A June 2026 report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General highlights just how valuable taking that next step can be. Investigators found that when patients or their healthcare providers formally appealed an initial Skilled Nursing Facility denial, the decisions were overturned in favor of the patient the vast majority of the time- including a 97% reversal rate for care requests processed by certain major review contractors.
If you or a loved one receives a denial notice, don’t let the paperwork discourage you. Work with your care team to file an appeal right away; the data shows that taking full advantage of the appeals process is well worth the effort.