Connecticut 2011 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB01082 Compare Versions

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11 General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1082
22 January Session, 2011 LCO No. 3534
33 *03534_______INS*
44 Referred to Committee on Insurance and Real Estate
55 Introduced by:
66 (INS)
77
88 General Assembly
99
1010 Raised Bill No. 1082
1111
1212 January Session, 2011
1313
1414 LCO No. 3534
1515
1616 *03534_______INS*
1717
1818 Referred to Committee on Insurance and Real Estate
1919
2020 Introduced by:
2121
2222 (INS)
2323
2424 AN ACT CONCERNING UTILIZATION REVIEW.
2525
2626 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
2727
2828 Section 1. Section 38a-226 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2011):
2929
3030 For purposes of sections 38a-226 to 38a-226d, inclusive, as amended by this act:
3131
3232 (1) "Utilization review" means the prospective, [or] concurrent or retrospective assessment of the necessity and appropriateness of the allocation of health care resources and services given or proposed to be given to an individual within this state. [Utilization review shall not include elective requests for clarification of coverage.]
3333
3434 (2) "Utilization review company" means any company, organization or other entity performing utilization review, except:
3535
3636 (A) An agency of the federal government;
3737
3838 (B) An agent acting on behalf of the federal government, but only to the extent that the agent is providing services to the federal government;
3939
4040 (C) Any agency of the state of Connecticut; or
4141
4242 (D) A hospital's internal quality assurance program except if associated with a health care financing mechanism.
4343
4444 (3) "Adverse determination" means a utilization review company's decision that an admission, service, procedure or extension of stay is not medically necessary.
4545
4646 [(3)] (4) "Commissioner" means the Insurance Commissioner.
4747
4848 (5) "Concurrent determination" means a utilization review company's decision of the medical necessity of an admission, service, procedure or extension of stay while such admission, service, procedure or extension of stay is being provided.
4949
5050 [(4)] (6) "Enrollee" means an individual [who has contracted for or] patient who participates in coverage under an insurance policy, a health care center contract, an employee welfare benefits plan, a hospital or medical services plan contract or any other benefit program providing payment, reimbursement or indemnification for health care costs for an individual or his eligible dependents.
5151
5252 (7) "Enrollee's representative" means a legal guardian or agent of an enrollee.
5353
5454 (8) "Final adjudication" means a utilization review company's decision that is not subject to any further internal appeal.
5555
5656 (9) "Medically necessary" or "medical necessity" means health care services that a physician, exercising prudent clinical judgment, would provide to a patient for the purpose of preventing, evaluating, diagnosing or treating an illness, injury, disease or its symptoms, and that are: (A) In accordance with generally accepted standards of medical practice; (B) clinically appropriate, in terms of type, frequency, extent, site and duration and considered effective for the patient's illness, injury or disease; and (C) not primarily for the convenience of the patient, physician or other health care provider and not more costly than an alternative service or sequence of services at least as likely to produce equivalent therapeutic or diagnostic results as to the diagnosis or treatment of that patient's illness, injury or disease. For the purposes of this subdivision, "generally accepted standards of medical practice" means standards that are based on credible scientific evidence published in peer-reviewed medical literature generally recognized by the relevant medical community or otherwise consistent with the standards set forth in policy issues involving clinical judgment.
5757
5858 (10) "Prospective determination" means a utilization review company's decision of the medical necessity of an admission, service, procedure or extension of stay to be provided to the enrollee.
5959
6060 [(5)] (11) "Provider of record" or "provider" means the physician or other licensed practitioner identified to the utilization review [agent] company as having primary responsibility for the care, treatment and services rendered to an individual.
6161
6262 (12) "Retrospective determination" means a utilization review company's decision of the medical necessity of an admission, service, procedure or extension of stay that has been provided to the enrollee.
6363
6464 Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 38a-226c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2011):
6565
6666 (a) All utilization review companies shall meet the following minimum standards:
6767
6868 (1) Each utilization review company shall maintain and make available procedures for [providing notification of] its determinations [regarding certification] in accordance with the following:
6969
7070 (A) [Notification] (i) Written notification of any prospective, concurrent or retrospective determination by the utilization review company shall be mailed or otherwise communicated to [the provider of record or] the enrollee, [or other appropriate individual within] the enrollee's representative or the provider of record not later than two business days [of] after the receipt of all information necessary to complete the review. [, provided any determination not to certify an admission, service, procedure or extension of stay shall be in writing.]
7171
7272 (ii) In addition to providing written notification of a determination, the utilization review company may give authorization orally or through a communication other than in writing. If the determination is an approval for a request, the company shall provide a confirmation number corresponding to the authorization.
7373
7474 (B) (i) After a prospective determination that authorizes an admission, service, procedure or extension of stay has been communicated by the utilization review company to the [appropriate individual, based on accurate information from the] enrollee or the enrollee's representative and the enrollee's provider, the utilization review company [may] shall not reverse such determination if such admission, service, procedure or extension of stay has taken place in reliance on such determination, unless the determination was based on inaccurate information from the provider.
7575
7676 (ii) Regardless of whether a prospective determination is required by contract, a utilization review company shall provide such prospective determination upon request by an enrollee, an enrollee's representative or an enrollee's provider.
7777
7878 [(B) Notification of a concurrent determination shall be mailed or otherwise communicated to the provider of record within two business days of receipt of all information necessary to complete the review or, provided all information necessary to perform the review has been received, prior to the end of the current certified period and provided any determination not to certify an admission, service, procedure or extension of stay shall be in writing.]
7979
8080 (C) [The utilization review company shall not make a determination not to certify based on incomplete information unless it has clearly indicated, in writing, to the provider of record or the enrollee all the information that is needed to make such determination.] If an enrollee's provider requests a concurrent determination, the utilization review company shall provide, if requested by such provider, an opportunity for such provider to discuss the request for concurrent determination with the health care professional making the decision.
8181
8282 (D) [Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of this subdivision, the utilization review company may give authorization orally, electronically or communicated other than in writing. If the determination is an approval for a request, the company shall provide a confirmation number corresponding to the authorization.] If an enrollee, an enrollee's representative or an enrollee's provider requests a prospective or retrospective determination and the utilization review company does not possess all the information necessary to make such determination, the utilization review company shall request from the appropriate individual all such information in writing it requires and shall provide a copy of such request to the enrollee or the enrollee's representative. The utilization review company shall maintain a record of all such requests for additional information. The utilization review company shall not issue any notification declining certification or authorization of an admission, service, procedure or extension of stay prior to receiving and evaluating the requested information, and shall not render a determination based on a lack of necessary information without having first issued a written request for additional information and providing a reasonable opportunity to comply with such request.
8383
8484 (E) [Except as provided in subparagraph (F) of this subdivision with respect to a final notice, each] Each notice of a determination not to certify or authorize an admission, service, procedure or extension of stay shall include in writing (i) the principal reasons for the determination, (ii) the procedures to initiate an appeal of the determination or the name and telephone number of the person to contact with regard to an appeal pursuant to the provisions of this section, or a statement that all applicable internal appeals have been exhausted, and (iii) the procedure to appeal to the commissioner pursuant to section 38a-478n, as amended by this act.
8585
8686 (F) [Each notice of a final determination not to certify an admission, service, procedure or extension of stay shall include in writing (i) the principal reasons for the determination, (ii) a statement that all internal appeal mechanisms have been exhausted, and (iii) a copy of the application and procedures prescribed by the commissioner for filing an appeal to the commissioner pursuant to section 38a-478n.] Any adverse determination shall be made by a licensed health care professional. Except for final adjudications as set forth in subparagraph (F) of subdivision (2) of this subsection, physicians, nurses and other licensed health care professionals making utilization review decisions shall have current licenses from a state licensing agency in the United States or appropriate certification from a recognized accreditation agency in the United States.
8787
8888 (2) Each utilization review company shall maintain and make available a written description of the [appeal procedure] utilization review company's procedures for appeals by which [either] the enrollee, the enrollee's representative or the provider of record may seek review of determinations not to certify or authorize an admission, service, procedure or extension of stay. [An appeal by the provider of record shall be deemed to be made on behalf of the enrollee and with the consent of such enrollee if the admission, service, procedure or extension of stay has not yet been provided or if such determination not to certify creates a financial liability to the enrollee.] The procedures for appeals shall include the following:
8989
9090 (A) Each utilization review company shall notify in writing the enrollee or the enrollee's representative and provider of record of its [determination on] adjudication of the appeal as soon as practical, but in no case later than [thirty] fifteen days after receiving the required documentation on the appeal.
9191
9292 (B) On appeal, all determinations not to certify or authorize an admission, service, procedure or extension of stay shall be made by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts who has a current license from a state licensing agency in the United States or appropriate certification from a recognized accreditation agency in the United States.
9393
9494 (C) An appeal filed by an enrollee's provider shall not preclude such enrollee or enrollee's representative from filing a separate appeal of the same determination.
9595
9696 [(3)] (D) The process established by each utilization review company [may] shall include a reasonable period within which an appeal [must be filed to be considered] shall be filed, provided such period is not less than ninety days after the issuance of the determination. Any such period may be extended by the utilization review company upon a showing of a justifiable reason for the enrollee's failure or inability to request an appeal in a timely fashion, including, but not limited to, illness, incapacity, hospitalization or failure to receive the determination within the time period set forth in this section.
9797
9898 [(4)] (E) Each utilization review company shall also provide for an expedited appeals process for emergency or [life threatening] life- threatening situations, as determined by the enrollee's provider. Each utilization review company shall complete the adjudication of such expedited appeals [within two] not later than one business [days of] day after the date the appeal is filed and all information necessary to complete the appeal is received by the utilization review company. If the utilization review company does not possess all information necessary to complete the appeal, the utilization review company shall request from the appropriate individual all such information in writing it requires and shall provide a copy of such request to the enrollee or the enrollee's representative. The utilization review company shall maintain a record of all such requests for additional information. The utilization review company shall not render an adjudication based on a lack of necessary information without first having issued a written request for additional information and providing a reasonable opportunity to comply with such request.
9999
100100 (F) (i) If the appeal is for a final adjudication, the utilization review company shall, at its expense, have the case reviewed by a physician who is a specialist in the same specialty or subspecialty as the provider of the requested treatment. Except as set forth in subparagraph (E) of this subdivision, such review shall be completed not later then thirty days after the date such review was requested by the utilization review company. The reviewing physician shall issue a written report of the findings to the utilization review company, which shall maintain documentation of such review for the commissioner's verification, including the name of such reviewing physician.
101101
102102 (ii) Except for a claim brought pursuant to chapter 568, a final adjudication that upholds an adverse determination shall have been made by a physician, nurse or other licensed health care professional who is under the authority of a physician, nurse or other licensed health care professional who holds a current Connecticut license from the Department of Public Health.
103103
104104 (iii) Upon request by an enrollee, an enrollee's representative or an enrollee's provider, the utilization review company shall provide a hearing prior to the final adjudication of an appeal. Such hearing may be conducted in person, by telephone or by other means at the enrollee's discretion.
105105
106106 (I) The enrollee, the enrollee's representative, the enrollee's provider and such other persons as requested by the enrollee may participate in such hearing.
107107
108108 (II) The reviewing physician specified in subparagraph (F)(i) of this subdivision shall participate in such hearing.
109109
110110 (III) Voting members of the utilization review company's review panel shall participate in such hearing and in the deliberations on the final adjudication.
111111
112112 (IV) No other person shall participate in such hearing or deliberations unless approved by the enrollee or the enrollee's representative and the utilization review company.
113113
114114 (iv) The utilization review company shall prepare a video or audio recording of such hearing and shall provide a copy of such recording to the enrollee or the enrollee's representative and the enrollee's provider if such enrollee, enrollee's representative or enrollee's provider appeals the final adjudication to the commissioner pursuant to section 38a-478n, as amended by this act.
115115
116116 (G) If an adjudication upholds a determination not to certify or authorize an admission, service, procedure or extension of stay, the utilization review company shall notify the enrollee or the enrollee's representative and the enrollee's provider in writing of such adjudication. Such notification shall include: (i) The principal reasons for the adjudication, provided in the case of an adverse determination, the utilization review company shall include the specific reasons why the admission, service, procedure or extension of stay is not medically necessary, along with a summary of all information relied upon in making such a finding; (ii) the procedures to initiate an appeal of such adjudication or the name and telephone number of the person to contact with regard to an appeal pursuant to the provisions of this section; and (iii) in the case of a final adjudication, the procedure to appeal to the commissioner pursuant to section 38a-478n, as amended by this act.
117117
118118 [(5)] (3) Each utilization review company shall utilize written clinical criteria and review procedures [which] that are established and periodically evaluated and updated with appropriate involvement from practitioners. Such criteria and procedures shall be consistent with the definition of "medical necessity" set forth in section 38a-226, as amended by this act, and such definition shall control in the event of a conflict.
119119
120120 [(6) Physicians, nurses and other licensed health professionals making utilization review decisions shall have current licenses from a state licensing agency in the United States or appropriate certification from a recognized accreditation agency in the United States, provided, any final determination not to certify an admission, service, procedure or extension of stay for an enrollee within this state, except for a claim brought pursuant to chapter 568, shall be made by a physician, nurse or other licensed health professional under the authority of a physician, nurse or other licensed health professional who has a current Connecticut license from the Department of Public Health.
121121
122122 (7) In cases where an appeal to reverse a determination not to certify is unsuccessful, each utilization review company shall assure that a practitioner in a specialty related to the condition is reasonably available to review the case. When the reason for the determination not to certify is based on medical necessity, including whether a treatment is experimental or investigational, each utilization review company shall have the case reviewed by a physician who is a specialist in the field related to the condition that is the subject of the appeal. Any such review, except for a claim brought pursuant to chapter 568, that upholds a final determination not to certify in the case of an enrollee within this state shall be conducted by such practitioner or physician under the authority of a practitioner or physician who has a current Connecticut license from the Department of Public Health. The review shall be completed within thirty days of the request for review. The utilization review company shall be financially responsible for the review and shall maintain, for the commissioner's verification, documentation of the review, including the name of the reviewing physician.]
123123
124124 [(8)] (4) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, each utilization review company shall make review staff available by toll-free telephone, at least forty hours per week during normal business hours.
125125
126126 [(9)] (5) Each utilization review company shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws to protect the confidentiality of individual medical records. Summary and aggregate data shall not be considered confidential if [it does] they do not provide sufficient information to allow identification of individual patients.
127127
128128 [(10)] (6) Each utilization review company shall allow a minimum of twenty-four hours following an emergency admission, service or procedure for an enrollee or his representative to notify the utilization review company and request certification or continuing treatment for that condition.
129129
130130 [(11)] (7) No utilization review company [may] shall give an employee any financial incentive based on the number of denials of certification such employee makes.
131131
132132 [(12)] (8) Each utilization review company shall annually file with the commissioner:
133133
134134 (A) The names of all managed care organizations, as defined in section 38a-478, that the utilization review company services in Connecticut;
135135
136136 (B) Any utilization review services for which the utilization review company has contracted out for services and the name of such company providing the services;
137137
138138 (C) The number of utilization review determinations not to certify or authorize an admission, service, procedure or extension of stay and the outcome of such determination upon appeal within the utilization review company. Determinations related to mental or nervous conditions, as defined in section 38a-514, shall be reported separately from all other determinations reported under this subdivision; and
139139
140140 (D) The following information relative to requests for utilization review of mental health services for enrollees of fully insured health benefit plans or self-insured or self-funded employee health benefit plans, separately and by category: (i) The reason for the request, including, but not limited to, an inpatient admission, service, procedure or extension of inpatient stay or an outpatient treatment, (ii) the number of requests denied by type of request, and (iii) whether the request was denied or partially denied.
141141
142142 [(13) Any utilization review decision to initially deny services shall be made by a licensed health professional.]
143143
144144 Sec. 3. Subsection (c) of section 38a-226c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2011):
145145
146146 (c) The provider of record shall provide to each utilization review company, within a reasonable period of time, all relevant information necessary for the utilization review company to certify or authorize the admission, procedure, treatment or length of stay. Failure of the provider to provide such documentation for review shall be grounds for a denial of certification or authorization in accordance with the policy of the utilization review company or the health benefit plan.
147147
148148 Sec. 4. Subsection (m) of section 38a-479aa of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2011):
149149
150150 (m) Each utilization review determination made by or on behalf of a preferred provider network shall be made in accordance with sections 38a-226 to 38a-226d, inclusive, [except that any] as amended by this act. Any initial appeal of a determination not to certify or authorize an admission, service, procedure or extension of stay shall be conducted in accordance with subdivision [(7)] (2) of subsection (a) of section 38a-226c, as amended by this act, and any subsequent appeal shall be referred to the managed care organization on whose behalf the preferred provider network provides services. The managed care organization shall conduct the subsequent appeal in accordance with said subdivision.
151151
152152 Sec. 5. Subdivision (12) of subsection (d) of section 38a-479bb of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2011):
153153
154154 (12) A provision that the preferred provider network shall ensure that utilization review determinations are made in accordance with sections 38a-226 to 38a-226d, inclusive, [except that any] as amended by this act. Any initial appeal of a determination not to certify or authorize an admission, service, procedure or extension of stay shall be made in accordance with subdivision [(7)] (2) of subsection (a) of section 38a-226c, as amended by this act. In cases where an appeal to reverse a determination not to certify or authorize is unsuccessful, the preferred provider network shall refer the case to the managed care organization which shall conduct the subsequent appeal, if any, in accordance with said subdivision.
155155
156156
157157
158158
159159 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
160160 Section 1 October 1, 2011 38a-226
161161 Sec. 2 October 1, 2011 38a-226c(a)
162162 Sec. 3 October 1, 2011 38a-226c(c)
163163 Sec. 4 October 1, 2011 38a-479aa(m)
164164 Sec. 5 October 1, 2011 38a-479bb(d)(12)
165165
166166 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
167167
168168 Section 1
169169
170170 October 1, 2011
171171
172172 38a-226
173173
174174 Sec. 2
175175
176176 October 1, 2011
177177
178178 38a-226c(a)
179179
180180 Sec. 3
181181
182182 October 1, 2011
183183
184184 38a-226c(c)
185185
186186 Sec. 4
187187
188188 October 1, 2011
189189
190190 38a-479aa(m)
191191
192192 Sec. 5
193193
194194 October 1, 2011
195195
196196 38a-479bb(d)(12)
197197
198198 Statement of Purpose:
199199
200200 To clarify the requirements and standards for utilization review companies and the reviews such companies perform.
201201
202202 [Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]