(a) When requested by an insured or contracting health professional who is treating an insured, a disability insurer that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses shall authorize a second opinion by an appropriately qualified health care professional. Reasons for a second opinion to be provided or authorized shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) If the insured questions the reasonableness or necessity of recommended surgical procedures.

(2) If the insured questions a diagnosis or plan of care for a condition that threatens loss of life, loss of limb, loss of bodily function, or substantial impairment, including, but not limited to, a serious chronic condition.

(3) If clinical indications are not clear or are complex and confusing, a diagnosis is in doubt due to conflicting test results, or the treating health professional is unable to diagnose the condition and the insured requests an additional diagnosis.

(4) If the treatment plan in progress is not improving the medical condition of the insured within an appropriate period of time given the diagnosis and plan of care, and the insured requests a second opinion regarding the diagnosis or continuance of the treatment.

(5) If the insured has attempted to follow the plan of care or consulted with the initial provider concerning serious concerns about the diagnosis or plan of care.

(b) For purposes of this section, an appropriately qualified health care professional is a primary care physician or a specialist who is acting within his or her scope of practice and who possesses a clinical background, including training and expertise, related to the particular illness, disease, condition or conditions associated with the request for a second opinion.

(c) If an insured or participating health professional who is treating an insured requests a second opinion pursuant to this section, an authorization or denial shall be provided in an expeditious manner. When the insured’s condition is such that the insured faces an imminent and serious threat to his or her health, including, but not limited to, the potential loss of life, limb, or other major bodily function, or lack of timeliness that would be detrimental to the insured’s life or health or could jeopardize the insured’s ability to regain maximum function, the second opinion shall be rendered in a timely fashion appropriate to the nature of the insured’s condition, not to exceed 72 hours after the insurer’s receipt of the request, whenever possible. Each insurer shall file with the Department of Insurance timelines for responding to requests for second opinions for cases involving emergency needs, urgent care, and other requests by July 1, 2000, and within 30 days of any amendment to the timelines. The timelines shall be made available to the public upon request.

(d) If an insurer approves a request by an insured for a second opinion, the insured shall be responsible only for the costs of applicable copayments that the insurer requires for similar referrals.

(e) If the insured is requesting a second opinion about care from his or her primary care physician, the second opinion shall be provided by an appropriately qualified health care professional of the insured’s choice who is contracted with the insurer.

(f) If the insured is requesting a second opinion about care from a specialist, the second opinion shall be provided by any provider of the same or equivalent specialty, of the insured’s choice, within the insurer’s provider network, if the insurance contract limits second opinions to within a network.

(g) The insurer may limit second opinions to its network of providers if the insurance contract limits the benefit to within a network of providers and there is a participating provider who meets the standard specified in subdivision (b). If there is no participating provider who meets this standard, then the insurer shall authorize a second opinion by an appropriately qualified health professional outside of the insurer’s provider network. In approving a second opinion either inside or outside of the insurer’s provider network, the insurer shall take into account the ability of the insured to travel to the provider.

(h) The insurer shall require the second opinion health professional to provide the insured and the initial health professional with a consultation report, including any recommended procedures or tests that the second opinion health professional believes appropriate. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the insurer from authorizing, based on its independent determination, additional medical opinions concerning the medical condition of an insured.

(i) If the insurer denies a request by an insured for a second opinion, it shall notify the insured in writing of the reasons for the denial and shall inform the insured of the right to dispute the denial, and the procedures for exercising that right.

(j) If the insurance contract limits health care services to within a network of providers, in order for coverage to be in force, the insured shall obtain services only from a provider who is participating in, or under contract with, the insurer pursuant to the specific insurance contract under which the insured is entitled to health care service benefits.

(k) This section shall not apply to any policy or contract of disability insurance that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses and that does not limit second opinions, subject to all other terms and conditions of the contract.

(l) This section shall not apply to accident-only, specified disease, or hospital indemnity health insurance policies.

(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 135, Sec. 113. Effective January 1, 2001. Note: Amendment by Stats. 2000, Ch. 857, was nullified because of Ch. 857's prevailing deferral clause.)