1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, if a provider of health care provides treatment or other services that an injured employee alleges are related to an industrial injury or occupational disease and an insurer, an organization for managed care, a third-party administrator or an employer who provides accident benefits for injured employees pursuant to NRS 616C.265 denies authorization or responsibility for payment for the treatment or other services, the provider of health care is entitled to be paid for the treatment or other services as follows:

(a) If the treatment or other services will be paid by a health insurer which has a contract with the provider of health care under a health benefit plan that covers the injured employee, the provider of health care is entitled to be paid the amount that is allowed for the treatment or other services under that contract.

(b) If the treatment or other services will be paid by a health insurer which does not have a contract with the provider of health care as set forth in paragraph (a) or by a casualty insurer or the injured employee, the provider of health care is entitled to be paid not more than:

(1) The amount which is allowed for the treatment or other services set forth in the schedule of fees and charges established pursuant to NRS 616C.260; or

(2) If the insurer which denied authorization or responsibility for the payment has contracted with an organization for managed care or with providers of health care pursuant to NRS 616B.527, the amount that is allowed for the treatment or other services under that contract.

2. The provisions of subsection 1:

(a) Apply only to treatment or other services provided by the provider of health care before the date on which the insurer, organization for managed care, third-party administrator or employer who provides accident benefits first denies authorization or responsibility for payments for the alleged industrial injury or occupational disease.

(b) Do not apply to a provider of health care that is a hospital as defined in NRS 439B.110. The provisions of this paragraph do not exempt the provider of health care from complying with the provisions of subsections 3 and 7.

3. If:

(a) The injured employee pays for the treatment or other services or a health or casualty insurer pays for the treatment or other services on behalf of the injured employee;

(b) The injured employee requests a hearing before a hearing officer or appeals officer regarding the denial of coverage; and

(c) The hearing officer or appeals officer ultimately determines that the treatment or other services should have been covered, or the insurer, organization for managed care, third-party administrator or employer who provides accident benefits subsequently accepts responsibility for payment,

the hearing officer or appeals officer shall order the insurer, organization for managed care, third-party administrator or employer who provides accident benefits to pay to the injured employee or the health or casualty insurer the amount which the injured employee or the health or casualty insurer paid that is allowed for the treatment or other services set forth in the schedule of fees and charges established pursuant to NRS 616C.260 or, if the insurer has contracted with an organization for managed care or with providers of health care pursuant to NRS 616B.527, the amount that is allowed for the treatment or other services under that contract.

4. If:

(a) A hearing officer, appeals officer or district court issues an order or otherwise renders a decision requiring an insurer, organization for managed care, third-party administrator or employer to pay for treatment or other services provided to an injured employee;

(b) The insurer, organization for managed care, third-party administrator or employer appeals the order or decision, but is unable to obtain a stay of the order or decision;

(c) Payment for the treatment or other services provided to the injured employee is made by the insurer, organization for managed care, third-party administrator or employer during the period between the date of the issuance of the order or decision and the date of the final resolution of the appeal; and

(d) The appeal is subsequently resolved in favor of the insurer, organization for managed care, third-party administrator or employer,

the insurer, organization for managed care, third-party administrator or employer may recover from any health or casualty insurer of the injured employee an amount calculated pursuant to subsection 5. Any recovery from a health or casualty insurer pursuant to this subsection is subject to the exclusions and limitations of the policy of health or casualty insurance covering the injured employee that relate to the diseases set forth in NRS 617.453, 617.455 and 617.457.

5. An insurer, organization for managed care, third-party administrator or employer entitled to recover for an amount paid during the pendency of an appeal pursuant to subsection 4, may recover from a health or casualty insurer of the injured employee the lesser of:

(a) The amount actually paid by the insurer, organization for managed care, third-party administrator or employer during the period between the issuance of the order and the final resolution of the appeal;

(b) The amount established for the treatment or services provided to the injured employee pursuant to NRS 616C.260 or the usual fee charged by the provider of health care, whichever is less;

(c) The amount provided for the treatment or services provided to the injured employee on an in-network basis if there is a contract between the provider of health care and the health or casualty insurer of the injured employee and the treatment or services are covered under the terms of the policy of health or casualty insurance covering the employee; or

(d) The amount provided for the treatment or services provided to the injured employee on an out-of-network basis pursuant to the terms of the policy of health or casualty insurance covering the injured employee if there is not a contract between the provider of health care and the health or casualty insurer of the injured employee.

6. If an insurer, organization for managed care, third-party administrator or employer is entitled to recover for an amount paid during the pendency of an appeal pursuant to subsection 4, upon a final resolution of the appeal in favor of the insurer, organization for managed care, third-party administrator or employer, the hearing officer, appeals officer or district court shall order the injured employee to provide to the insurer, organization for managed care, third-party administrator or employer:

(a) Any documentation in the possession of the injured employee related to any policy of health or casualty insurance which may have provided coverage to the injured employee for treatment or other services provided to the injured employee; and

(b) The identity and contact information of the insurer providing such health or casualty insurance.

7. If the injured employee or the health or casualty insurer paid the provider of health care any amount in excess of the amount that the provider would have been entitled to be paid pursuant to this section, the injured employee or the health or casualty insurer is entitled to recover the excess amount from the provider. Within 30 days after receiving notice of such an excess amount, the provider of health care shall reimburse the injured employee or the health or casualty insurer for the excess amount.

8. As used in this section:

(a) “Casualty insurer” means any insurer or other organization providing coverage or benefits under a policy or contract of casualty insurance in the manner described in subsection 2 of NRS 681A.020.

(b) “Health benefit plan” means any type of policy, contract, agreement or plan providing health coverage or benefits in accordance with state or federal law.

(c) “Health insurer” means any insurer or other organization providing health coverage or benefits in accordance with state or federal law.

(Added to NRS by 2001, 1892; A 2005, 237, 1266; 2015, 1138)