<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 10.01.23.05" title_num="10" subtitle_num="01" chapter_num="23" heading="Participant Selection.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The Department shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Assess applicant eligibility based on documentation received by the published deadline;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Require from an applicant additional documentation or use independent verification means to verify information in the application; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Score an eligible application based on priority criteria in accordance with:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Health-General Article, §24–1905, Annotated Code of Maryland; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The guidelines established by the Department.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>An applicant shall respond to an award offer by submitting all required documentation to the Department within 90 calendar days of notice of award.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Failure of the applicant to provide required documentation shall result in:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An application determined as ineligible; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Cancellation of any offered award.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Appeal of Disapproval of Application.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An applicant may appeal the decision to disapprove an application by submitting an appeal request in writing to the Department within 30 calendar days of the date on the notice of the disapproved application.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If an applicant submits an appeal, the Department, within 60 calendar days, shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Sustain or reverse the decision on the application; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Provide written notice to the applicant:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Indicating whether the decision on the application has been sustained or reversed; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Providing an explanation of the decision.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An applicant may request a hearing within 10 calendar days after the date of written notice of the Department’s disapproval of an application as stated in §D(2) of this regulation. When the Department receives the request, it will follow hearing procedures in accordance with COMAR 10.01.03.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Failure to be present for the hearing without prior notice, communication, or approval from the Department may result in:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The appeal nullified and decision sustained;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Hearing on the appeal not rescheduled; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Appropriate sanctions taken as deemed by the Department.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>