Arizona Administrative Code
Title 9 - HEALTH SERVICES
Chapter 22 - ARIZONA HEALTH CARE COST CONTAINMENT SYSTEM - ADMINISTRATION
Article 2 - SCOPE OF SERVICES
Section R9-22-210 - Emergency Medical Services for Non-FES Members

Universal Citation: AZ Admin Code R 9-22-210

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 52, December 27, 2024

A.General provisions.

1. Applicability. This Section applies to emergency medical services for non-FES members. Provisions regarding emergency behavioral health services for non-FES members are in R9-22-210.01. Provisions regarding emergency medical and behavioral health services for FES members are in R9-22-217.

2. Definitions.
a. For the purposes of this Section, "contractor" has the same meaning as in A.R.S. § 36-2901. Contractor does not include ADHS/DBHS or a subcontractor of ADHS/DBHS.

b. For the purposes of this Section and R9-22-210.01, "fiscal agent" means a person who bills and accepts payment for a hospital or emergency room provider.

3. Verification. A provider of emergency medical services shall verify a person's eligibility status with AHCCCS, and if eligible, determine whether the person is enrolled with AHCCCS as non-FES FFS or is enrolled with a contractor.

4. Prior authorization.
a. Emergency medical services. A provider is not required to obtain prior authorization for emergency medical services.

b. Non-emergency medical services. If a non-FES member's medical condition does not require emergency medical services, the provider shall obtain prior authorization as required by the terms of the provider agreement under R9-22-714(A) or the provider's subcontract with the contractor, whichever is applicable.

5. Prohibition against denial of payment. Neither the Administration nor a contractor shall:
a. Limit what constitutes an emergency medical condition on the basis of lists of diagnoses or symptoms,

b. Deny or limit payment because the provider failed to obtain prior authorization for emergency services,

c. Deny or limit payment because the provider does not have a subcontract.

6. Grounds for denial. The Administration and a contractor may deny payment for emergency medical services for reasons including but not limited to:
a. The claim was not a clean claim;

b. The claim was not submitted timely; and

c. The provider failed to provide timely notification under subsection (B)(4) to the contractor or the Administration, as appropriate, and the contractor does not have actual notice from any other source that the member has presented for services.

B.Additional requirements for emergency medical services for non-FES members enrolled with a contractor.

1. Responsible entity. A contractor is responsible for the provision of all emergency medical services to non-FES members enrolled with the contractor.

2. Prohibition against denial of payment. A contractor shall not limit or deny payment for emergency medical services when an employee of the contractor instructs the member to obtain emergency medical services.

3. Contractor notification. A contractor shall not deny payment to a hospital, emergency room provider, or fiscal agent for an emergency medical service rendered to a non-FES member based on the failure of the hospital, emergency room provider, or fiscal agent to notify the member's contractor within 10 days from the day that the member presented for the emergency medical service.

4. Contractor notification. A hospital, emergency room provider, or fiscal agent shall notify the contractor no later than the 11th day after presentation of the non-FES member for emergency inpatient medical services. A contractor may deny payment for a hospital's, emergency room provider's, or fiscal agent's failure to provide timely notice, under this subsection.

C.Post-stabilization services for non-FES members enrolled with a contractor.

1. After the emergency medical condition of a member enrolled with a contractor is stabilized, a provider shall request prior authorization from the contractor for post-stabilization services.

2. The contractor is financially responsible for medical post-stabilization services obtained within or outside the network that have been prior authorized by the contractor.

3. The contractor is financially responsible for medical post-stabilization services obtained within or outside the network that are not prior authorized by the contractor, but are administered to maintain the member's stabilized condition within one hour of a request to the contractor for prior authorization of further post-stabilization services;

4. The contractor is financially responsible for medical post-stabilization services obtained within or outside the network that are not prior authorized by the contractor, but are administered to maintain, improve, or resolve the member's stabilized condition if:
a. The contractor does not respond to a request for prior authorization within one hour;

b. The contractor authorized to give the prior authorization cannot be contacted; or

c. The contractor representative and the treating physician cannot reach an agreement concerning the member's care and the contractor physician is not available for consultation. In this situation, the contractor shall give the treating physician the opportunity to consult with a contractor physician. The treating physician may continue with care of the member until the contractor physician is reached or:
i. A contractor physician with privileges at the treating hospital assumes responsibility for the member's care,

ii. A contractor physician assumes responsibility for the member's care through transfer,

iii. The contractor's representative and the treating physician reach agreement concerning the member's care,or

iv. The member is discharged.

5. Transfer or discharge. The attending physician or practitioner actually treating the member for the emergency medical condition shall determine when the member is sufficiently stabilized for transfer or discharge and that decision shall be binding on the contractor.

D.Additional requirements for FFS members.

1. Responsible entity. The Administration is responsible for the provision of all emergency medical services to non-FES FFS members.

2. Grounds for denial. The Administration may deny payment for emergency medical services if a provider fails to provide timely notice to the Administration.

3. Notification. A provider shall notify the Administration no later than 72 hours after a FFS member receiving emergency medical services presents to a hospital for inpatient services. The Administration may deny payment for failure to provide timely notice.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arizona may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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