441—7.6(17A) Prehearing procedures.
	7.6(1) Acknowledgment of appeal. When the appeals section receives a request for appeal, it shall send acknowledgment of the receipt of the appeal to the parties to the appeal. For appeals regarding child abuse, all subjects other than the person alleged responsible (party-in-interest) will be notified of the opportunity to file a motion to intervene as provided in Iowa Code section 235A.19.
	7.6(2) Acceptance or denial of appeal.  The appeals section will determine with reasonable promptness whether the party-in-interest is entitled to a contested case hearing. If a request is accepted, the appeals section will certify the appeal to DIAL and designate the issues on appeal. If a request for a contested case hearing is denied, the appeals section will provide written notice of and the reasons for the denial. On or before the thirtieth day following the denial, the individual requesting the appeal may provide additional information related to the individual’s asserted right to a contested case hearing and request reconsideration of the denial.
	7.6(3) Designation of issues for appeal.
	a. 	Initial designation. After determining that the party-in-interest is entitled to a contested case hearing, the appeals section will designate the issues to be decided at the contested case hearing. The issues designated shall be certified to DIAL and be identified in the notice of hearing issued pursuant to subrule 7.6(5).
	b. 	Additional designation of issues. If any party believes additional issues should be designated, the party shall identify the additional issues within the following timelines. The presiding officer shall determine whether all issues have properly been preserved.
	(1)	Child abuse and dependent adult abuse registry appeals. For child abuse and dependent adult abuse registry appeals, the party shall identify additional issues at least 30 days before the date of hearing.
	(2)	Appeals set on or before the tenth day following the notice of hearing. If the hearing is on or before the tenth day following the date of the notice of hearing, the party shall identify any additional issues at the hearing.
	(3)	All other appeals. For all other appeals not identified in this paragraph, the party shall identify the additional issues on or before the tenth day following the date of the notice of hearing.
	7.6(4) Group hearings regarding medical assistance. The appeals section may respond to a series of related, individual requests for hearings regarding medical assistance by consolidating individual hearings into a single group hearing where the sole issue is based on state or federal law or policy. An appellant scheduled for a group hearing may withdraw and request an individual hearing.
	7.6(5) Notice of hearing.
	a. 	Issuance of hearing notice. Except as provided in paragraph 7.6(5)“b,” DIAL shall send notice to the parties of the appeal at least ten calendar days in advance of the hearing setting forth the date, time, method, and place of the hearing; that evidence may be presented orally or documented to establish pertinent facts; that the parties may bring and question witnesses and refute testimony; and that the parties may be represented by others, including an attorney, at the parties’ own cost and as subject to state and federal law. Notice shall be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, and addressed to the appellant at the appellant’s last-known address.
	b. 	Intentional program violation hearing notices. DIAL shall send notices of hearing regarding alleged intentional program violations at least 30 days in advance of the hearing date. The notices under this paragraph shall otherwise comply with the requirements of paragraph 7.6(5)“a.”
	7.6(6) Appellant’s right to department’s case file. Prior to and during the contested case hearing, the department must provide enrollees or their authorized representative with the opportunity to examine the content of the appellant’s case file, if any, and all documents and records to be used by the department at the hearing.
	7.6(7) Informal conference. The purpose of an informal conference is to provide information as to the reasons for the intended adverse action, to answer questions, to explain the basis for the adverse action or position, and to provide an opportunity for the appellant to examine the contents of the case record.
	a. 	When requested by the appellant, an informal conference with a representative of the department or one of its contracted partners, including a managed care organization, shall be held as soon as possible after the appeal has been filed. An appellant’s representative shall be allowed to attend and participate in the informal conference, unless precluded by federal rule or state statute.
	b. 	An informal conference need not be requested for the appellant to examine the contents of the case record.
[ARC 8045C, IAB 5/29/24, effective 7/3/24]