No party or person (except employees of the ALJ's office) communicates in any way with the ALJ on any substantive matter at issue in a case, unless on notice and opportunity for all parties to participate. This provision does not prohibit a person or party from inquiring about the status of a case or asking routine questions concerning administrative functions or procedures.
authority: Secs. 1102 and 1871 of the Social Security Act (
42 U.S.C. 1302 and 1395hh)
source: 68 FR 63716, Nov. 7, 2003, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 42 CFR 426.406