(a) A plan shall disclose or provide for the disclosure to the director and to network providers the process the plan, its contracting provider groups, or any entity with which the plan contracts for services that include utilization review or utilization management functions, uses to authorize, modify, or deny health care services under the benefits provided by the plan, including coverage for subacute care, transitional inpatient care, or care provided in skilled nursing facilities. A plan shall also disclose those processes to enrollees or persons designated by an enrollee, or to any other person or organization, upon request. The disclosure to the director shall include the policies, procedures, and the description of the process that are filed with the director pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1367.01.
(b) The criteria or guidelines used by plans, or any entities with which plans contract for services that include utilization review or utilization management functions, to determine whether to authorize, modify, or deny health care services shall:
(1) Be developed with involvement from actively practicing health care providers.
(2) Be consistent with sound clinical principles and processes.
(3) Be evaluated, and updated if necessary, at least annually.
(4) If used as the basis of a decision to modify, delay, or deny services in a specified case under review, be disclosed to the provider and the enrollee in that specified case.
(5) Be available to the public upon request. A plan shall only be required to disclose the criteria or guidelines for the specific procedures or conditions requested. A plan may charge reasonable fees to cover administrative expenses related to disclosing criteria or guidelines pursuant to this paragraph, limited to copying and postage costs. The plan may also make the criteria or guidelines available through electronic communication means.
(c) The disclosure required by paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) shall be accompanied by the following notice: “The materials provided to you are guidelines used by this plan to authorize, modify, or deny care for persons with similar illnesses or conditions. Specific care and treatment may vary depending on individual need and the benefits covered under your contract.”
(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1067, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2001.)
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