1. An independent review organization must be approved by the Commissioner to be eligible to be assigned to conduct external reviews.

2. In order to be eligible for approval or reapproval by the Commissioner to conduct external reviews, an independent review organization:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, must be accredited by a nationally recognized private accrediting entity which the Commissioner has determined has standards for the accreditation of independent review organizations that are equivalent to or exceed the minimum qualifications for independent review organizations established under NRS 683A.372; and

(b) Must submit an application in accordance with subsection 4.

3. The Commissioner shall develop an application form for the initial approval and reapproval of an independent review organization to conduct external reviews.

4. An independent review organization wishing to be approved or reapproved to conduct external reviews must submit the application form and include with the form all documentation and information necessary for the Commissioner to determine if the independent review organization satisfies the minimum qualifications established under NRS 683A.372.

5. The Commissioner may approve an independent review organization that is not accredited by a nationally recognized private accrediting entity if there are no acceptable nationally recognized private accrediting entities providing accreditation of independent review organizations.

6. The Commissioner may charge any applicable fee which an independent review organization must submit to the Commissioner with its application for initial approval or reapproval.

7. An approval or reapproval is effective for 2 years unless the Commissioner determines before its expiration that the independent review organization does not satisfy the minimum qualifications established under NRS 683A.372.

8. Whenever the Commissioner determines that an independent review organization has lost its accreditation or no longer satisfies the minimum requirements established under NRS 683A.372, the Commissioner shall terminate the approval of the independent review organization and remove the independent review organization from the list of independent review organizations approved to conduct external reviews that is maintained by the Commissioner pursuant to subsection 9.

9. The Commissioner shall maintain and periodically update a list of approved independent review organizations.

10. The Commissioner may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.

11. As used in this section, “independent review organization” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 695G.026.

(Added to NRS by 2011, 3353)