41-2872. HEALTH CARE PROVIDER CONTRACTS — GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE. (1) Any stock or mutual insurer (hereinafter insurance company) issuing benefits pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be ready and willing at all times to enter into health care provider service contracts with all qualified health care providers of the category or categories which are necessary to provide the health care services covered by the insurance company’s policy of insurance if such health care providers: are qualified under the laws of the state of Idaho, desire to become participant health care providers of the insurance company, meet the requirements of the insurance company, and practice within the general area served by the insurance company.

(2) Nothing in this section shall preclude an insurance company from refusing to contract with a health care provider who is unqualified or who does not meet the terms and conditions of the participating provider contract of the insurance company or from terminating or refusing to renew the contract of a participating health care provider who is unqualified or who does not comply with, or who refuses to comply with, the terms and conditions of the participating health care provider contract including, but not limited to, practice standards and quality requirements. The contract shall provide for written notice to the participating health care provider setting forth any breach of contract for which the insurance company proposes that the contract be terminated or not renewed and shall provide for a reasonable period of time for the participating health care provider to cure such breach prior to termination or nonrenewal. If the breach has not been cured within such period of time the contract may be terminated or not renewed. Provided however, that if the breach of contract for which the insurance company proposes that the contract be terminated or not renewed is a willful breach, fraud or a breach which poses an immediate danger to the public health or safety, the contract may be terminated or not renewed immediately.

(3) Every insurance company issuing benefits pursuant to this chapter shall establish a grievance system for health care providers. Such grievance system shall provide for arbitration according to chapter 9, title 7, Idaho Code, or for such other system which provides reasonable due process provisions for the resolution of grievances and the protection of the rights of the parties.

(4) Subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall apply to health care provider participation contracts entered into after July 1, 1994.

History:

[41-2872, added 1994, ch. 275, sec. 1, p. 853.]