The external review process shall meet the following criteria:
1. The carrier or organized delivery system, within three business days of a receipt of an eligible request for an external review from the commissioner, or within three business days of receipt of the commissioner's denial of the carrier's or organized delivery system's contest of the certification of the request under section 514J.5, subsection 3, whichever is later, shall do all of the following:
a. Select an independent review entity from the list certified by the commissioner. The independent review entity shall be an expert in the treatment of the medical condition under review. The independent review entity shall not be a subsidiary of, or owned or controlled by, the carrier or organized delivery system, or owned or controlled by a trade association of carriers or organized delivery systems of which the carrier or organized delivery system is a member.
b. Notify the enrollee, and the enrollee's treating health care provider, of the name, address, and telephone number of the independent review entity and of the enrollee's and treating health care provider's right to submit additional information.
c. Notify the selected independent review entity by facsimile that the carrier or organized delivery system has chosen it to do the independent review and provide sufficient descriptive information to identify the type of experts needed to conduct the review.
d. Provide to the commissioner by facsimile a copy of the notices sent to the enrollee and to the selected independent review entity.
2. The independent review entity, within three business days of receipt of the notice, shall select a person to perform the external review and shall provide notice to the enrollee of a brief description of the person including the reasons the person selected is an expert in the treatment of the medical condition under review. The independent review entity does not need to disclose the name of the person. A copy of the notice shall be sent by facsimile to the commissioner. If the independent review entity does not have a person who is an expert in the treatment of the medical condition under review and certified by the commissioner to conduct an independent review, the independent review entity may either decline the review request or may request from the commissioner additional time to have such an expert certified. The independent review entity shall notify the commissioner by facsimile of its choice between these options within three business days of receipt of the notice from the carrier or organized delivery system. The commissioner shall provide a notice to the enrollee and carrier or organized delivery system of the independent review entity's decision and of the commissioner's decision as to how to proceed with the external review process within three business days of receipt of the independent review entity's decision.
3. The enrollee, or the enrollee's treating health care provider acting on behalf of the enrollee, may object to the independent review entity selected by the carrier or organized delivery system or to the person selected as the reviewer by the independent review entity by notifying the commissioner and carrier or organized delivery system within ten days of the mailing of the notice by the independent review entity. The commissioner shall have two business days from receipt of the objection to consider the reasons set forth in support of the objection to approve or deny the objection, to select an independent review entity if necessary, and to provide notice of the commissioner's decision to the enrollee, the enrollee's treating health care provider, and the carrier or organized delivery system.
4. The carrier or organized delivery system, within fifteen days of the mailing of the notice by the independent review entity, or within three business days of a receipt of notice by the commissioner following an objection by the enrollee, whichever is later, shall do all of the following:
a. Provide to the independent review entity any information submitted to the carrier or organized delivery system by the enrollee or the enrollee's treating health care provider in support of the request for coverage of a service or treatment under the carrier's or organized delivery system's appeal procedures.
b. Provide to the independent review entity any other relevant documents used by the carrier or organized delivery system in determining whether the proposed service or treatment should have been provided.
c. Provide to the commissioner a confirmation that the information required in paragraphs "a" and "b" has been provided to the independent review entity, including the date the information was provided.
5. The enrollee, or the enrollee's treating health care provider, may provide to the independent review entity any information submitted under any internal appeal mechanisms provided under the carrier's or organized delivery system's evidence of coverage, and other newly discovered relevant information. The enrollee shall have ten business days from the mailing date of the notification of the person selected as the reviewer by the independent review entity to provide this information. The independent review entity may reasonably decide whether to consider any information provided by the enrollee or the enrollee's treating health care provider after the ten-day period.
6. The independent review entity shall notify the enrollee and the enrollee's treating health care provider of any additional medical information required to conduct the review within five business days of receipt of the documentation required under subsection 4. The enrollee or the enrollee's treating health care provider shall provide the requested information to the independent review entity within five days after receipt of the notification requesting additional medical information. The independent review entity may reasonably decide whether to consider any information provided by the enrollee or the enrollee's treating health care provider after the five-day period. The independent review entity shall notify the commissioner and the carrier or organized delivery system of this request.
7. The independent review entity shall submit its external review decision as soon as possible, but not later than thirty days from the date the independent review entity received the information required under subsection 4 from the carrier or organized delivery system. The independent review entity, for good cause, may request an extension of time from the commissioner. The independent review entity's external review decision shall be mailed to the enrollee or the treating health care provider acting on behalf of the enrollee, the carrier or organized delivery system, and the commissioner.
8. The confidentiality of any medical records submitted shall be maintained pursuant to applicable state and federal laws.
99 Acts, ch 41, §13, 22; 2001 Acts, ch 69, §27
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