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40-3229. Prior authorization requirements for emergency medical treatment; duties and responsibilities of organization, enrollees and participating providers; resolution of disputes. (a) A health maintenance organization that requires prior authorization before making payment for the treatment of medical emergency conditions, as defined by the health maintenance organization, shall provide enrollees with a toll-free telephone number answered 24 hours per day, seven days a week. At least one person with medical training who is authorized to determine whether an emergency condition exists shall be available 24 hours per day, seven days a week to make these determinations.

(b) A health maintenance organization shall not base its denial of payment for emergency medical services solely on the failure of the enrollee to receive authorization prior to receiving the emergency medical service. The enrollee must notify the health maintenance organization of receipt of medical services for emergency conditions within 24 hours or as soon after that as is reasonably possible. Nothing shall require the health maintenance organization to authorize payment for any services provided during that 24 hour period, regardless of medical necessity, if those services do not otherwise constitute benefits under the certificate of coverage approved by the commissioner.

(c) If the participating provider is responsible for seeking prior authorization from the health maintenance organization before receiving payment for the treatment of emergency medical conditions and the enrollee is eligible at the time when covered services are provided, then the enrollee will not be held financially responsible for payment for covered services if the prior authorization for emergency medical services has not been sought and received, other than for what the enrollee would otherwise be responsible, such as copayments and deductibles.

(d) All disputes between an enrollee and a health maintenance organization arising under the provisions of this section shall be resolved by means of the grievance procedures established by the health maintenance organization.

History: L. 1996, ch. 169, § 13; July 1.