Sec. 1217.004.  STANDARD FORM.  (a)  The commissioner by rule shall:
(1)  prescribe a single, standard form for requesting prior authorization of health care services;
(2)  require a health benefit plan issuer or the agent of the health benefit plan issuer that manages or administers health care services benefits to use the form for any prior authorization required by the plan of health care services; and
(3)  require that the department and a health benefit plan issuer or the agent of the health benefit plan issuer that manages or administers health care services benefits make the form available in paper form and electronically on the website of:
(A)  the department;
(B)  the health benefit plan issuer; and
(C)  the agent of the health benefit plan issuer.
(b)  Not later than the second anniversary of the date national standards for electronic prior authorization of benefits are adopted, a health benefit plan issuer or the agent of the health benefit plan issuer that manages or administers health care services benefits shall exchange prior authorization requests electronically with a physician or health care provider who has electronic capability and who initiates a request electronically.  For requests initiated on paper, a health benefit plan issuer or the agent of the health benefit plan issuer that manages or administers health care services benefits shall accept prior authorization requests using the standard paper form developed pursuant to this chapter.
(c)  In prescribing a form under this section, the commissioner shall:
(1)  develop the form with input from the advisory committee on uniform prior authorization forms for health care services benefits established under Section 1217.005; and
(2)  take into consideration:
(A)  any form for requesting prior authorization of health care services benefits that is widely used in this state or any form currently used by the department;
(B)  request forms for prior authorization of health care services benefits established by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and
(C)  national standards, or draft standards, pertaining to electronic prior authorization of benefits.
Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1198 (S.B. 1216), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.