PROPOSED RULES
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 06-21-124.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Standards for rotational referrals to independent review organizations and submission of reports of referrals and the results of reviews to the office of insurance commissioner (OIC).
Hearing Location(s): Insurance Commissioner's Office, 5000 Capitol Boulevard, Room TR-120, Tumwater, WA 98504-0255, on February 26, 2008, at 9:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: March 10, 2008.
Submit Written Comments to: Kacy Scott, P.O. Box 40258, Olympia, WA 98504-0258, e-mail Kacys@oic.wa.gov, fax (360) 586-3109, by February 25, 2008.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Lorie Villaflores by February 25, 2008, TTY (360) 586-0241 or (360) 725-7087.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Codification of current OIC procedures related to rotational referrals to independent review organizations (IROs) and requirements for submission of reports of referrals and the results of reviews are necessary to ensure that proper procedures are followed and reports submitted to the OIC are consistent.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The rules will codify the IRO rotational processes and procedures used by OIC and will require that carriers submit information about the resolution of the review to the OIC.
Repealing rules that duplicate law will mean that those affected by the IRO requirements will not have to consult both law and rule for the same requirements.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 48.02.060 and 48.43.535(10).
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 48.43.535(10).
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Mike Kreidler, insurance commissioner, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Melodie Bankers, P.O. Box 40258, Olympia, WA 98504-0258, (360) 725-7039; Implementation: Beth Berendt, P.O. Box 40255, Olympia, WA 98504-0255, (360) 725-7117; and Enforcement: Carol Sureau, P.O. Box 40255, Olympia, WA 98504-0255, (360) 725-7050.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The adoption of these proposed amendments would create no adverse economic impact on carriers large or small; therefore, no cost benefits analysis is necessary.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. The purpose of these proposed amendments is to clarify the way carriers must use the rotational registry of independent review organizations and how and when they report those assignments to the OIC staff. There will be no economic impact on small or large carriers because the proposed rule merely clarifies existing regulatory requirements. The proposed amendments will benefit both carriers and OIC staff without actually changing any requirements.
January 23, 2008
Mike Kreidler
Insurance Commissioner
OTS-1276.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Matter No. R 2000-02, filed
1/9/01, effective 7/1/01)
WAC 284-43-630
Independent review of adverse
determinations.
(((1) A covered person may seek review by a
certified independent review organization of an adverse
decision after exhausting the carrier's grievance process and
receiving a decision that is unfavorable to the covered
person, or after the carrier has exceeded the timelines for
grievances provided in this chapter, without good cause and
without reaching a decision. Upon prior written approval of
the carrier's process by the commissioner, a carrier may
establish a process to bypass the carrier's internal grievance
process and allow for the direct appeal to a certified
independent review organization for certain classes of adverse
determinations.
(2) Carriers must provide to the appropriate independent review organization certified by the department of health and designated by the commissioner's rotational registry, not later than the third business day after the date the carrier receives a request for review, a copy of:
(a) Any medical records of the covered person that are relevant to the review;
(b) Any documents used by the carrier in making the determination to be reviewed by the certified independent review organization; including relevant clinical review criteria used by the carrier and other relevant medical, scientific, and cost-effectiveness evidence;
(c) Any documentation and written information submitted to the carrier in support of the appeal;
(d) A list of each physician or health care provider who has provided care to the covered person and who may have medical records relevant to the appeal. Health information or other confidential or proprietary information in the custody of a carrier may be provided to an independent review organization, subject to the privacy provisions of TITLE 284 WAC;
(e) The attending or ordering provider's recommendations; and
(f) The terms and conditions of coverage under the relevant health plan.
The carrier shall also make available to the covered person and to any provider acting on behalf of the covered person all materials provided to an independent review organization reviewing the carrier's determination. The carrier may also require the covered person and any provider acting on behalf of a covered person to make available to the carrier information provided to an independent review organization in support of an appeal.
(3) The medical reviewers from a certified independent review organization shall make determinations regarding the medical necessity or appropriateness of, and the application of health plan coverage provisions to, health care services for a covered person. The medical reviewers' determinations must be based upon their expert medical judgment, after consideration of relevant medical, scientific, and cost-effectiveness evidence, and medical standards of practice in the state of Washington. Except as provided in this subsection, the certified independent review organization must ensure that determinations are consistent with the scope of covered benefits as outlined in the medical coverage agreement. Medical reviewers may override the health plan's medical necessity or appropriateness standards if the standards are determined upon review to be unreasonable or inconsistent with sound, evidence-based medical practice.
(4) Once a request for an independent review determination has been made, the independent review organization must proceed to a final determination, unless requested otherwise by both the carrier and the covered person or covered person's representative.
(5) Carriers must implement the certified independent review organization's determination promptly, and must pay the certified independent review organization's charges.)) Carriers must use the rotational registry system of certified independent review organizations (IRO) established by the commissioner and the department of health.
(1) Carriers must select reviewing IROs in the rotational manner described in the rotational registry system. A carrier may not make an assignment to an IRO out of sequence for any reason other than the existence of a conflict of interest, as set forth in WAC 246-305-030.
(2) The rotational registry system, a current list of certified IROs, IRO assignment instructions, and an IRO assignment form to be used by carriers are set forth on the insurance commissioner's web site (www.insurance.wa.gov).
(3) In addition to the requirements set forth in RCW 48.43.535(4), carriers must:
(a) Make available to the covered person and to any provider acting on behalf of the covered person all materials provided to an independent review organization reviewing the carrier's determination; and
(b) Provide IROs with:
(i) All relevant clinical review criteria used by the carrier and other relevant medical, scientific, and cost-effectiveness evidence;
(ii) The attending or ordering provider's recommendations; and
(iii) A copy of the terms and conditions of coverage under the relevant health plan.
(4) Carriers must report to the commissioner each assignment made to an IRO not later than three business days after an assignment is made. Information regarding the enrollee's personal health should not be provided with the report.
(5) The requirements of this section are in addition to the requirements set forth in RCW 48.43.535 and 43.70.235, and rules adopted by the department of health in chapter 246-305 WAC.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 48.02.060, 48.18.120, 48.20.450, 48.20.460, 48.30.010, 48.44.050, 48.46.100, 48.46.200, 48.43.505, 48.43.510, 48.43.515, 48.43.520, 48.43.525, 48.43.530, 48.43.535. 01-03-033 (Matter No. R 2000-02), § 284-43-630, filed 1/9/01, effective 7/1/01.]