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MS 0500 (1) Volume 1 - General Administration MS 0500 - R. 8/1/18 - OMTL-533 Conduct of the Hearing A. Hearings are conducted by an impartial hearing officer who is knowledgeable of the Department's law, policy, and procedures. The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) operates independently and recommended orders are based only on information presented at the hearing. B. Hearings are privately conducted at a place convenient to the client and: 1. Are orderly but informal; 2. Conducted without the use of strict technical rules of evidence and procedure; 3. Provide a method by which the client can speak freely regarding facts and circumstances of the situation, refute testimony, and examine all papers and records introduced as evidence; 4. Provide the client the opportunity to submit additional evidence and to cross-examine witnesses; and 5. Concluded when the hearing officer is satisfied that sufficient evidence has been introduced to resolve the issue. C. The hearing is attended by the worker and/or supervisor and by the client or his/her representative or both. The hearing may also be attended by friends and relatives of the client, if the client so chooses. However, the hearing officer has the authority to limit the number of persons in attendance at the hearing if space limitations exist. D. At the hearing, the worker or individual must be prepared to present the facts surrounding the issue/action. Preparation is important because the hearing officer cannot consider any information or documentation not presented at the hearing. The preparation includes: 1. Reviewing the case record to become familiar with the case situation. 2. Drafting a presentation that is clear and concise. The written presentation can be entered into evidence after the oral presentation, if needed. 3. For hearings involving a Medical Review Team (MRT) determination, the medical information used by MRT for the determination must be presented in chronological order for each provider. The MRT packet contains a form titled “Case Development Sheet”. This form provides names and dates of requested medical information and contacts. In the MRT packet, the form follows the MRT decision. 4. [Making at least two copies of any forms, notices, documentation, and system screen prints (including Worker Portal comments) that are to be presented as evidence to support the issue or action. One copy is for the hearing officer and the other is for the client.]