Georgia § 51-1-49 - Requirements for maintaining cause of action against managed care entity; notice; independent review.

§ 51-1-49. Requirements for maintaining cause of action against managed care entity; notice; independent review.

No person may maintain a cause of action pursuant to Code Section 51-1-48 unless the affected enrollee or the enrollee's representative: Has exhausted the grievance procedure provided for under Code Section 33-20A-5 and before instituting the action: Gives written notice of intent to file suit to the managed care entity; and Agrees to submit the claim to independent review if required under subsection (c) of this Code section; or Has filed a pleading alleging in substance that: Harm to the enrollee has already occurred for which the managed care entity may be liable; and The grievance procedure or independent review is not timely or otherwise available or would not make the enrollee whole, in which case the court, upon motion by the managed care entity, shall stay the action and order such grievance procedure or independent review to be conducted and exhausted. The notice required by paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Code section must be delivered or mailed to the managed care entity not fewer than 30 days before the action is filed. The managed care entity receiving notice of intent to file suit may obtain independent review of the claim, if notice of a request for review is mailed or delivered to the Health Planning Agency, or its successor agency, and the affected enrollee within ten days of receipt of the notice of intent to file suit. (Code 1981, § 51-1-49 , enacted by Ga. L. 1999, p. 350, § 1.) Editor's notes. - Ga. L. 1999, p. 350, § 4, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: "For purposes of certifying independent review organizations by the Health Planning Agency, or its successor agency, this Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor (April 20, 1999) or upon its becoming law without such approval. For all other purposes, this Act shall become effective on July 1, 1999, and shall be applicable to any contract, policy, or other agreement of a managed care plan or health maintenance organization if such contract, policy, or agreement provides for health care services or reimbursement therefor and is issued, issued for delivery, delivered, or renewed on or after July 1, 1999." Law reviews. - For note on 1999 enactment of this Code section, see 16 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 151 (1999).