Sec. 1305.354.  RECONSIDERATION OF ADVERSE DETERMINATION.  (a)  A utilization review agent shall maintain and make available a written description of the reconsideration procedures involving an adverse determination.  The reconsideration procedures must be reasonable and must include:
(1)  a provision stating that reconsideration must be performed by a provider other than the provider who made the original adverse determination;
(2)  a provision that an employee, a person acting on behalf of the employee, or the employee's requesting provider may, not later than the 30th day after the date of issuance of written notification of an adverse determination, request reconsideration of the adverse determination either orally or in writing;
(3)  a provision that, not later than the fifth calendar day after the date of receipt of the request, the network shall send to the requesting party a letter acknowledging the date of the receipt of the request that includes a reasonable list of documents the requesting party is required to submit;
(4)  a provision that, after completion of the review of the request for reconsideration of the adverse determination, the utilization review agent shall issue a response letter to the employee or person acting on behalf of the employee, and the employee's requesting provider, that:
(A)  explains the resolution of the reconsideration; and
(B)  includes:
(i)  a statement of the specific medical or clinical reasons for the resolution;
(ii)  the medical or clinical basis for the decision;
(iii)  the professional specialty of any provider consulted; and
(iv)  notice of the requesting party's right to seek review of the denial by an independent review organization and the procedures for obtaining that review; and
(5)  written notification to the requesting party of the determination of the request for reconsideration as soon as practicable, but not later than the 30th day after the date the utilization review agent received the request.
(b)  In addition to the written request for reconsideration, the reconsideration procedures must include a method for expedited reconsideration procedures for denials of proposed health care services involving poststabilization treatment or life-threatening conditions, and for denials of continued stays for hospitalized employees.  The procedures must include a review by a provider who has not previously reviewed the case and who is of the same or a similar specialty as a provider who typically manages the condition, procedure, or treatment under review.  The period during which that reconsideration must be completed shall be based on the medical or clinical immediacy of the condition, procedure, or treatment, but may not exceed one calendar day from the date of receipt of all information necessary to complete the reconsideration.
(c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a) or (b), an employee with a life-threatening condition is entitled to an immediate review by an independent review organization and is not required to comply with the procedures for a reconsideration of an adverse determination.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 265 (H.B. 7), Sec. 4.02, eff. September 1, 2005.