Oregon Administrative Rules
Chapter 836 - DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AND BUSINESS SERVICES, INSURANCE REGULATION
Division 53 - HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS
Section 836-053-1203 - Prior Authorization Trade Practices for Health Insurance other than Health Benefit plans

(1) The purpose of this rule is to establish standards for determining whether an insurer offering a policy or certificate of health insurance, other than a health benefit plan, acts promptly in response to a request for prior authorization within the meaning of ORS 746.233(2)(e). Nothing in this rule shall be construed to limit the department's authority under this section to require a health insurer to act equitably and in good faith with respect to approving requests for prior authorization.

(2) "Prior authorization" means a form of utilization review that requires a provider or an enrollee to request a determination by an insurer, prior to provision of health care that is subject to utilization review, that the insurer will provide reimbursement for the health care requested. "Prior authorization" does not include referral approval for evaluation and management services between providers. For the purposes of this rule, "health care" includes all items and services covered by a policy or certificate of health insurance, including but not limited to medical, behavioral health, dental and vision care items and services.

(3) This rule applies to prior authorization determinations that:

(4) A prior authorization may be limited to the services of a specific provider or to services of a designated group of providers who contract with or are employed by the insurer.

(5) Nothing in this rule shall require a policy of health insurance to contain a prior authorization requirement.

(6) Except in the case of misrepresentation relevant to a request for prior authorization, a prior authorization determination shall be binding on the insurer for the period of time specified in section 7 of this rule.

(7) A prior authorization determination shall be binding on the insurer for:

(8) For purposes of counting days under section 7 of this rule, day one is the first business or calendar day, as applicable, following the day on which the insurer issues a prior authorization determination.

(9) An insurer may not impose a restriction or condition on its prior authorization determinations that limits, restricts or effectively eliminates the binding force established for such determinations in ORS 743B.420 and this rule.

(10) A prior authorization determination is issued when an insurer communicates orally, or in writing, a notice that meets the requirements of subsection 12 of this rule to the provider or enrollee who submitted the prior authorization request.

(11) Except as provided in section 13, a determination by an insurer on a provider's or an enrollee's request for prior authorization must be issued within a reasonable period of time appropriate to the medical circumstances but no later than two business days after receipt of the request. If the determination is issued orally, the insurer must mail, or send electronically, a written notice of the determination to the provider or enrollee who submitted the prior authorization request no later than two business days after the determination is issued. For the purposes of counting days under this subsection, day one is the first business day following the day on which the insurer receives the request for prior authorization or issues the determination, as applicable.

(12) When an insurer issues a determination in response to a request from a provider or an enrollee for prior authorization of nonemergency health care items or services, the determination must be one of the following:

(13) If additional information from an enrollee or a provider requesting prior authorization is necessary to make a determination on a request for prior authorization, no later than two business days after receipt of the request, the enrollee and the requesting provider, if any, shall be notified in writing of the specific additional information needed to make the determination. The required notice is provided when it is mailed, or delivered electronically, by the insurer. For the purposes of counting days under this subsection, day one is the first business day following the day on which the insurer receives the request for prior authorization. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit an insurer from seeking additional information related to a prior authorization request orally or by other means, provided that a written notice is supplied in the event that a determination cannot be issued within two business days due to the need for additional information.

(14) Following a request for additional information submitted in compliance with section 13, the insurer must issue a determination by the later of:

(15) When an insurer requests additional information that is necessary to make a determination on a request for prior authorization, the insurer must specify all of the information reasonably necessary to make a determination. The insurer may not request information that is substantially identical to information previously supplied by the enrollee or provider.