Req. No. 510 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021) SENATE BILL 550 By: Newhouse AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to health insurance; amending 36 O.S . 2011, Section 1219, which rela tes to processing claims; requiring insurer to provide specific reason for denial of clean claims and partial clean claims to certain persons within thirty days; requiring insurer to include instructions for appealing denial ; authorizing certain persons to submit written appeal after denial; requiring insurer to provide certain response to appeal and contact information of department of appeals; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 36 O.S. 2011, Section 1219, is amended to read as follows: Section 1219. A. In the administration, servicing, or processing of any accident and health insur ance policy, every insurer shall reimbu rse all clean claims of an insured, an assig nee of the insured, or a health care provider within forty -five (45) calendar days after receipt o f the claim by the insurer. B. As used in this section: Req. No. 510 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1. “Accident and health insurance policy” or “policy” means any policy, certificate, contract, agree ment or other instrument that provides accident and health insurance, as defined in Section 703 of this title, to any person in this state, and any subscriber certificate or any evidence of coverage issued by a h ealth maintenance organization to any person in this state; 2. “Clean claim” means a claim that has no defect or impropriety, including a lack of any required substantiating documentation, or particular circumstance requiring special treatment that impede s prompt payment; and 3. “Insurer” means any entity that provides an accident and health insurance policy in this state , including, but not limited to, a licensed insurance company, a not -for-profit hospital service and medical indemnity corporation, a he alth maintenance organization, a fraternal b enefit society, a multiple employer welfare arrangement, or any other entity subject to regulation by the Insurance Commissioner. C. If a claim or any portion of a claim is determined to have defects or improprieties, including a lack of any required substantiating documentation, or particular circumstance requiring special treatment, the insured, enrollee or subscriber, assignee of the insured, enrollee or subsc riber, and health care provider shall be notified in writing within thirty (30) calendar days a fter receipt of the claim by the insurer. The written notice shall Req. No. 510 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 specify the portion of the claim that is causing a delay in processing and explain any additional informa tion or corrections needed. Failure of an insurer to provide the insured, enrollee or subscriber, assignee of the insured, enrollee or subscribe r, and health care provider with the notice shall constitute prima facie evidence that the claim will be paid in accordance with the terms of the policy. Provided, if a claim is not submitted i nto the system due to a failure to meet basic Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and/or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) edits, electronic notification of the failure to the submitter sh all be deemed compliance with this subsection. Provided further, health maintenance organizations shall n ot be required to notify the insured, enrollee or subscriber, or assignee of the insured, enrollee or subscriber of any claim defect or impropriety. D. Upon receipt of the additional informatio n or corrections which led to the claim’s being delayed and a determination that the information is accurate, an insurer shall either pay or deny the claim or a portion of the claim within forty-five (45) calendar days. D. If a clean claim or any portion of a clean claim is denied for any reason, the insured, enrollee or subscriber, assignee of the insured, enrollee or subsc riber, and health care provider shall be notified in writing within thirty (30) calendar d ays after receipt of the claim by the insurer. The written notice shall specify in Req. No. 510 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 detail the reason for the denial including instructions on where a person or entity that received notification may respond through dedicated facsimile or electronic mail me ssage or the address or electronic mail message address of the department of appeals of the insurer. Upon receiving written notice of denial, a recipient may submit a detailed app eal in writing explaining why the claim should be approved. If the insurer denies the appeal, the insurer shall address in writing the specific details included in the written appeal and provide the phone number of a health plan representative at the department of appeals of the insurer . E. Payment shall be considered made on: 1. The date a draft or other valid instrument which is equivalent to the amount of the payment is placed in the United States mail in a properly addressed, postpaid envelope ; or 2. If not so posted, the date of deliv ery. F. An overdue payment shall bear simple interest at t he rate of ten percent (10%) per year. G. In the event litigation should ensue based upon such a claim, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recove r a reasonable attorney fee to be set by the court and taxed as costs against the party or parties who do not prevail. H. The Insurance Commissioner shall develop a standardized prompt pay form for use by providers in reporting violations of prompt pay requirements. The form shall include a requir ement that Req. No. 510 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 documentation of the reason for the delay in pay ment or documentation of proof of payment must be provided within ten (10) days of the filing of the form. The Commissioner shall provide the form to health maintenance organizations and providers . I. The provisions of this section sh all not apply to the Oklahoma Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association or to the Oklahoma Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Associat ion. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective Novembe r 1, 2021. 58-1-510 CB 1/20/2021 4:22:19 PM