La. Admin. Code tit. 37 § XIII-6209

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024

Section XIII-6209 - Requesting an External Review

A. All requests for external review must be made by the health insurance issuer through the IRO review request module, which can be accessed via the industry access link on the LDI's website: www.ldi.la.gov. When a covered person or his authorized representative requests an external review, the health insurance issuer shall notify the LDI by entering this request via the link. The request must be entered even if the health insurance issuer determines the request is ineligible for review.

B. If the covered person or his authorized representative requests an external review, but the health insurance issuer determines that the request is not complete, the health insurance issuer shall notify the LDI through the IRO review request module described in §6209.A by completing the field indicating that the covered person's or his authorized representative's request is incomplete and stating with specificity the information or materials needed to make the request complete. Such notice shall be provided to the LDI within five business days following the date of receipt of the external review request from the covered person or his authorized representative pursuant to R.S. 22:2436.

C. If the covered person or his authorized representative requests an external review, but the health insurance issuer denies the request as being ineligible pursuant to R.S. 22:2436(B), the covered person or his authorized representative may appeal in writing to the commissioner. The health insurance issuer and the covered person or his authorized representative both may submit additional documentation, such as the policy to verify coverage limitations as well as dates of coverage, documentation of service dates, etc., to help establish why the denial should be upheld or reversed. However, no medical or protected health information should be submitted to the commissioner for this review, unless such information is determinative of the issue in the appeal.

D. Upon receipt of an appeal of a health insurance issuer's eligibility determination, the LDI may contact the health insurance issuer's designated contact to request additional information, if necessary. Therefore, all health insurance issuers should ensure that the designated contact's information is regularly updated in the industry access portal, as all electronic communications, including assignment of a case to an IRO, reporting of an IRO's external review results, reporting of the commissioner's decision on eligibility for an external review, etc., will be sent automatically to the designated contact of record that is on file with the LDI.

E. To facilitate notice of the right to appeal a determination of ineligibility to the commissioner, the health insurance issuer shall include the reason for ineligibility, as well as the following language (or language that is substantially similar), in its notice to the covered person.

"[Name of health insurance issuer] has determined that your request for an independent external review of your adverse determination does not meet the eligibility requirements for independent external reviews because [reason]. However, [name of health insurance issuer]'s determination that you are ineligible for an external review may be appealed to the Commissioner of Insurance, who has the authority to reverse [name of health insurance issuer]'s decision and order an independent external review of your adverse determination. If you wish to appeal this decision, you should go to the following website: https://ldi.la.gov/OnlineServices/ IROConsumerAppeals.

Once you access the website, enter your last name and case number where instructed. Following verification of your name and case number, you will be able to enter the reasons you believe your adverse determination should be eligible for an independent external review. If you have questions or if you or your authorized representative is unable to access the website, you may contact the Louisiana Department of Insurance by email at ConsumerAppeals@ldi.la.gov or by telephone at (225) 342-1355. Your case number is _______ ."

1. Health insurance issuers must also upload a copy of the adverse determination letter when reporting external review requests that have been deemed ineligible.

F. If the covered person or his authorized representative requests an external review and the health insurance issuer does not deny the request as being ineligible or if the commissioner reverses a request that the health insurance issuer had deemed ineligible for external review, the health insurance issuer must submit the request to the LDI for assignment of an external review by using the IRO review request form which can be located on the LDI website, www.ldi.la.gov via the industry access portal.

G. When completing the IRO review request form, the health insurance issuer must enter the following information:

1. covered person's name;

2. covered person's contact information (address, telephone, email address, fax);

3. name of covered person's authorized representative (if applicable);

4. authorized representative's contact information (if applicable);

5. policy/contract number;

6. name of primary care doctor or specialist;

7. type of specialty;

8. type of appeal requested: medical, rescission or experimental;

9. type of appeal requested: standard or expedited;

10. result of request: eligible or ineligible.

H. Once the case has been assigned, neither the covered person nor the health insurance issuer may request the case be reassigned to another IRO, as all IRO assignments are final, unless reassignment is necessary pursuant to §6211.E

La. Admin. Code tit. 37, § XIII-6209

Promulgated by the Department of Insurance, Office of the Commissioner, LR 412174 (10/1/2015), Amended LR 49899 (5/1/2023).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 22:2436 and R.S. 22:2452.