So set the stage for us, Joe.

Absolutely.

So as listeners May know, may have different levels of familiarity with.

When you're at the ALJ, you've already dealt with a number of levels of contractor review, then you have an, a trial-like proceeding before an ALJ who may hear some evidence, get some documents, and then make a decision about whether or not the m- medical evidence supports a terminal prognosis.

And as Brian mentioned, even if the ALJ says, "No, this doesn't support a terminal prognosis," there's still a question of this limitation of liability, or sometimes called safe harbor provision, under the Medicare statute, and I'll get back to that.

If a hospice or, or any other healthcare provider that's going through the Medicare appeals process disagrees with an ALJ decision, they then have two more paths.

Number one, they initially have to go to the Medicare Appeals Council, and if the council either doesn't act or affirms the ALJ's decision, then you can go to federal district court.

Yeah, you go through the language, it's like double negatives, and it's, it is a, uh, a twist and turn, [chuckles] that, that you have to, to navigate through.