Effective 01 Jan 2002, see footnote

376.384. Reimbursement of claims, duties of health carriers — claims submitted in electronic format, when — compliance monitored by department — complaint procedures developed — standard medical code sets required, when — rulemaking authority. — 1. All health carriers shall:

(1) Permit nonparticipating health care providers to file a claim for reimbursement for a health care service provided in this state as defined in section 376.1350 for a period of up to one year from the date of service;

(2) Permit participating health care providers to file a claim for reimbursement for a health care service provided in this state for a period of up to six months from the date of service, unless the contract between the health carrier and health care provider specifies a different standard;

(3) Not request a refund or offset against a claim more than twelve months after a health carrier has paid a claim except in cases of fraud or misrepresentation by the health care provider;

(4) Issue within one working day a confirmation of receipt of an electronically filed claim.

2. On or after January 1, 2003, all claims for reimbursement for a health care service provided in this shall be submitted in an electronic format consistent with federal administrative simplification standards adopted pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Any claim submitted by a health care provider after January 1, 2003, in a nonelectronic format shall not be subject to the provisions of section 376.383. Any health carrier shall provide readily accessible electronic filing after this date to health care providers.

3. On or after January 1, 2002, the director of the department of commerce and insurance shall monitor health carrier compliance with the provisions of this section and section 376.383. Examinations, which may be based upon statistical samplings, to determine compliance may be conducted by the department or the director may contract with a qualified private entity. Compliance shall be defined as properly processing and paying ninety-five percent of all claims received in a given calendar year in accordance with the provisions of this section and section 376.383. The director may assess an administrative penalty in addition to the penalties outlined in section 376.383 of up to twenty-five dollars per claim for the percentage of claims found to be in noncompliance, but not to exceed an annual aggregate penalty of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, for any health carrier deemed to be not in* compliance with this section and section 376.383. Any penalty assessed pursuant to this subsection shall be assessed in addition to penalties provided for pursuant to sections 375.942 and 375.1012.

4. If the director finds that health carriers are failing to make interest payments to health care professionals authorized by section 376.383, the director is authorized to order such health carriers to remit such interest payments. The director is also authorized to assess a monetary penalty, payable to the state of Missouri, in a sum not to exceed twenty-five percent of the unpaid interest payment against health carriers.

5. A health carrier may request a waiver of the requirements of this section and section 376.383 if the basis for the request is an act of God or other good cause as determined by the director.

6. The director shall develop a method by which health care providers may submit complaints to the department identifying violations of this section and section 376.383 by a health carrier. The director shall consider such complaints when determining whether to examine a health carrier's compliance. Prior to filing a complaint with the department, health care providers who believe that a health carrier has not paid a claim in accordance with this section and section 376.383 shall first contact the health carrier to determine the status of the claim to ensure that sufficient documentation supporting the claim has been provided and to determine whether the claim is considered to be complete. Complaints to the department regarding the payment of claims by a health carrier should contain information such as:

(1) The health care provider's name, address, and daytime phone number;

(2) The health carrier's name;

(3) The dates of service and the dates the claims were filed with the health carrier;

(4) Relevant correspondence between the health care provider and the health carrier, including requests from the health carrier for additional information; and

(5) Additional information which the health care provider believes would be of assistance in the department's review.

7. On or after January 1, 2003, all claims submitted electronically for reimbursement for a health care service provided in this state shall be submitted in a uniform format utilizing standard medical code sets. The uniform format and the standard medical code sets shall be promulgated by the department of commerce and insurance through rules consistent with but no more stringent than the federal administrative simplification standards adopted pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

8. The department shall have authority to promulgate rules for the implementation of section 376.383 and this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and if applicable, sections 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2001, shall be invalid and void.

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(L. 2001 H.B. 328 & 88)

Effective 1-01-02

*Word "it" appears in original rolls.