(a) Upon receiving a request for an advisory opinion, CMS promptly makes an initial determination of whether the request includes all of the information it will need to process the request.
(b) Within 15 working days of receiving the request, CMS--
(1) Formally accepts the request for an advisory opinion;
(2) Notifies the requestor about the additional information it needs; or
(3) Declines to formally accept the request.
(c) If the requestor provides the additional information CMS has requested, or otherwise resubmits the request, CMS processes the resubmission in accordance with paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section as if it were an initial request for an advisory opinion.
(d) Upon accepting the request, CMS notifies the requestor by regular U.S. mail of the date that CMS formally accepted the request.
(e) The 90-day period that CMS has to issue an advisory opinion set forth in Sec. 411.380(c) does not begin until CMS has formally accepted the request for an advisory opinion. [69 FR 57229, Sept. 24, 2004]