The Department of Health and Human Services through Sept. 24 has reduced by 52.8% its backlog of Medicare appeals at the Administrative Law Judge level, according to a status report the agency provided today to a federal court.

“By the end of the third quarter of 2020, a total of 201,292 appeals remain pending at [the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals], which is a 52.8% reduction from the starting number of appeals identified in the Court’s order (426,594 appeals),” HHS told the court.

The reduction, which puts the agency ahead of schedule for reducing the backlog, responds to a 2018 federal court ruling in favor of the AHA and its member hospital plaintiffs that established annual deadline-based targets for reducing the backlog of Medicare appeals at the ALJ level. It appears that most resolutions are coming from increased OMHA adjudications.
 

Related News Articles

Headline
The AHA April 30 released a report highlighting how hospitals and health systems continue to experience significant financial headwinds that can challenge…
Headline
The Supreme Court April 29 ruled 7-2 in favor of the Department of Health and Human Services in a case that challenged how HHS applied Congress’ formula for…
News
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services April 7 released finalized payment rates for calendar year 2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. Payments…
Headline
The AHA today urged the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to take specific actions on physician fee schedule payments following recommendations the…
Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services April 4 finalized changes to the Medicare Advantage and prescription drug programs for contract year 2026. The…
Chairperson's File
Public
Rural hospitals and health systems face big challenges, but together — with a unified voice — we can work to ensure people living in rural communities get the…