Disability insurers and nonprofit hospital service plans shall, upon rejecting a claim from a health care provider or a patient, and upon their demand, disclose the specific rationale used in determining why the claim was rejected. Nothing in this section is intended to expand or restrict the ability of a health care provider or a patient from having health care coverage approved in advance of services.
(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 544, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.)
Compensation of a person retained by a disability insurer to review claims for health care services shall not be based on either of the following:
(a)A percentage of the amount by which a claim is reduced for payment.
(b)The number of claims or the cost of services for which the person has denied authorization or payment.
(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 787, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1996.)
This article does not apply to services or benefits provided pursuant to Medi-Cal, including services or benefits provided under Chapters 7 (commencing with Section 14000) and 8 (commencing with Section 14200) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 544, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.)
A health insurer that provides coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical expenses that authorizes a specific type of treatment for services covered under a policyholder?s contract or plan by a provider shall not rescind or modify this authorization after the provider renders the health care service in good faith and pursuant to the authorization for any reason, including, but not limited to, the insurer?s subsequent rescission, cancellation, or modification of the insured?s or policyholder?s contract or the insurer?s subsequent determination that it did not make an accurate determination of the insured?s eligibility. This section shall not be construed to expand or alter the benefits available or the terms and conditions of the contract as may be agreed upon between a policyholder, certificate holder, or trust, and the insurer. The Legislature finds and declares that by adopting the amendments made to this section by Assembly Bill 1324 of the 2007?08 Regular Session it does not intend to instruct a court as to whether or not the amendments are existing law.
(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 702, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2008.)