Sec. 4. (a) A health maintenance organization shall pay or deny each clean claim as follows:
(1) If the claim is filed electronically, not more than thirty (30) days after the date the claim is received by the health maintenance organization.
(2) If the claim is filed on paper, not more than forty-five (45) days after the date the claim is received by the health maintenance organization.
(b) If:
(1) a health maintenance organization fails to pay or deny a clean claim in the time required under subsection (a); and
(2) the health maintenance organization subsequently pays the claim;
the health maintenance organization shall pay the provider that submitted the claim interest on the lesser of the usual, customary, and reasonable charge for the health care services provided to the enrollee or an amount agreed to between the health maintenance organization and the provider paid under this section.
(c) Interest paid under subsection (b):
(1) accrues beginning:
(A) thirty-one (31) days after the date the claim is filed under subsection (a)(1); or
(B) forty-six (46) days after the date the claim is filed under subsection (a)(2); and
(2) stops accruing on the date the claim is paid.
(d) In paying interest under subsection (b), a health maintenance organization shall use the same interest rate as provided in IC 12-15-21-3(7)(A).
As added by P.L.162-2001, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.137-2002, SEC.4.