Mediation is a form of conflict resolution that brings two parties together in a process conducted by an impartial third party (the mediator). It is a non-binding process that often results in increased satisfaction to the participants. Participation is voluntary.
Mediation has been successfully used in areas such as labor relations, environmental disputes, racial and ethnic conflicts, and personal disputes. Based on favorable results from a pilot study, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, decided to introduce mediation to the Medicare program nationwide in September 2003. Complaints that do not exhibit clinical quality of care concerns will be considered for mediation.