Section 500.3531 - Contracts with health care providers to become affiliated providers; requirements; standards; filing; duplicative standards; notice procedures; provider application period; approval or rejection as affiliated provider; termination of contract; providing information to insurer(1) This section applies if a health maintenance organization contracts with health care providers to become affiliated providers or offers a prudent purchaser contract.(2) A health maintenance organization may enter into a contract with 1 or more health care providers to control health care costs, assure appropriate utilization of health maintenance services, and maintain quality of health care. The health maintenance organization may limit the number of contracts entered into under this section if the number of contracts is sufficient to assure reasonable levels of access to health maintenance services for recipients of those services. The number of contracts authorized by this section that are necessary to assure reasonable levels of access to health maintenance services for recipients shall be determined by the health maintenance organization as approved by the commissioner under this chapter. However, the health maintenance organization shall offer a contract, comparable to those contracts entered into with other affiliated providers, to at least 1 health care provider that provides the applicable health maintenance services and is located within a reasonable distance from the recipients of those health maintenance services, if a health care provider that provides the applicable health maintenance services is located within that reasonable distance.(3) A health maintenance organization shall give all health care providers that provide the applicable health maintenance services and are located in the geographic area served by the health maintenance organization an opportunity to apply to the health maintenance organization to become an affiliated provider.(4) A contract shall be based upon the following written standards which shall be filed by the health maintenance organization with the commissioner on a form and in a manner that is uniformly developed and applied by the commissioner:(a) Standards for maintaining quality health care.(b) Standards for controlling health care costs.(c) Standards for assuring appropriate utilization of health care services.(d) Standards for assuring reasonable levels of access to health care services.(e) Other standards considered appropriate by the health maintenance organization.(5) If the commissioner determines that standards under subsection (4) are duplicative of standards already filed by the health maintenance organization, those duplicative standards need not be filed under subsection (4).(6) A health maintenance organization shall develop and institute procedures that are designed to notify health care providers that provide the applicable health maintenance services and are located in the geographic area served by the organization of the acceptance of applications for a provider panel. The procedures shall include the giving of notice to those providers upon request and shall include publication in a newspaper with general circulation in the geographic area served by the organization at least 30 days before the initial provider application period.(7) A health maintenance organization shall provide for an initial 60-day provider application period during which providers may apply to the health maintenance organization to become affiliated providers. A health maintenance organization that has entered into a contract with an affiliated provider shall provide, at least once every 4 years, for a 60-day provider application period during which a provider may apply to the organization to become an affiliated provider. Notice of this provider application period shall be given to providers upon request and shall be published in a newspaper with general circulation in the geographic area served by the organization at least 30 days before the commencement of the provider application period. Upon receipt of a request by a health care provider, the organization shall provide the written standards required under this chapter to the health care provider. Within 90 days after the close of a provider application period, or within 30 days following the completion of the applicable physician credentialing process, whichever is later, a health maintenance organization shall notify an applicant in writing as to whether the application to become an affiliated provider has been accepted or rejected. If an applicant has been rejected, the health maintenance organization shall state in writing the reasons for rejection, citing 1 or more of the standards.(8) A health care provider whose contract as an affiliated provider is terminated shall be provided upon request with a written explanation by the organization of the reasons for the termination.(9) A health maintenance organization that is providing prudent purchaser agreement services to an insurer shall provide the insurer on a timely basis with information requested by the insurer that the organization has and that the insurer needs to comply with section 2212.Add. 2000, Act 252, Imd. Eff. 6/29/2000 .