Opinion ID: 1900201
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Federal Law Requirements

Text: The plaintiffs raise for the first time on appeal their contention that a 1979 amendment to the National Health Planning and Resources Development Act, 42 U.S.C.A. §§ 300k-300n-5 (1974-1980 Supp. Pamphlet), required the Department to provide trial-type procedures during the review of certificate of need applications. This amendment, Pub. L. No. 96-79, § 116(d) states: The following procedural requirements with respect to proceedings under a certificate of need program: (A) Hearings under a certificate of need program shall be held before a State Agency or a health systems agency to which the State Agency has delegated the authority to hold such a hearing. In a hearing under the program, any person shall have the right to be represented by counsel and to present oral or written arguments and evidence relevant to the matter which is the subject of the hearing, any person directly affected by the matter which is the subject of the hearing may conduct reasonable questioning of persons who make factual allegations relevant to such matter, and a record of the hearing shall be maintained. The requirements of this subparagraph do not apply to hearings held by a health systems agency in the performance of a review under section 300 l -2(f) . . . . 42 U.S.C.A. § 300n-1(b)(12) (1974-1980 Supp.Pamphlet). This amendment, however, would not apply in the instant matter if the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare determined that the amendment's effective date should be delayed with respect to proceedings in this State. See Pub. L.No.96-79, § 129(b)(2). The defendants furnished to this Court documents purporting to show that the Secretary of H.E.W. made the necessary determination that would delay the amendment's effective date. Wyman filed a motion to strike these documents. We do not reach this issue because Wyman failed to preserve this issue for review. The applicability of this amendment depends on a factual finding of whether the Secretary made the necessary determination; that factual finding should be made at the administrative level. See August Realty, Inc. v. Inhabitants of Town of York, Me., 431 A.2d 1289, 1290 (1981). The parties in an administrative proceeding must raise any objections to the agency's practice at the administrative level in order to preserve their rights to appeal. Mechanic Falls Water Co. v. Public Utilities Commission, Me., 381 A.2d 1080, 1105 (1977). The reason for the rule is so the agency and not the appellate court should have the first opportunity to rule on the objectionable practice. Id. By failing to properly raise the issue when they had the opportunity, the plaintiffs forfeited the possibility of appellate review. [4]