TITLE 41

INSURANCE

CHAPTER 59

IDAHO HEALTH CARRIER EXTERNAL REVIEW ACT

41-5905.  notice of right to external review. (1) When a final adverse benefit determination is made, the health carrier shall notify the covered person in writing of the covered person’s right to request an external review to be conducted pursuant to section 41-5908, 41-5909 or 41-5910, Idaho Code, and include the appropriate statements and information set forth in subsection (2) of this section at the same time the health carrier sends written notice of the final adverse benefit determination.

(2)  The director may prescribe by rule the form and content of the notice required under this section, which shall include:

(a)  The following, or substantially equivalent, language:

"We have denied your request for the provision of or payment for a health care service or course of treatment. You may have the right to have our decision reviewed by health care professionals who have no association with us if our decision involved making a judgment as to the medical necessity, appropriateness, health care setting, level of care or effectiveness of your health care service or supply, or your health care service or supply was denied based upon a determination that it was investigational. You may request an external review by submitting a written request to the department of insurance."

The notice shall include contact information for the department of insurance, including the website, address and telephone number.

(b)  If the adverse benefit determination is for a pre-service or concurrent service, the health carrier shall notify the covered person of the right to an expedited external review if the request is an urgent care request. The notification shall include the definition of urgent care request.

(c)  The health carrier shall include a copy of the description of both the standard and expedited external review procedures the health carrier is required to provide pursuant to section 41-5916, Idaho Code, highlighting the provisions in the external review procedures that give the covered person the opportunity to submit additional information, and include any forms used to process an external review.

(d)  The health carrier shall include an authorization form, or other document approved by the director, that complies with the requirements of 45 CFR section 164.508, by which the covered person, for purposes of conducting an external review pursuant to this chapter, authorizes the health carrier and the covered person’s treating health care providers to disclose protected health information, including medical records, concerning the covered person that are pertinent to the external review. Until the director receives this form from the covered person, duly executed, the external review process is stayed and the health carrier has no obligations under this chapter.

History:

[41-5905, added 2009, ch. 87, sec. 1, p. 245; am. 2011, ch. 122, sec. 3, p. 338.]