Background

This transmittal amends Hearings, Appeals and Litigation Law (HALLEX) manual section I-2-5-15 to update guidance on what actions are necessary when an excluded medical source of evidence (excluded medical source) does not provide a written statement of exclusion. We also made additional minor editorial changes throughout this section.

Explanation of Content and Changes

I-2-5-15 A – We added a bulleted list to clarify exceptions to the general policy of not considering evidence from an excluded medical source.

I-2-5-15 B NOTE 3 – We added “NOTE 3” to subsection B to refer the reader to subsection F for additional guidance when an excluded medical source furnishes evidence to us without including a written statement of exclusion.

I-2-5-15 B2 NOTE 2 – We moved the content in “NOTE 2” to newly created subsection I-2-5-15 F but with reformatting and minor changes. We changed the numbering of the notes so that “NOTE 3” now becomes “NOTE 2.”

I-2-5-15 F – We changed subsection F to provide specific guidance on all required actions when an excluded medical source fails to provide a written statement of exclusion. In making this change, we moved the reopening information previously found in subsection F to a newly created subsection G. In particular, we included a bulleted list instructing Office of Hearings Operation staff to refer the excluded medical source to the Office of the Inspector General and send an email to the Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge, who will keep a record of excluded medical source violations and send a notice to the excluded source if necessary.

Date: June 28, 2022