(a) Right to appeal. An applicant denied WTC Health Program enrollment, a disenrolled WTC Health Program member, or the applicant's or member's designated representative (appointed pursuant to § 88.2(a)) may appeal the enrollment denial or disenrollment decision.
(b) Appeal request.
(1) A letter requesting an appeal must be postmarked within 120 calendar days of the date of the letter from the Administrator notifying the denied applicant or disenrolled WTC Health Program member of the adverse decision. Electronic versions of a signed letter will be accepted if transmitted within 120 calendar days of the date of the Administrator's notification letter.
(2) A valid request for an appeal must:
(i) Be made in writing and signed;
(ii) Identify the denied applicant or disenrolled WTC Health Program member and designated representative (if applicable);
(iii) Describe the decision being appealed and state the reasons why the denied applicant, disenrolled WTC Health Program member, or designated representative believes the enrollment denial or disenrollment was incorrect and should be reversed. The appeal request may include relevant new information not previously considered by the WTC Health Program; and
(iv) Be sent to the WTC Health Program at the address specified in the notice of denial or disenrollment.
(3) Where the denial or disenrollment is based on information from the terrorist watch list, the appeal will be forwarded to the appropriate Federal agency.
(c) Appeal process. Upon receipt of a valid appeal, the Administrator will appoint a Federal Official independent of the WTC Health Program to review the case. The Federal Official will review all available records relevant to the WTC Health Program's decision not to enroll the applicant or to disenroll the WTC Health Program member and assess whether the appeal should be granted. In conducting the review, the Federal Official's consideration will include the following: Whether the WTC Health Program substantially complied with all relevant WTC Health Program policies and procedures; whether the information supporting the WTC Health Program's decision was factually accurate; and whether the WTC Health Program's decision was reasonable as applied to the facts of the case.
(1) The Federal Official may consider additional relevant new information submitted by the denied applicant, disenrolled WTC Health Program member, or designated representative.
(2) The Federal Official will provide his or her recommendation regarding the disposition of the appeal, including his or her findings and any supporting materials, to the Administrator.
(d) Final decision and notification. The Administrator will review the Federal Official's recommendation and any relevant information and make a final decision on the appeal. The Administrator will notify the denied applicant or disenrolled WTC Health Program member and/or designated representative of the following in writing:
(1) The recommendation and findings made by the Federal Official as a result of the review;
(2) The Administrator's final decision on the appeal;
(3) An explanation of the reason(s) for the Administrator's final decision on the appeal; and
(4) Any administrative actions taken by the WTC Health Program in response to the Administrator's final decision.