Waiver & Appeals Policies

Certified Medical Director Program

Waiver Process: 

The Certification Council cannot grant a waiver unless an applicant submits a written request to certification staff or to certification@paltmed.org.

Not all CMD requirements are eligible for a waiver request.

It is recommended that waivers be submitted anonymously by PALTmed staff to the Council for review and consideration.


Appeals Process: 

If certification or recertification is denied or revoked by the PALTmed Certification Council, submission of corrected or additional information to the Council is the first course of action.

If submission of additional information does not resolve the Council’s questions or the candidate’s concerns, a candidate may appeal the decision through the process described below.

  1. Submit a written request for an appeal review to the Certification Council stating the justification(s) for the appeal and including supporting documentation.
  2. Within 15 working days after receipt of the appeal, the Council will request that the President of PALTmed’s Board of Directors appoint an appeals panel of at least three current certified medical directors (CMDs) from the board who are not Council members to review the case.
  3. Within 20 working days of its appointment, the PALTmed appeals panel will undertake a preliminary review of the case to determine whether the appeal should be granted without a hearing.
  4. If the appeals panel does not determine that the appeal should be granted, it shall elect a chairperson from among its members who shall notify the appealing party in writing of the date, place, and time of the appeal hearing.
  5. The hearing shall be conducted under the direction of the appeals panel Chairperson. The appealing party shall be responsible for his/her expenses, including legal fees if the individual chooses to be represented by counsel.
  6. Within 15 working days after the hearing, the appeals panel shall make a recommendation to either (1) uphold the non-approval or revocation, or (2) grant or reinstate certification.
    1. The recommendation of the appeals panel shall be made directly to the Certification
      Council.
    2. At its next regularly scheduled meeting, the Certification Council shall make the final
      decision.
  7. The decision of the Certification Council shall be final, and the Chair of PALTmed’s appeals panel
    shall notify the appealing party in writing within 15 working days of the final decision.