Title IN, Insurance Code

Sec. 4201.403. PAYMENT FOR INDEPENDENT REVIEW. A utilization review agent shall pay for an independent review conducted under this subchapter. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 727 (H.B. 2017), Sec. 4, eff. April 1, 2007. SUBCHAPTER J. SPECIALTY UTILIZATION REVIEW AGENTS

Sec. 4201.451. DEFINITION. For purposes of this subchapter, "specialty utilization review agent" means a utilization review agent who conducts utilization review for a specialty health care service, including dentistry, chiropractic services, or physical therapy. Added by Acts 20…

Sec. 4201.452. INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN OTHER LAW. A specialty utilization review agent is not subject to Section 4201.151, 4201.152, 4201.206, 4201.252, or 4201.356. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 727 (H.B. 2017), Sec. 4, eff. April 1, 2007.

Sec. 4201.453. UTILIZATION REVIEW PLAN. A specialty utilization review agent's utilization review plan, including reconsideration and appeal requirements, must be: (1) reviewed by a health care provider of the appropriate specialty who is licensed or otherwise authorized to provi…

Sec. 4201.454. UTILIZATION REVIEW UNDER DIRECTION OF PROVIDER OF SAME SPECIALTY. A specialty utilization review agent shall conduct utilization review under the direction of a health care provider who is of the same specialty as the agent and who is licensed or otherwise authoriz…

Sec. 4201.455. PERSONNEL. (a) Personnel who are employed by or under contract with a specialty utilization review agent to perform utilization review must be appropriately trained and qualified and meet the requirements of this chapter and other applicable law of this state, incl…

Sec. 4201.456. OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS TREATMENT BEFORE ADVERSE DETERMINATION. Subject to the notice requirements of Subchapter G, before an adverse determination is issued by a specialty utilization review agent who questions the medical necessity, the appropriateness, or the exp…

Sec. 4201.457. APPEAL DECISIONS. A specialty utilization review agent shall comply with the requirement that a physician or other health care provider who makes the decision in an appeal of an adverse determination must be of the same or a similar specialty as the health care pro…

Sec. 4201.551. GENERAL CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENT. (a) A utilization review agent shall preserve the confidentiality of individual medical records to the extent required by law. (b) This chapter does not authorize a utilization review agent to take any action that violates a sta…

Sec. 4201.552. CONSENT REQUIREMENTS. (a) A utilization review agent may not disclose individual medical records, personal information, or other confidential information about a patient obtained in the performance of utilization review without the patient's prior written consent o…

Sec. 4201.553. PROVIDING INFORMATION TO AFFILIATED ENTITIES. A utilization review agent may provide confidential information to a third party under contract with or affiliated with the agent solely to perform or assist with utilization review. Information provided to a third part…

Sec. 4201.554. PROVIDING INFORMATION TO COMMISSIONER. Notwithstanding this subchapter, a utilization review agent shall provide to the commissioner on request individual medical records or other confidential information to enable the commissioner to determine compliance with this…

Sec. 4201.555. ACCESS TO RECORDED PERSONAL INFORMATION. (a) If an individual submits a written request to a utilization review agent for access to recorded personal information concerning the individual, the agent shall, within 10 business days from the date the agent receives th…

Sec. 4201.556. PUBLISHING INFORMATION IDENTIFIABLE TO HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. (a) A utilization review agent may not publish data that identifies a particular physician or other health care provider, including data in a quality review study or performance tracking data, without pro…

Sec. 4201.557. REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN DATA IN CONFIDENTIAL MANNER. A utilization review agent shall maintain all data concerning a patient or physician or other health care provider in a confidential manner that prevents unauthorized disclosure to a third party. Added by Acts 20…

Sec. 4201.558. DESTRUCTION OF CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS. When a utilization review agent determines a document in the custody of the agent that contains confidential patient information or confidential physician or other health care provider financial data is no longer neede…

Sec. 4201.601. NOTICE OF SUSPECTED VIOLATION; COMPELLING PRODUCTION OF INFORMATION. If the commissioner believes that a person or entity conducting utilization review is in violation of this chapter or applicable rules, the commissioner: (1) shall notify the utilization review ag…

Sec. 4201.602. ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDING. (a) The commissioner may initiate a proceeding under this subchapter. (b) A proceeding under this chapter is a contested case for purposes of Chapter 2001, Government Code. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 727 (H.B. 2017), Sec. 4, eff. Apr…

Sec. 4201.603. REMEDIES AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION. If the commissioner determines that a utilization review agent, health maintenance organization, insurer, or other person or entity conducting utilization review has violated or is violating this chapter, the commissioner may: …

Sec. 4201.651. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this subchapter: (1) "Affiliate" has the meaning assigned by Section 823.003. (2) "Preauthorization" means a determination by a health maintenance organization, insurer, or person contracting with a health maintenance organization or insurer tha…

Sec. 4201.652. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter applies only to: (1) a health benefit plan offered by a health maintenance organization operating under Chapter 843, except that this subchapter does not apply to: (A) the child health plan program under Chapter 62, Heal…

Sec. 4201.653. EXEMPTION FROM PREAUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PHYSICIANS AND PROVIDERS PROVIDING CERTAIN HEALTH CARE SERVICES. (a) A health maintenance organization or an insurer that uses a preauthorization process for health care services may not require a physician or provid…

Sec. 4201.654. DURATION OF PREAUTHORIZATION EXEMPTION. (a) A physician's or provider's exemption from preauthorization requirements under Section 4201.653 remains in effect until: (1) the 30th day after the date the health maintenance organization or insurer notifies the physicia…

Sec. 4201.655. DENIAL OR RESCISSION OF PREAUTHORIZATION EXEMPTION. (a) A health maintenance organization or insurer may rescind an exemption from preauthorization requirements under Section 4201.653 only: (1) during January of a year beginning on or after the first anniversary of…

Sec. 4201.656. INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF EXEMPTION DETERMINATION. (a) A physician or provider has a right to a review of an adverse determination regarding a preauthorization exemption, including a health maintenance organization's or insurer's determination to deny an exemption to t…

Sec. 4201.657. EFFECT OF APPEAL OR INDEPENDENT REVIEW DETERMINATION. (a) A health maintenance organization or insurer is bound by an appeal or independent review determination that does not affirm the determination made by the health maintenance organization or insurer to rescind…

Sec. 4201.658. ELIGIBILITY FOR PREAUTHORIZATION EXEMPTION FOLLOWING FINALIZED EXEMPTION RESCISSION OR DENIAL. After a final determination or review affirming the rescission or denial of an exemption for a specific health care service under Section 4201.653, a physician or provide…

Sec. 4201.659. EFFECT OF PREAUTHORIZATION EXEMPTION. (a) A health maintenance organization or insurer may not deny or reduce payment to a physician or provider for a health care service for which the physician or provider has qualified for an exemption from preauthorization requi…

Sec. 4201.660. REPORT. (a) Each health maintenance organization and insurer shall submit to the department, in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, an annual written report, for each health care service subject to an exemption under Section 4201.653, on the: (1) ex…