Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA)

Links

The links below are to other agencies and offices within the U.S. government.  These are provided so that you have multiple sources to reference.

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
  The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services administers Medicare and Medicaid programs. This Web site contains information on the different parts of Medicare.
  
  
• Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services oversees the Office for Medicare Hearings and Appeals.
  
  
• Medicare.gov
  Medicare.gov is the official Medicare Web site. It contains the latest information on Medicare. It also has information on the first and second level of appeals.
  
  
• Medicare Appeals Council (MAC)
  The Medicare Appeals Council is responsible for the fourth level of appeals.  The MAC Web site contains information on how to file an appeal.
  

Legislation

• The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003.  The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 set forth a number of major changes to the Medicare program, including (1) the creation of OMHA, (2) the creation of the new Medicare Part D drug benefit starting in 2006, (3) the creation of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and (4) increased payments to Medicare HMOs under the renamed Medicare Advantage program.
  
  
• Benefits Improvement Protection Act (BIPA) Section 521 [ PDF - 52KB].  Section 521 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and Supplemental Children Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA), amended section 1869 of the Social Security Act (the Act) to require significant changes to the Medicare appeals procedures. Among these changes is a new requirement for a process by which a beneficiary may obtain an expedited determination in response to the termination of provider services.
  
  
• Medicare Part C Regulation.  Medicare Advantage Plans (also known as Medicare Part C Plans) are managed health plan options that are part of the Medicare program.  These plans were once called “Medicare+Choice Plans”.  If you join one of these plans, you generally get all your Medicare-covered health care through that plan. This coverage can include Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage or you can enroll in a separate Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage plan (See information on Medicare Part D below). Medicare Advantage Plans include:
  
  
• Medicare Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)
• Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO)
• Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans
• Medicare Special Needs Plans
  
  
• Medicare Part D Regulation.  The recent legislation provides Medicare-eligible seniors and people with disabilities with the first prescription drug benefit offered under the Medicare program.