To access the MAPPER files containing BHA appeal information, sign on to Mapper Department 143.
Enter caomenu for the menu.
The menu will provide the following selections:
CASE HISTORY INQUIRY – This inquiry has the entire appeal history of an individual case number. The information includes every appeal filed since 1984 that was still open in 1997 and all appeals opened or closed since 1997. This inquiry also includes the date of the hearing, the dispositions of the appeals, summaries of the findings of the hearing officer, and whether or not requests for reconsideration or appeals to Commonwealth Court were filed. The History Inquiry has six sections:
Demographic contains the name, address, and case number of the client and his legal representative.
Appellant Representative information will appear when the appellant was represented by another party and whether that party was an attorney.
Control Card contains the date the appeal was filed, the date by which the decision must be made, the issue under appeal (a code), the date of adjudication, the codes indicating the decision, etc.
Comments are regulatory notes pertaining to the appeal.
Schedule information showing the administrative law judge assigned and the time and date of the hearing and a code indicating the reason for reschedule when applicable.
Hearing Digest contains a summary of the hearing decision including the findings of the hearing officer and the conclusion.
SCHEDULED CASES – This inquiry lists scheduled hearings by CAO, district, date, and time. When a CAO, district, and date are selected, a list is presented showing the case name, number, name of the hearing officer, and type of hearing (face-to-face or telephone).
INDEX OF CODES – the index provides a list of all appeal category codes used by OHA to identify the issues.
The following codes are used on the screens:
Case Number – If there is no case number for the client, the county code followed by a pseudo appeal code is entered and it results in a pseudo number being generated. The resulting docket number consists of the two digit county code, a single alpha character designating the type of appeal, and four digits assigned in the order of appeals received. Pseudo codes include among others: A=LIHEAP, I=RIPD, J=Claims Review (018, 181, 182) and K=Misc. no case record number.
Example: 01A0001
Facility – Information regarding either the name of a nursing facility or the name of the legal representative, whichever is appropriate.
TI – Indicates the status of the appeal as follows:
A – Appeal
R – Request for reconsideration
M – Appeal remanded to BHA to hold a new hearing or to render a new decision pursuant to the filing of a request for reconsideration or a petition to a Commonwealth Court.
P – Petition for review filed with the Commonwealth Court
APP NUM – Indicates the specific appeal filed by a household. The largest number is the most recent.
RELIEF DATE – The date by which BHA must issue a hearing decision.
TH – Indicates the hearing method T = telephone with all parties on the telephone at different locations, F = face-to-face with all parties at the BHA regional office, N = no home phone telephone hearing with appellant at the CAO with the CAO staff and the ALJ on the telephone, P = face-to-face with the appellant at the regional BHA office and the CAO staff on the telephone.
LH – Indicates the location of the hearing (1 = Erie, 2 = Pittsburgh, 3 = Harrisburg, 4 = Reading, 5 = Scranton, 6 = Philadelphia).
APP CAT – Indicates the issue under appeal (see index of codes).
RA – Indicates whether or not benefits are continuing while the appeal is pending.
FD – Final Disposition. Codes include: F = Final Decision, B = Bench Decision, D = Dismissed, A = Abandoned, O = Order of Stipulation, W = Withdrawn.
DF – Indicates in whose favor the hearing decision was made (C = CAO, A = appellant, 1 = both parties in part, S = Adoption of Stipulation of Settlement. Codes 1, 2 and 3 apply when the FD code is W).
The following codes will appear in the second column indicating what follows in the Hearing Digest:
R – Regulation relied upon by the Administrative Law Judge.
I – Issue under appeal.
F – Facts as found by the hearing officer.
D – Disposition.
Reissued March 18, 2008, replacing June 13, 2003; reviewed July 25, 2013