Part III. External Review
14VAC5-216-80. Incomplete or ineligible determinations.
A. After the covered person has requested an external review, and if he is notified by the health carrier that the request is incomplete in accordance with § 38.2-3561 B 4 or 38.2-3563 D 6 of the Code of Virginia, the covered person shall have five business days from receipt of such notice to return the requested materials necessary to complete the request to the health carrier. The health carrier shall then have five business days to conduct the preliminary review for eligibility. Notification shall be in accordance with the provisions of § 38.2-3561 C or 38.2-3563 E of the Code of Virginia.
B. If the health carrier determines that a covered person's request for external review is complete but ineligible, the covered person may request that the commission review the ineligibility determination.
1. Within five business days from the date the covered person receives notification from the health carrier, the covered person may request in writing that the commission review the ineligibility determination by the health carrier.
2. Within one business day after receipt of a notification from the covered person, the commission shall notify the health carrier of such request.
3. Within three business days of receipt of the commission's notice to the health carrier, the health carrier shall forward all information and materials used to make the ineligibility determination to the commission.
4. Within five business days of receipt of all materials necessary to make an eligibility determination, the commission shall review the file and make such decision.
5. Within one business day of such decision, the commission shall notify the covered person and the health carrier, and the assigned independent review organization if eligible.
C. If the covered person has requested an expedited external review or an expedited external review of experimental or investigational treatment, and is notified by the health carrier that the request for such expedited external review is incomplete, the covered person shall promptly return the requested materials necessary to complete the request to the health carrier. The health carrier shall then promptly conduct the preliminary review for eligibility.
D. If the health carrier determines that a covered person's request for expedited external review is complete but ineligible, the covered person may promptly request, orally or in writing, that the commission review the ineligibility determination.
1. Upon receipt of an eligibility request from a covered person, the commission shall promptly notify the health carrier of such request.
2. The health carrier shall promptly forward all information and materials used to make the ineligibility determination to the commission.
3. Upon receipt of all information and materials from the health carrier, the commission shall promptly review the file and make an eligibility determination.
4. The commission shall promptly notify the covered person and the health carrier, and the assigned independent review organization if eligible.
E. If the request for a standard external review does not contain sufficient information to allow the commission to send the request to the health carrier, the commission shall have one business day from the date the sufficient information is received to provide notice to the health carrier.
Statutory Authority
§ 12.1-13 and 38.2-223 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 2011.
14VAC5-216-90. Expedited external review.
A. If a covered person files a request with the commission for an expedited external review in accordance with § 38.2-3560 C of the Code of Virginia, the health carrier shall promptly conduct an eligibility determination in accordance with 14VAC5-216-80 prior to review by an independent review organization.
B. When an independent review organization is requested by the commission in accordance with § 38.2-3562 of the Code of Virginia to conduct an expedited external review of an adverse determination under § 38.2-3560 C of the Code of Virginia, the independent review organization shall determine whether the timeframes for sequential completion of the expedited internal appeal and expedited external review (i) could seriously jeopardize the life or health of the covered person or the ability of the covered person to regain maximum function; or (ii) would subject the covered person to severe pain that cannot be adequately managed without the care or treatment that is the subject of the appeal, as compared to the timeframes for simultaneous completion of the expedited appeal and review. The independent review organization shall promptly make such determination and shall promptly notify the covered person, the health carrier, and the commission.
Statutory Authority
§ 12.1-13 and 38.2-223 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 2011.
14VAC5-216-100. Qualifications for independent review organizations.
A. An independent review organization that desires to conduct external reviews for the Commonwealth shall submit an application using Form 216-E to the commission for review and approval. An application fee of up to $500 may be required.
B. An independent review organization shall meet all the qualification requirements in § 38.2-3565 of the Code of Virginia.
C. An independent review organization that does not maintain required accreditation status shall provide notice to the commission within 30 days of any change in such status.
Statutory Authority
§ 12.1-13 and § 38.2-223 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 2011.
14VAC5-216-110. External review reporting requirements.
In accordance with § 38.2-3568 of the Code of Virginia, each health carrier and each independent review organization shall file with the commission a report by April 1 of each calendar year using Form 216-F or 216-G as appropriate.
Statutory Authority
§ 12.1-13 and 38.2-223 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 2011.
14VAC5-216-120. Funding of external review.
Failure of a health carrier to timely pay any independent review organization for a completed external review shall be a violation of this section and shall subject the health carrier to penalties imposed under Title 38.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Statutory Authority
§ 12.1-13 and 38.2-223 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 2011.
14VAC5-216-130. Self-insured plans.
A. Any self-insured plan whose plan sponsor's headquarters is located in Virginia may choose to utilize the external review processes outlined in Chapter 35.1 (§ 38.2-3556 et seq.) of Title 38.2 of the Code of Virginia. For purposes of Part III of this chapter, "health carrier" shall mean a self-insured plan or its third-party administrator if any, that opts in to the state external review process.
B. A self-insured plan utilizing such external review processes shall notify the commission that it will opt-in to the state external review process by completing Form 216-H. A new form shall be completed for each plan year.
C. A self-insured plan that opts in to the state external review process shall comply with all statutes and regulations pertaining to such process. Plan materials and appropriate denial notices shall contain required information regarding the state external review processes.
D. A self-insured plan that opts into the state external review process but fails to comply with the requirements outlined in this chapter and applicable state statutes pertaining to the external review process may be terminated from use of such process by the commission.
Statutory Authority
§ 12.1-13 and 38.2-223 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 2011.