The Office of Adjudication and Hearings (OAH) has jurisdiction over most administrative cases arising from actions of the Department of Health and its programs pursuant to the authority of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1996, Mayor's Order Nos. 97-42, 98-140, 99-68, 00-98, 00-184, 01-21, 01-39, and 01-111, and Department of Health
Organizational Orders Nos. 99-24 and 01-26. OAH functions as an autonomous component lodged within the Department of Health under the administrative supervision of the Chief Administrative Law Judge. Additional information on OAH's jurisdiction may be obtained by contacting the OAH Docket Clerk.
OAH conducts administrative hearings for civil infractions prosecuted under Title 2, Chapter
18 of the District of Columbia Official Code, as well as other types of hearings authorized under provisions of Federal and District law. These include adjudicative hearings relating to: Medicaid provider
terminations, health occupation licensure and discipline, community residence facilities, child development facilities, health care
facilities, and environmental protection matters. Among other things, OAH's subject matter jurisdiction includes cases in matters concerning group homes for the mentally disabled, child care facilities, medical and dental licensure, long-term care facility discharges, hazardous substance control, and air and water quality.
Departments, Boards, and Programs Appearing before OAH
The Office of Adjudication and Hearings provides adjudicative hearings and docket management in actions initiated by various government agencies, independent health professional boards, and private parties. They involve environmental, health care and other types of administrative matters under District of Columbia law. Administrative cases involving the following government programs and statutes are heard by OAH's Administrative Law Judges:
Department of Health (DOH)
Health Regulation Administration
(HRA)
Environmental Health Administration
(EHA)
Bureau of Hazardous Material & Toxic Substances
Bureau of Food, Drug and Radiation Protection
Bureau of Environmental Quality
Bureau of Community Hygiene
Division of Animal Disease Control
- Including Dangerous Dog determinations
Medical Assistance Administration
(MAA)
Health Professional Licensing Administration
Independent Health Care Boards
- Board of Chiropractic
- Board of Dentistry
- Board of Dietetics/Nutrition
- Board of Medicine
- Board of Massage Therapy
- Board of Nursing
- Board of Nursing Home Administration
- Board of Occupational Therapy
- Board of Optometry
- Board of Pharmacy
- Board of Physical Therapy
- Board of Podiatry
- Board of Professional Counseling
- Board of Psychology
- Board of Respiratory Therapy
- Board of Social Work
Department of Mental Health (DMH)
- Hearings arsing under DC Official Code § 44-1003.
Private Nursing and Other Long-Term Care Facilities
- Actions brought by private facilities, individuals, and
Government agencies under DC Code Title 44, Chapter 10.
District Personnel Administrative Reviews
- Pre-removal Due Process Loudermill hearings under
the Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act and District
Personnel Manual (DPM) Chapter 16 for the Department of
Health, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and other
agencies when properly delegated.
