(a) Every two years, the commissioner will renew the certificate of registration of each organization that meets the standards as an IRO.
(b) An IRO must apply for renewal of its certificate of registration every two years, no later than the anniversary date of the issuance of the registration. The IRO application form must be used for this purpose. The IRO application form may be obtained from the department's website and from the address listed in §12.102(c) of this chapter. The completed IRO application form, renewal fee, and a certification that no material changes exist that have not already been filed with the department must be submitted to the department at the address listed in §12.101 of this chapter.
(c) An IRO may continue to operate under its certificate of registration after a completed application form and renewal fee have been received by the department and until the renewal is finally denied or granted by the department. However, independent reviews will not be assigned to an IRO during the 30 days before the anniversary date of the issuance of the IRO's certificate of registration unless a completed renewal application form and the application fee have been received by the department.
(d) If a completed renewal application form is not received before the anniversary date of the year in which the certificate of registration must be renewed, the certificate of registration will automatically expire and the IRO must complete and submit a new application for certificate of registration.
(e) Until the certificate of registration renewal application process is complete or the certificate of registration expires, an IRO must:
  (1) continue to perform its duties in compliance with Insurance Code Chapter 4202, the Labor Code, and department and TDI-DWC rules, including maintenance and retention of medical records and patient-specific information under §12.208 of this chapter; and
  (2) in regard to reviews of the medical necessity of a health care service provided under Labor Code Title 5 or Insurance Code Chapter 1305, make responses to requests for letters of clarification under §133.308 of this title.

Source Note: The provisions of this §12.108 adopted to be effective November 26, 1997, 22 TexReg 11363; amended to be effective December 26, 2010, 35 TexReg 11281; amended to be effective July 7, 2015, 40 TexReg 2538