Sec. 502.

(1) A health care corporation may enter into participating contracts for reimbursement with professional health care providers practicing legally in this state for health care services or with health practitioners practicing legally in any other jurisdiction for health care services that the professional health care providers or practitioners may legally perform. A participating contract may cover all members or may be a separate and individual contract on a per claim basis, as set forth in the provider class plan, if, in entering into a separate and individual contract on a per claim basis, the participating provider certifies all of the following to the health care corporation:

(a) That the provider will accept payment from the corporation as payment in full for services rendered for the specified claim for the member indicated.

(b) That the provider will accept payment from the corporation as payment in full for all cases involving the procedure specified, for the duration of the calendar year. As used in this subdivision, provider does not include a person licensed as a dentist under part 166 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.16601 to 333.16648.

(c) That the provider will not determine whether to participate on a claim on the basis of the race, color, creed, marital status, sex, national origin, residence, age, disability, or lawful occupation of the member entitled to health care benefits.

(2) A contract entered into under subsection (1) shall provide that the private provider-patient relationship shall be maintained to the extent provided for by law. A health care corporation shall continue to offer a reimbursement arrangement to any class of providers with which it has contracted before August 27, 1985 and that continues to meet the standards set by the corporation for that class of providers.

(3) A health care corporation shall not restrict the methods of diagnosis or treatment of professional health care providers who treat members. Except as otherwise provided in section 502a, each member of the health care corporation shall at all times have a choice of professional health care providers. This subsection does not apply to limitations in benefits contained in certificates, to the reimbursement provisions of a provider contract or reimbursement arrangement, or to standards set by the corporation for all contracting providers. A health care corporation may refuse to reimburse a health care provider for health care services that are overutilized, including those services rendered, ordered, or prescribed to an extent that is greater than reasonably necessary.

(4) A health care corporation may provide to a member, upon request, a list of providers with whom the corporation contracts, for the purpose of assisting a member in obtaining a type of health care service. However, except as otherwise provided in section 502a, an employee, agent, or officer of the corporation, or an individual on the board of directors of the corporation, shall not make recommendations on behalf of the corporation with respect to the choice of a specific health care provider. Except as otherwise provided in section 502a, an employee, agent, or officer of the corporation, or a person on the board of directors of the corporation who influences or attempts to influence a person in the choice or selection of a specific professional health care provider on behalf of the corporation, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(5) A health care corporation shall provide a symbol of participation, which can be publicly displayed, to providers who participate on all claims for covered health care services rendered to subscribers.

(6) This section does not impede the lawful operation of, or lawful promotion of, a health maintenance organization owned by a health care corporation.

(7) Contracts entered into under this section with professional health care providers licensed in this state are subject to sections 504 to 518.

(8) A health care corporation shall not deny participation to a freestanding surgical outpatient facility on the basis of ownership if the facility meets the reasonable standards set by the health care corporation for similar facilities, is licensed under part 208 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.20801 to 333.20821, and complies with part 222 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.22201 to 333.22260.

(9) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, if a certificate provides for benefits for services that are within the scope of practice of optometry, a health care corporation is not required to provide benefits or reimburse for a practice of optometry service unless that service was included in the definition of practice of optometry under section 17401 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.17401, as of May 20, 1992.

(10) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, a health care corporation is not required to reimburse for services otherwise covered under a certificate if the services were performed by a member of a health care profession, which health care profession was not licensed or registered by this state on or before January 1, 1998 but that becomes a health care profession licensed or registered by this state after January 1, 1998. This subsection does not change the status of a health care profession that was licensed or registered by this state on or before January 1, 1998.

(11) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, if a certificate provides for benefits for services that are within the scope of practice of chiropractic, a health care corporation is not required to provide benefits or reimburse for a practice of chiropractic service unless that service was included in the definition of practice of chiropractic under section 16401 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.16401, as of January 1, 2009.

(12) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, if a certificate provides for benefits for services that are provided by a licensed physical therapist or physical therapist assistant under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist, a health care corporation is not required to provide benefits or reimburse for services provided by a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant unless that service was provided by a licensed physical therapist or physical therapist assistant under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist pursuant to a prescription from a health care professional who holds a license issued under part 166, 170, 175, or 180 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.16601 to 333.16648, 333.17001 to 333.17084, 333.17501 to 333.17556, and 333.18001 to 333.18058, or the equivalent license issued by another state.

History: 1980, Act 350, Eff. Apr. 3, 1981 ;-- Am. 1984, Act 230, Eff. Dec. 20, 1984 ;-- Am. 1988, Act 38, Eff. Mar. 30, 1989 ;-- Am. 1993, Act 127, Imd. Eff. July 21, 1993 ;-- Am. 1994, Act 440, Eff. Mar. 30, 1995 ;-- Am. 1997, Act 184, Imd. Eff. Dec. 30, 1997 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 24, Imd. Eff. Mar. 12, 1998 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 446, Imd. Eff. Dec. 30, 1998 ;-- Am. 2003, Act 59, Eff. July 23, 2003 ;-- Am. 2009, Act 225, Imd. Eff. Jan. 5, 2010 ;-- Am. 2014, Act 261, Imd. Eff. July 1, 2014 Compiler's Notes: Neither Senate Bill No. 493 nor House Bill No. 4494 was enacted into law by the 87th Legislature.Popular Name: Blue Cross-Blue ShieldPopular Name: Act 350