Arizona § 20-2531 - Applicability; requirements; exception

§ 20-2531. Applicability; requirements; exception

A. Notwithstanding article 1 of this chapter and subject to subsection B of this section, this article applies to all utilization review decisions made by utilization review agents and health care insurers operating in this state.

B. Each utilization review agent and each health care insurer operating in this state whose utilization review system includes the power to affect the direct or indirect denial of requested medical or health care services or claims for medical or health care services shall adopt written utilization review standards and criteria and processes for the review, reconsideration and appeal of denials that do all of the following:

1. Meet the requirements of this article.

2. Are consistent with chapter 1 of this title.

3. Comply with section 20-2505, paragraphs 2 through 6.

C. This article does not apply to utilization review:

1. Performed under contract with the federal government for utilization review of patients eligible for all services under title XVIII of the social security act.

2. Performed by a self-insured or self-funded employee benefit plan or a multiemployer employee benefit plan created in accordance with and pursuant to 29 United States Code section 186(c) if the regulation of that plan is preempted by section 514(b) of the employee retirement income security act of 1974 (29 United States Code section 1144(b)), but this article does apply to a health care insurer that provides coverage for services as part of an employee benefit plan.

3. Of work related injuries and illnesses covered under the workers' compensation laws in title 23.

4. Performed under the terms of a policy that pays benefits based on the health status of the insured and does not reimburse the cost of or provide covered services.

5. Performed under the terms of a long-term care insurance policy as defined in section 20-1691.

6. Performed under the terms of a medicare supplement policy as defined by the department.

D. This article does not create any new private right or cause of action for or on behalf of any member. This article provides only an administrative process for a member to pursue an external independent review of a denial for a covered service or claim for a covered service.

E. Utilization review activities involving retrospective claims review are limited to the provisions of this article only as clearly and specifically provided in the provisions of this article.

F. The processes available under this article do not apply to a denial of a nonformulary exception request that was appealed pursuant to 45 Code of Federal Regulations section 156.122(c). A provider or enrollee may appeal a denial of a nonformulary exception for a plan covered by 45 Code of Federal Regulations section 156.122(c) through the process prescribed in the federal rule.