Any party to a hearing decision or dismissal may request a review of such action by the Appeals Council. The Health Care Financing Administration or, as appropriate, the Office of the Inspector General is a party to a hearing on a determination under § 422.203 (a)(2) and (a)(3) and to administrative appeals involving matters under section 1128(b)(6) of the Act (see 42 CFR 498.42). This request may be made on Form HA-520, “Request for Review of Hearing Decision/Order,” or by any other writing specifically requesting review. Form HA-520 may be obtained from any social security district office or branch office, from the Office of Hearings and Appeals Social Security Administration, P.O. Box 3200, Arlington, VA 22203, or at any other office where a request for a hearing may be filed. (For time and place of filing, see §§ 404.968, 410.661, and 416.1468 of this chapter, and 42 CFR 405.724, 498.82 and 417.261.)

Whenever the Appeals Council reviews a hearing decision under §§ 404.967 or 404.969, 410.662, 416.1467, or 416.1469 of this chapter, or 42 CFR 405.724 or 417.261 or 473.46 and the claimant does not appear personally or through representation before the Council to present oral argument, such review will be conducted by a panel of not less than two members of the Council designated in the manner prescribed by the Chairman or Deputy Chairman of the Council. In the event of disagreement between a panel composed of only two members, the Chairman or Deputy Chairman, or his delegate, who must be a member of the Council, shall participate as a third member of the panel. When the claimant appears in person or through representation before the Council in the location designated by the Council, the review will be conducted by a panel of not less than three members of the Council designated in the manner prescribed by the Chairman or Deputy Chairman. Concurrence of a majority of a panel shall constitute the decision of the Appeals Council unless the case is considered as provided under paragraph (e) of this section.

The denial of a request for review of a hearing decision concerning a determination under § 422.203(a)(1) shall be by such appeals officer or appeals officers or by such member or members of the Appeals Council as may be designated in the manner prescribed by the Chair or Deputy Chair. The denial of a request for review of a hearing dismissal, the dismissal of a request for review, the denial of a request for review of a hearing decision whenever such hearing decision after such denial would not be subject to judicial review as explained in § 422.210(a), or the refusal of a request to reopen a hearing or Appeals Council decision concerning a determination under § 422.203(a)(1) shall be by such member or members of the Appeals Council as may be designated in the manner prescribed by the Chair or Deputy Chair.

A review or a denial of review of a hearing decision or a dismissal of a request for review with respect to requests by parties under 42 CFR 498.82 or 1001.128 in accordance with § 498.83 will be conducted by a panel of at least two members of the Appeals Council designated by the Chairman or Deputy Chairman and one person from the U.S. Public Health Service designated by the Surgeon General, Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, or his delegate. This person shall serve on an ad hoc basis and shall be considered for this purpose as a member of the Appeals Council. Concurrence of a majority of the panel shall constitute the decision of the Appeals Council unless the case is considered as provided under paragraph (e) of this section.

On call of the Chairman, the Appeals Council may meet en banc or a representative body of Appeals Council members may be convened to consider any case arising under paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of this section. Such representative body shall be comprised of a panel of not less than five members designated by the Chairman as deemed appropriate for the matter to be considered, including a person from the U.S. Public Health Service in a matter under paragraph (d) of this section. The Chairman or Deputy Chairman shall preside, or in his absence, the Chairman shall designate a member of the Appeals Council to preside. A majority vote of the designated panel, or of the members present and voting shall constitute the decision of the Appeals Council.

The Chairman may designate an administrative law judge to serve as a member of the Appeals Council for temporary assignments. An administrative law judge shall not be designated to serve as a member on any panel where such panel is conducting review on a case in which such individual has been previously involved.