(E) Member-initiated MCO terminations.
(1) An MCO member who qualifies as a
mandatory managed care enrollment population as specified in rule
5160-26-02 of the Administrative
Code may request a different MCO as follows:
(a) From the date of enrollment through the
initial three months of MCO enrollment;
(b) During an open enrollment month for the
member's service area as described in paragraph (G) of this rule;
(c) At any time, if the member is a child
receiving Title IV-E federal foster care maintenance or is in foster care or
other out of home placement. The change must be initiated by the local public
children's services agency (PCSA) or the local Title IV-E juvenile court;
or
(d) At any time, if the just
cause request meets one of the reasons for just cause as specified in paragraph
(E)(3)(f) of this rule;
(2) An MCO member who qualifies as a
voluntary managed care enrollment population as specified in rule
5160-26-02 of the Administrative
Code may request a different MCO, if available, or be returned to medicaid
fee-for-service (FFS) as follows:
(a) From the
date of enrollment through the initial three months of MCO
enrollment;
(b) During an open
enrollment month for the member's service area as described in paragraph (G) of
this rule; or
(c) At any time, if
the just cause request meets one of the reasons for just cause as specified in
paragraph (E)(3)(f) of this rule;
(3) The following provisions apply when a
member either requests a different MCO or, if applicable, requests to be
returned to medicaid FFS:
(a) The request may
be made by the member, or by the member's authorized representative.
(b) All member-initiated changes or
terminations must be voluntary. The MCO is not permitted to encourage members
to change or terminate enrollment due to a member's age, gender, gender
identity, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, race, color,
religion, military status, ancestry, genetic information, health status or need
for health services. The MCO may not use a policy or practice that has the
effect of discrimination on the basis of the criteria listed in this
rule.
(c) If a member requests
disenrollment because he or she meets the requirements of paragraph (B)(3) of
rule 5160-26-02 of the Administrative
Code, the member will be disenrolled after the member notifies the Ohio
medicaid consumer hotline.
(d)
Disenrollment will take effect on the last day of the calendar month in which
the request for disenrollment was made.
(e) In accordance with
42 C.F.R.
438.56(d)(2) (October 1,
2021), a change or termination of MCO enrollment may be permitted for any of
the following just cause reasons:
(i) The
member moves out of the MCO's service area and a nonemergency service must be
provided out of the service area before the effective date of the member's
termination as described in paragraph (B)(1) of this rule;
(ii) The MCO does not, for moral or religious
objections, cover the service the member seeks;
(iii) The member needs related services to be
performed at the same time; not all related services are available within the
MCO's network, and the member's PCP or another provider determines that
receiving services separately would subject the member to unnecessary
risk;
(iv) The member has
experienced poor quality of care and the services are not available from
another provider within the MCO's network;
(v) The member cannot access medically
necessary medicaid-covered services or cannot access the type of providers
experienced in dealing with the member's health care needs;
(vi) The PCP selected by a member leaves the
MCO's network and was the only available and accessible PCP speaking the
primary language of the member, and another PCP speaking the language is
available and accessible in another MCO in the member's service area;
and
(vii) ODM determines that
continued enrollment in the MCO would be harmful to the interests of the
member.
(f) The
following provisions apply when a member seeks a change or termination in MCO
enrollment for just cause:
(i)
The member may make the request for just cause directly to ODM or an
ODM-approved entity, either orally or in writing.
(ii) ODM shall review
all requests for just cause within seven working days of receipt. ODM may
request documentation as necessary from both the member and the MCO. ODM shall
make a decision within forty-five days from the date ODM receives the just
cause request. If ODM fails to make the determination within this timeframe,
the just cause request is considered approved.
(iii) ODM may
establish retroactive termination dates and recover capitation payments as
determined necessary and appropriate.
(iv) Regardless of the
procedures followed, the effective date of an approved just cause request must
be no later than the first day of the second month following the month in which
the member requests change or termination.
(v) If the just cause
request is not approved, ODM shall notify the member or the authorized
representative of the member's right to a state hearing.
(vi)
Requests for just cause may be processed at the individual level or case level
as ODM determines necessary and appropriate.
(vii) If a member
submits a request to change or terminate enrollment for just cause, and the
member loses medicaid eligibility prior to action by ODM on the request, ODM
shall ensure that the member's MCO enrollment is not automatically renewed if
eligibility for medicaid is reauthorized.