Sec. 1301.053.  APPEAL RELATING TO DESIGNATION AS PREFERRED PROVIDER.  (a)  An insurer that does not designate a practitioner as a preferred provider shall provide a reasonable mechanism for reviewing that action.  The review mechanism must incorporate, in an advisory role only, a review panel.
(b)  A review panel must be composed of at least three individuals selected by the insurer from a list of participating practitioners and must include one member who is a practitioner in the same or similar specialty as the affected practitioner, if available.  The practitioners contracting with the insurer in the applicable service area shall provide the list of practitioners to the insurer.
(c)  On request, the insurer shall provide to the affected practitioner:
(1)  the panel's recommendation, if any;  and
(2)  a written explanation of the insurer's determination, if that determination is contrary to the panel's recommendation.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 3, eff. April 1, 2005.