Section 735.542 - [Operative Until 1/1/2025] Pharmacy claims audits; requirements An entity that audits claims or an independent third party that contracts with an entity to audit claims:
(1) Must establish, in writing, a procedure for a pharmacy to appeal the entity's findings with respect to a claim and must provide a pharmacy with a notice regarding the procedure, in writing or electronically, prior to conducting an audit of the pharmacy's claims;(2) May not conduct an audit of a claim more than 24 months after the date the claim was adjudicated by the entity;(3) Must give at least 15 days' advance written notice of an on-site audit to the pharmacy or corporate headquarters of the pharmacy;(4) May not conduct an on-site audit during the first five days of any month without the pharmacy's consent;(5) Must conduct the audit in consultation with a pharmacist who is licensed by this or another state if the audit involves clinical or professional judgment;(6) May not conduct an on-site audit of more than 250 unique prescriptions of a pharmacy in any 12-month period except in cases of alleged fraud;(7) May not conduct more than one on-site audit of a pharmacy in any 12-month period;(8) Must audit each pharmacy under the same standards and parameters that the entity uses to audit other similarly situated pharmacies;(9) Must pay any outstanding claims of a pharmacy no more than 45 days after the earlier of the date all appeals are concluded or the date a final report is issued under ORS 735.550 (3);(10) May not include dispensing fees or interest in the amount of any overpayment assessed on a claim unless the overpaid claim was for a prescription that was not filled correctly;(11) May not recoup costs associated with: (b) Other errors that do not result in financial harm to the entity or a consumer; and(12) May not charge a pharmacy for a denied or disputed claim until the audit and the appeals procedure established under subsection (1) of this section are final.This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.