§432E-38 Approval of independent review organizations. (a) An independent review organization shall be approved by the commissioner in order to be eligible to be assigned to conduct external reviews under this part.

(b) To be eligible for approval by the commissioner to conduct external reviews under this part an independent review organization shall:

(1) Submit an application on a form required by the commissioner and include all documentation and information necessary for the commissioner to determine if the independent review organization satisfies the minimum qualifications established under this part; and

(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c), shall be accredited by a nationally-recognized private accrediting entity that the commissioner has determined has independent review organization accreditation standards that are equivalent to or exceed the minimum standards established by this section and section 432E-39.

(c) The commissioner may approve independent review organizations that are not accredited by a nationally-recognized private accrediting entity if there are no acceptable nationally-recognized private accrediting entities providing independent review organization accreditation.

(d) The commissioner may charge an application fee that the independent review organizations shall submit to the commissioner with an application for approval and re-approval.

(e) Approval pursuant to this section is effective for two years, unless the commissioner determines before its expiration that the independent review organization does not meet the minimum qualifications established under this part. If the commissioner determines that an independent review organization has lost its accreditation or no longer satisfies the minimum requirements of this part, the commissioner shall terminate the approval of the independent review organization and remove the independent review organization from the list of independent review organizations approved to conduct external reviews maintained by the commissioner.

(f) The commissioner shall maintain and periodically update a list of approved independent review organizations. [L 2011, c 230, pt of §2]