Which item must accompany a denial notice to be considered properly served?

• A. The employee's acknowledgement
• B. A certified mail receipt
• C. A written explanation of benefits
• D. A proof of service

Answer: (D)

When a denial notice goes out, there must be a verifiable record that the notice was delivered to the right party. The item that must accompany the denial notice is proof of service. This document, often completed by the person who served or mailed the notice, lays out how service was done, who was served, when it occurred, and by what method. It creates an auditable trail so the recipient truly has the opportunity to respond within any prescribed deadlines, and it protects due process.

A certified mail receipt alone isn’t enough because it doesn’t confirm who received the notice or the exact timing beyond the mailing event. The employee’s acknowledgement only shows receipt of something but not that the denial notice was properly served or the details of service. A written explanation of benefits is unrelated to the mechanics of service and does not establish that the notice was properly delivered.