Sec. 843.340. AUDITED CLAIMS. (a) Except as provided by Section 843.3385, if a health maintenance organization intends to audit a claim submitted by a participating physician or provider, the health maintenance organization shall pay the charges submitted at 100 percent of the contracted rate on the claim not later than the 30th day after the date the health maintenance organization receives the clean claim from the participating physician or provider if submitted electronically or if submitted nonelectronically not later than the 45th day after the date on which the health maintenance organization receives the clean claim from a participating physician or provider. The health maintenance organization shall clearly indicate on the explanation of payment statement in the manner prescribed by the commissioner by rule that the clean claim is being paid at 100 percent of the contracted rate, subject to completion of the audit.

(b) If the health maintenance organization requests additional information to complete the audit, the request must describe with specificity the clinical information requested and relate only to information the health maintenance organization in good faith can demonstrate is specific to the claim or episode of care. The health maintenance organization may not request as a part of the audit information 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) If the participating physician or provider does not supply information reasonably requested by the health maintenance organization in connection with the audit, the health maintenance organization may:

(1) notify the physician or provider in writing that the physician or provider must provide the information not later than the 45th day after the date of the notice or forfeit the amount of the claim; and

(2) if the physician or provider does not provide the information required by this section, recover the amount of the claim.

(d) The health maintenance organization must complete the audit on or before the 180th day after the date the clean claim is received by the health maintenance organization, and any additional payment due a participating physician or provider or any refund due the health maintenance organization shall be made not later than the 30th day after the completion of the audit.

(e) If a participating physician or provider disagrees with a refund request made by a health maintenance organization based on the audit, the health maintenance organization shall provide the physician or provider with an opportunity to appeal, and the health maintenance organization may not attempt to recover the payment until all appeal rights are exhausted.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1419, Sec. 1, eff. June 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 214, Sec. 11, eff. June 17, 2003.