Notice
2.3.1  The contractor shall ensure written notices of initial and appeal determinations are delivered in accordance with the TRICARE processing standards described in Chapter 1, Section 3. Reference paragraph 2.2 regarding beneficiaries represented by guardians or other representatives.
2.3.2  The contractor shall ensure that the written notice is delivered to the beneficiary’s representative or, in the case of a minor beneficiary, to the parent or guardian of the minor beneficiary unless the claim was filed by the minor beneficiary.
2.3.3  The contractor shall ensure that the notice is delivered to the beneficiary in the facility if the beneficiary is an inpatient, and is not a minor or represented.
2.4  Preadmission and Preprocedure Review
2.4.1  The contractor shall document the date that the patient (or representative) and the facility received notice of the initial denial determination.
2.4.2  The contractor shall document, if notice to the provider was verbal, the date and time of the verbal notice, the method by which verbal notice was given (e.g., telephone), and to whom and by whom the verbal notice was given, must be documented.
2.5  Effect of the Initial Denial Determination
The initial determination is final and binding unless the initial determination is reopened by the contractor or revised upon appeal.
3.0  CONTRACTOR RECONSIDERATIONS
3.1  The contractor shall develop a written plan for and implement a formal appeals process that incorporates the requirements for reconsiderations of initial denial determinations. For reporting requirements, see DD Form 1423, Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL), located in Section J of the applicable contract.
3.2  The contractor shall include in the initial denial determination the opportunity for reconsideration regarding the medical necessity, reasonableness or appropriateness of admission, continued stay, outlier days, and services rendered.
3.3  Right to Contractor Reconsideration
The contractor shall establish procedures to ensure a beneficiary (or representative) and non-network participating provider are notified in the initial denial notice of their right to a reconsideration of a contractor’s initial denial determination (refer to Section 1).
3.3.1  Non-network providers and beneficiaries (or representative) may request a reconsideration if there is an amount in dispute, regardless of the dollar amount in controversy.
3.3.2  The following issues are subject to reconsideration if either the beneficiary or provider is dissatisfied with an initial denial determination:
•  Reasonableness, medical necessity and appropriateness of the services furnished or proposed to be furnished.
•  Appropriateness of the setting in which the services were or are proposed to be furnished.
•  Whether the party is financially liable. The beneficiary who has been found liable may obtain a reconsideration of that determination. A provider may obtain a reconsideration of the determination whether the beneficiary is or is not liable.
3.3.3  The contractor shall make a determination of the limitation of liability issue at the same time the beneficiary or provider requests a reconsideration of the issues in the above paragraphs.
3.4  Request for Contractor Reconsideration
The contractor shall allow a beneficiary (or representative) or non-network participating provider to submit a written request for reconsideration to the contractor. The following limitations apply:
•  Only a beneficiary (or appointed representative) may submit a written request for an expedited reconsideration of preadmission or preprocedure.
•  When continued certification is denied during concurrent review, and the beneficiary is still in the facility, only the beneficiary (or appointed representative) may request a reconsideration.
•  A beneficiary or a non-network participating provider may request a non-expedited reconsideration.
3.5  Time Frames for Reconsideration Requests
The contractor shall reconsider an initial denial determination if a written request is made by an appropriate appealing party within the following time frames:
3.5.1  Concurrent Review Denial
3.5.1.1  In order to file a request for reconsideration of a concurrent review denial determination, the beneficiary must be a patient in the facility on the date of appeal filing.
3.5.1.2  The beneficiary is encouraged to file no later than noon of the day following the day of receipt of the initial denial determination.
3.5.1.3  The date of receipt of the initial determination by the beneficiary shall be considered to be five calendar days after the date of the initial determination, unless the receipt date is documented.
3.5.1.4  A request for reconsideration received after the reconsideration filing deadline for concurrent review, but which is postmarked or received within 90 calendar days from the date of the initial determination, shall be accepted.
3.5.1.5  The contractor shall forward the concurrent review request to the TRICARE Quality Monitoring Contract (TQMC) contractor for a reconsideration determination on the date the contractor receives the request (refer to paragraph 3.8.2) An initial determination that denies services already provided is not considered a concurrent review denial, but is a retrospective review denial.
3.5.2  Preadmission or Preprocedure Denial
3.5.2.1  A request for an expedited reconsideration of a preadmission or preprocedure denial must be filed by the beneficiary within three calendar days after the date of the receipt of the initial denial determination.
3.5.2.2  The date of receipt of the request for reconsideration shall be considered to be five calendar days after the date of the initial denial determination, unless the receipt date is documented.
3.5.2.3  Appeals filed after the expedited appeal filing deadline will be treated as non-expedited appeals.
3.5.2.4  The contractor shall, in situations where the preadmission or pre-procedure appeal is treated as non-expedited, obtain current status as to the patient’s medical condition prior to issuing the reconsideration determination, as the beneficiary’s condition may be ever changing.
3.5.2.5  The contractor shall obtain the medical records and treat the appeal as non-expedited if during the processing of an appeal of a preadmission or pre-procedure denial, the beneficiary received the denied service or supply.
3.6  Non-Expedited Denial
All other requests for reconsideration must be filed within 90 calendar days after the date of the initial denial determination. The request shall be considered to be filed as of the date the request is postmarked, or, if the request does not have a postmark, or if the postmark is illegible, it shall be considered filed on the date it is received by the contractor.
3.7  Contractor Requirement to Provide Information to Appealing Parties
The contractor shall provide all appealing parties an opportunity to examine and obtain documents and information upon which the initial denial determination is made (refer to Section 3 regarding contractor information that shall be included in the appeal file provided to Defense Health Agency (DHA)) An exception is when the TQMC contractor is conducting a concurrent review.
3.8  Contractor Reconsideration Proceedings
3.8.1  Initial Denial Determinations (Other Than Reconsiderations of Concurrent Review)
The contractor shall follow the reconsideration procedures below:
•  Provide advance notice of the date that the reconsideration determination will be issued to allow sufficient time for the preparation and submission of additional information.
•  Reschedule the reconsideration if a party submits a written request presenting a reasonable justification for rescheduling.
•  A reconsideration determination shall be based on the information that led to the initial determination, all information found in the medical record, and additional information submitted by the beneficiary or provider. If the beneficiary or provider fails to submit requested additional documentation, the reconsideration determination will be based on the available documentation.
•  The beneficiary or provider must present the additional information in writing.
•  Parties shall be informed that they will receive written notification of the reconsideration determination after the contractor has reviewed the case.
3.8.2  Reconsiderations of Concurrent Review Initial Denial Determination
3.8.2.1  The contractor shall, when the beneficiary remains an inpatient and files a timely request for a reconsideration:
•  Notify the TQMC contractor immediately by telephone, facsimile, or email on the date of filing.
•  Send the complete medical record and all supporting documentation regarding the initial denial determination and any other documents provided by the beneficiary or provider to the TQMC contractor by secure electronic submission, or overnight mail (received next calendar day),. Facsimiles may be utilized in the event the documentation is not more than 10 pages in volume.
3.8.2.2  The TQMC contractor shall review the request for reconsideration and notify the contractor and all parties of its decision regarding the request (refer to paragraph 4.3.1).
3.8.3  Timing of Contractor Determinations
The contractor shall complete reconsideration determinations and send written notices to the parties involved in accordance with the time frames set forth in Chapter 1, Section 3.
3.8.4  Notice of Contractor Determination
3.8.4.1  The contractor shall issue a written notice of the reconsideration determination. Refer to Section 3 for the required time frame and content of the notice to the appealing party of the results of the reconsideration determination.
3.8.4.2  Time frames for filing a request for a reconsideration by the TQMC contractor are addressed in Section 3.
4.0  RECONSIDERATIONS BY THE TQMC CONTRACTOR
4.1  The TQMC contractor shall review requests from beneficiaries or providers for an appeal of a reconsideration when a contractor upholds an initial denial determination on reconsideration.
4.2  The TQMC contractor shall issue reconsideration determinations in concurrent review cases. The time frames for reconsideration requests set forth in paragraphs 3.5.2 and 3.6 also apply to reconsideration requests filed with the TQMC contractor.
4.3  Timing of TQMC Contractor Reconsideration Determinations
4.3.1  Reconsideration of Concurrent Review Initial Denial Determinations
4.3.1.1  The TQMC contractor shall complete a reconsideration determination for a concurrent review initial denial determination within two business days and shall notify all parties and the contractor of the reconsideration determination within three business days after the receipt of the reconsideration request from the contractor.
4.3.1.2  The Managed Care Support Contractor (MCSC) shall provide all required documentation to the TQMC contractor by facsimile, overnight mail, or email, on the day of the receipt of the reconsideration request.
4.3.1.3  The TQMC contractor shall return the case file to the MCSC with a letter by overnight mail or email advising the contractor as a result of the beneficiary discharge, a non-expedited, retrospective reconsideration by the contractor is appropriate if the beneficiary is discharged while the concurrent review is being performed by the TQMC contractor.
4.3.1.4  The TQMC contractor shall notify the appealing party, in plain writing, of the action taken.
4.3.1.5  The MCSC shall accept the case as a non-expedited reconsideration with the reconsideration receipt date being the date of receipt of the case file from the TQMC contractor.
4.3.2  Reconsideration of a Preadmission or Preprocedure Reconsideration Denial Determinations
4.3.2.1  The TQMC contractor shall complete its review and notify all parties and the contractor of the results of the review within three business days of receipt of a request from a beneficiary for an expedited reconsideration.
4.3.2.2  The TQMC contractor shall request from the contractor all documentation, including the medical record, regarding the initial denial and reconsideration determination.
4.3.2.3  The contractor shall provide all requested documentation to the TQMC contractor by secure electronic submission, overnight mail, or facsimile.
4.3.2.4  The TQMC contractor shall obtain the medical record and treat the appeal as non-expedited if, during the processing of an appeal of a preadmission or pre-procedure denial, the beneficiary receives the denied services or supplies.
4.4  Non-Expedited Reconsiderations
4.4.1  The TQMC contractor shall complete reviews for all other requests for appeals of reconsideration denial determinations made by the contractor and notify all parties within 30 calendar days after the date of receipt of the reconsideration request.
4.4.2  The TQMC contractor shall request from the contractor all documentation, including the medical record, regarding the initial denial and reconsideration determination within one business day of receipt of the request for reconsideration.
4.4.3  The contractor shall provide all requested documentation within five business days.
4.5  Notice Format
The TQMC contractor shall issue a written notice of the reconsideration determination using the suggested format and content set forth in Section 3 as guidance.
4.6  Record
Refer to Section 3 for the record of the reconsideration to be maintained by the TQMC contractor.
5.0  WAIVER OF LIABILITY POLICY
5.1  The contractor shall establish procedures that ensure the beneficiary and the provider are protected in instances where they did not know or could not reasonably have been expected to know that health care services rendered would not be covered as a result of denial determinations made by the contractor and the TQMC contractor. For information relating to Waiver of Liability, refer to the TRICARE Policy Manual (TPM), Chapter 1, Section 4.1.
5.2  For pharmacy claims, waiver of liability applies only to pharmaceuticals which are prescribed within the DoD P&T Committee guidelines and found retrospectively not medically necessary.
- END -
You are leaving Health.mil The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Defense Health Agency of non-U.S. Government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the Defense Health Agency may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for Department of Defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website. You are leaving Health.mil View the external links disclaimer.
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery