Sec. 843.3385. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. (a) If a health maintenance organization needs additional information from a treating participating physician or provider to determine payment, the health maintenance organization, not later than the 30th calendar day after the date the health maintenance organization receives a clean claim, shall request in writing that the physician or provider provide an attachment to the claim that is relevant and necessary for clarification of the claim.

(b) The request must describe with specificity the clinical information requested and relate only to information the health maintenance organization can demonstrate is specific to the claim or the claim's related episode of care. The participating physician or provider is not required to provide an attachment that is not contained in, or is not in the process of being incorporated into, the patient's medical or billing record maintained by a participating physician or provider.

(c) A health maintenance organization that requests an attachment under this section shall determine whether the claim is payable on or before the later of the 15th day after the date the health maintenance organization receives the requested attachment or the latest date for determining whether the claim is payable under Section 843.338 or 843.339.

(d) A health maintenance organization may not make more than one request under this section in connection with a claim. Sections 843.337(e) and (f) apply to a request for and submission of an attachment under Subsection (a).

(e) If a health maintenance organization requests an attachment or other information from a person other than the participating physician or provider who submitted the claim, the health maintenance organization shall provide notice containing the name of the physician or provider from whom the health maintenance organization is requesting information to the physician or provider who submitted the claim. The health maintenance organization may not withhold payment pending receipt of an attachment or information requested under this subsection. If on receiving an attachment or information requested under this subsection the health maintenance organization determines that there was an error in payment of the claim, the health maintenance organization may recover any overpayment under Section 843.350.

(f) The commissioner shall adopt rules under which a health maintenance organization can easily identify an attachment or other information submitted by a physician or provider under this section.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 214, Sec. 9, eff. June 17, 2003.