(a) Applicability of certification or registration requirements. A person acting as or holding itself out as a URA under this subchapter must be certified or registered, as applicable, under Insurance Code §4201.057, concerning Health Maintenance Organizations; Insurance Code §4201.058, concerning Insurers; or Insurance Code §4201.101, concerning Certificate of Registration Required, and this subchapter.
  (1) If an insurance carrier or HMO performs utilization review for an individual or entity subject to this subchapter for which it is not the payor, the insurance carrier or HMO must be certified.
  (2) If an insurance carrier or HMO performs utilization review only for coverage for which it is the payor, the insurance carrier or HMO must be registered.
(b) Application form. The commissioner adopts by reference the:
  (1) URA application, for application for, renewal of, and reporting a material change to a certification or registration as a URA in this state; and
  (2) Biographical affidavit, to be used as an attachment to the URA application.
(c) Original application fee. The original application fee specified in §19.802 of this title (relating to Amount of Fees) must be sent to TDI with the application for certification. A person applying for registration is not required to pay a fee.
(d) Where to obtain and send the URA application form. Forms may be obtained from www.tdi.texas.gov/forms and must be sent to: Texas Department of Insurance, Managed Care Quality Assurance Office, MC: LH-MCQA, P.O. Box 12030, Austin, Texas 78711-2030.
(e) Original application process. Within 60 calendar days after receipt of a complete application, TDI will process the application and issue or deny a certification or registration. TDI will send a certificate or a letter of registration to an entity that is granted certification or registration. The applicant may waive the time limit described in this subsection.
(f) Omissions or deficiencies. TDI will send the applicant written notice of any omissions or deficiencies in the application. The applicant must correct the omissions or deficiencies in the application or request additional time in writing within 15 working days of the date of TDI's latest notice of the omissions or deficiencies. If the applicant fails to do so, the application will not be processed and the file will be closed as an incomplete application. The application fee is not refundable. The request for additional time must be approved by TDI in writing to be effective.
(g) Certification and registration expiration. Each URA registration or certification issued by TDI and not suspended or revoked by the commissioner expires on the second anniversary of the date of issuance.
(h) Renewal requirements. A URA must apply for renewal of certification or registration every two years from the date of issuance by submitting the URA application form to TDI. The URA must also submit a renewal fee in the amount specified by §19.802(b)(19) of this title for renewal of a certification. A person applying for renewal of a registration is not required to pay a fee.
  (1) Continued operation during review. If a URA submits the required information and fees specified in this subsection on or before the expiration of the certification or registration, the URA may continue to operate under its certification or registration until the renewal certification or registration is denied or issued.
  (2) Expiration for 90 calendar days or less. If the certification or registration has been expired for 90 calendar days or less, a URA may renew the certification or registration by sending a completed renewal application and fee, as applicable. The URA may not operate from the time the certification or registration has expired until the time TDI has issued a renewal certification or registration.
  (3) Expiration for longer than 90 calendar days. If a URA's certification or registration has been expired for longer than 90 calendar days, the URA may not renew the certification or registration. The URA must obtain a new certification or registration by submitting an application for original issuance of the certification or registration and an original application fee as applicable.
(i) Contesting a denial. If an application for an original or renewal certification or registration is denied, the applicant may contest the denial under the provisions of Chapter 1, Subchapter A, of this title (relating to Rules of Practice and Procedure) and Government Code Chapter 2001, concerning Administrative Procedure.
(j) Updating information on effective date. A URA that is certified or registered before the effective date of this rule must submit an updated application to TDI to comply with this subchapter within 90 calendar days after the effective date of this rule. However, the submission of an updated application does not change the URA's existing renewal date, and this section still governs the URA's renewal process.

Source Note: The provisions of this §19.1704 adopted to be effective February 20, 2013, 38 TexReg 892; amended to be effective June 19, 2023, 48 TexReg 3285