Okla. Stat. tit. 36 § 6570.1

Current through Laws 2024, c. 453.

Section 6570.1 - [Effective 1/1/2025]

As used in this act:

1. "Adverse determination" means a determination by a health carrier or its designee utilization review entity that an admission, availability of care, continued stay, or other health care service that is a covered benefit has been reviewed and, based upon the information provided, does not meet the health carrier's requirements for medical necessity, appropriateness, health care setting, level of care, or effectiveness, and the requested service or payment for the service is therefore denied, reduced, or terminated as defined by Section 6475.3 of Title 36 of the Oklahoma Statutes;

2. "Chronic condition" means a condition that lasts one (1) year or more and requires ongoing medical attention or limits activities of daily living or both;

3. "Clinical criteria" means the written policies, written screening procedures, determination rules, determination abstracts, clinical protocols, practice guidelines, medical protocols, and any other criteria or rationale used by the utilization review entity to determine the necessity and appropriateness of health care services;

4. "Emergency health care services", with respect to an emergency medical condition as defined in 42 U.S.C.A., Section 300gg-111, means:

a. a medical screening examination, as required under Section 1867 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C., Section 1395dd, or as would be required under such section if such section applied to an independent, freestanding emergency department, that is within the capability of the emergency department of a hospital or of an independent, freestanding emergency department, as applicable, including ancillary services routinely available to the emergency department to evaluate such emergency medical condition, and

b. within the capabilities of the staff and facilities available at the hospital or the independent, freestanding emergency department, as applicable, such further medical examination and treatment as are required under Section 1395dd of the Social Security Act, or as would be required under such section if such section applied to an independent, freestanding emergency department, to stabilize the patient, regardless of the department of the hospital in which such further examination or treatment is furnished, as defined by 42 U.S.C.A., Section 300gg-111;

5. "Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act" or "EMTALA" means Section 1867 of the Social Security Act and associated regulations;

6. "Enrollee" means an individual who is enrolled in a health care plan, including covered dependents, as defined by Section 6592.1 of Title 36 of the Oklahoma Statutes;

7. "Health care provider" means any person or other entity who is licensed pursuant to the provisions of Title 59 or Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or pursuant to the definition in Section 1-1708.1C of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes;

8. "Health care services" means any services provided by a health care provider, or by an individual working for or under the supervision of a health care provider, that relate to the diagnosis, assessment, prevention, treatment, or care of any human illness, disease, injury, or condition, as defined by paragraph 2 of Section 1-1708.1C of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

The term also includes the provision of mental health and substance use disorder services, as defined by Section 6060.10 of Title 36 of the Oklahoma Statutes, and the provision of durable medical equipment. The term does not include the provision, administration, or prescription of pharmaceutical products or services;

9. "Licensed mental health professional" means:

a. a psychiatrist who is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology,

b. a psychiatrist who is a diplomate of the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry,

c. a physician licensed pursuant to the Oklahoma Allopathic Medical and Surgical Licensure and Supervision Act or the Oklahoma Osteopathic Medicine Act,

d. a clinical psychologist who is duly licensed to practice by the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists,

e. a professional counselor licensed pursuant to the Licensed Professional Counselors Act,

f. a person licensed as a clinical social worker pursuant to the provisions of the Social Worker's Licensing Act,

g. a licensed marital and family therapist as defined in the Marital and Family Therapist Licensure Act,

h. a licensed behavioral practitioner as defined in the Licensed Behavioral Practitioner Act,

i. an advanced practice nurse as defined in the Oklahoma Nursing Practice Act,

j. a physician assistant who is licensed in good standing in this state, or

k. a licensed alcohol and drug counselor/mental health (LADC/MH) as defined in the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors Act;

10. "Medically necessary" means services or supplies provided by a health care provider that are:

a. appropriate for the symptoms and diagnosis or treatment of the enrollee's condition, illness, disease, or injury,

b. in accordance with standards of good medical practice,

c. not primarily for the convenience of the enrollee or the enrollee's health care provider, and

d. the most appropriate supply or level of service that can safely be provided to the enrollee as defined by Section 6592 of Title 36 of the Oklahoma Statutes;

11. "Notice" means communication delivered either electronically or through the United States Postal Service or common carrier;

12. "Physician" means an allopathic or osteopathic physician licensed by the State of Oklahoma or another state to practice medicine;

13. "Prior authorization" means the process by which utilization review entities determine the medical necessity and medical appropriateness of otherwise covered health care services prior to the rendering of such health care services. The term shall include "authorization", "pre-certification", and any other term that would be a reliable determination by a health benefit plan. The term shall not be construed to include or refer to such processes as they may pertain to pharmaceutical services;

14. "Urgent health care service" means a health care service with respect to which the application of the time periods for making an urgent care determination, which, in the opinion of a physician with knowledge of the enrollee's medical condition:

a. could seriously jeopardize the life or health of the enrollee or the ability of the enrollee to regain maximum function, or

b. in the opinion of a physician with knowledge of the claimant's medical condition, would subject the enrollee to severe pain that cannot be adequately managed without the care or treatment that is the subject of the utilization review; and

15. "Utilization review entity" means an individual or entity that performs prior authorization for a health benefit plan as defined by Section 6060.4 of Title 36 of the Oklahoma Statutes, but shall not include any health plan offered by a contracted entity defined in Section 4002.2 of Title 56 of the Oklahoma Statutes that provides coverage to members of the state Medicaid program or other insurance subject to the Long-Term Care Insurance Act.

Okla. Stat. tit. 36, § 6570.1

Added by Laws 2024 , c. 303, s. 2, eff. 1/1/2025.