Chapter 3922: EXTERNAL REVIEW

3922.01 Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(A) "Adverse benefit determination" means a decision by a health plan issuer:

(1) To deny, reduce, or terminate a requested health care service or payment in whole or in part, including all of the following:

(a) A determination that the health care service does not meet the health plan issuer's requirements for medical necessity, appropriateness, health care setting, level of care, or effectiveness, including experimental or investigational treatments;

(b) A determination of an individual's eligibility for individual health insurance coverage, including coverage offered to individuals through a nonemployer group, to participate in a plan or health insurance coverage;

(d) The imposition of an exclusion, including exclusions for pre-existing conditions, source of injury, network, or any other limitation on benefits that would otherwise be covered.

(2) Not to issue individual health insurance coverage to an applicant, including coverage offered to individuals through a nonemployer group;

(3) To rescind coverage on a health benefit plan.

(B) "Ambulatory review" has the same meaning as in section 1751.77 of the Revised Code.

(C) "Authorized representative" means an individual who represents a covered person in an internal appeal or external review process of an adverse benefit determination who is any of the following:

(1) A person to whom a covered individual has given express, written consent to represent that individual in an internal appeals process or external review process of an adverse benefit determination;

(2) A person authorized by law to provide substituted consent for a covered individual;

(3) A family member or a treating health care professional, but only when the covered person is unable to provide consent.

(D) "Best evidence" means evidence based on all of the following sources, listed according to priority, as they are available:

(1) Randomized clinical trials;

(2) Cohort studies or case-control studies;

(3) Case series;

(4) Expert opinion.

(E) "Covered person" means a policyholder, subscriber, enrollee, member, or individual covered by a health benefit plan. "Covered person" does include the covered person's authorized representative with regard to an internal appeal or external review in accordance with division (C) of this section. "Covered person" does not include the covered person's representative in any other context.

(F) "Covered benefits" or "benefits" means those health care services to which a covered person is entitled under the terms of a health benefit plan.

(G) "Emergency medical condition" has the same meaning as in section 1753.28 of the Revised Code.

(H) "Emergency services" has the same meaning as in section 1753.28 of the Revised Code.

(I) "Evidence-based standard" means the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of the current best evidence, based on a systematic review of the relevant research, in making decisions about the care of individuals.

(J) "Facility" means an institution providing health care services, or a health care setting, including hospitals and other licensed inpatient centers, ambulatory, surgical, treatment, skilled nursing, residential treatment, diagnostic, laboratory, and imaging centers, and rehabilitation and other therapeutic health settings.

(K) "Final adverse benefit determination" means an adverse benefit determination that is upheld at the completion of a health plan issuer's internal appeals process.

(L) "Health benefit plan" means a policy, contract, certificate, or agreement offered by a health plan issuer to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of health care services, including benefit plans marketed in the individual or group market by all associations, whether bona fide or non-bona fide. "Health benefit plan" also means a limited benefit plan, except as follows. "Health benefit plan" does not mean any of the following types of coverage: a policy, contract, certificate, or agreement that covers only a specified accident, accident only, credit, dental, disability income, long-term care, hospital indemnity, supplemental coverage, as described in section 3923.37 of the Revised Code, specified disease, or vision care; coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance; insurance arising out of workers' compensation or similar law; automobile medical payment insurance; or insurance under which benefits are payable with or without regard to fault and which is statutorily required to be contained in any liability insurance policy or equivalent self-insurance; a medicare supplement policy of insurance, as defined by the superintendent of insurance by rule, coverage under a plan through medicare, medicaid, or the federal employees benefit program; any coverage issued under Chapter 55 of Title 10 of the United States Code and any coverage issued as a supplement to that coverage.

(M) "Health care professional" means a physician, psychologist, nurse practitioner, or other health care practitioner licensed, accredited, or certified to perform health care services consistent with state law.

(N) "Health care provider" or "provider" means a health care professional or facility.

(O) "Health care services" means services for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, cure, or relief of a health condition, illness, injury, or disease.

(P) "Health plan issuer" means an entity subject to the insurance laws and rules of this state, or subject to the jurisdiction of the superintendent of insurance, that contracts, or offers to contract to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of health care services under a health benefit plan, including a sickness and accident insurance company, a health insuring corporation, a fraternal benefit society, a self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangement, or a nonfederal, government health plan. "Health plan issuer" includes a third party administrator licensed under Chapter 3959. of the Revised Code to the extent that the benefits that such an entity is contracted to administer under a health benefit plan are subject to the insurance laws and rules of this state or subject to the jurisdiction of the superintendent.

(Q) "Health information" means information or data, whether oral or recorded in any form or medium, and personal facts or information about events or relationships that relates to all of the following:

(1) The past, present, or future physical, mental, or behavioral health or condition of a covered person or a member of the covered person's family;

(2) The provision of health care services or health-related benefits to a covered person;

(3) Payment for the provision of health care services to or for a covered person.

(R) "Independent review organization" means an entity that is accredited to conduct independent external reviews of adverse benefit determinations pursuant to section 3922.13 of the Revised Code.

(S) "Medical or scientific evidence" means evidence found in any of the following sources:

(1) Peer-reviewed scientific studies published in, or accepted for publication by, medical journals that meet nationally recognized requirements for scientific manuscripts and that submit most of their published articles for review by experts who are not part of the editorial staff;

(2) Peer-reviewed medical literature, including literature relating to therapies reviewed and approved by a qualified institutional review board, biomedical compendia and other medical literature that meet the criteria of the national institutes of health's library of medicine for indexing in index medicus and elsevier science ltd. for indexing in excerpta medicus;

(3) Medical journals recognized by the secretary of health and human services under section 1861(t)(2) of the federal social security act;

(4) The following standard reference compendia:

(a) The American hospital formulary service drug information;

(b) Drug facts and comparisons;

(d) The United States pharmacopoeia drug information.

(5) Findings, studies or research conducted by or under the auspices of a federal government agency or nationally recognized federal research institute, including any of the following:

(a) The federal agency for health care research and quality;

(b) The national institutes of health;

(d) The national academy of sciences;

(e) The centers for medicare and medicaid services;

(f) The federal food and drug administration;

(g) Any national board recognized by the national institutes of health for the purpose of evaluating the medical value of health care services.

(6) Any other medical or scientific evidence that is comparable.

(T) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 3901.19 of the Revised Code.

(U) "Protected health information" means health information related to the identity of an individual, or information that could reasonably be used to determine the identity of an individual.

(V) "Rescind" means to retroactively cancel or discontinue coverage. "Rescind" does not include canceling or discontinuing coverage that only has a prospective effect or canceling or discontinuing coverage that is effective retroactively to the extent it is attributable to a failure to timely pay required premiums or contributions towards the cost of coverage.

(W) "Retrospective review" means a review conducted after services have been provided to a covered person.

(X) "Superintendent" means the superintendent of insurance.

(Y) "Utilization review" has the same meaning as in section 1751.77 of the Revised Code.

(Z) "Utilization review organization" has the same meaning as in section 1751.77 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.124,HB 341, §1, eff. 9/6/2012.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.02 Request for review of adverse benefit determination.

(A) A covered person may make a request for an external review of an adverse benefit determination.

(B) All requests for external review shall be made in writing, including by electronic means, by the covered person to the health plan issuer within one hundred eighty days of the date of the final adverse benefit determination . However, in the case of an expedited external review under section 3922.09 of the Revised Code, the review may be requested orally .

(C) An adverse benefit determination shall be eligible for internal appeal or external review, regardless of the cost of the requested health care service related to the adverse benefit determination .

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.124,HB 341, §1, eff. 9/6/2012.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.03 Internal appeal processes; review of final determination.

(A) All health plan issuers shall implement an internal appeal process under which a covered person may appeal an adverse benefit determination. This process must be in compliance with the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010," Pub. L. 111-148, 124 Stat. 119, as amended, and the associated regulations, as well as any other applicable state laws or rules or federal regulations.

(B) Review of a final adverse benefit determination shall be through an external review under section 3922.08, 3922.09, or 3922.10 of the Revised Code.

(C) All health plan issuers shall provide notice to covered persons, pursuant to and in accordance with federal regulations, of all internal appeal processes, external review processes, the availability of any applicable office of health insurance assistance, ombudsman program, or other similar program in this state to assist consumers.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.124,HB 341, §1, eff. 9/6/2012.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.04 Exhaustion of issuer's internal appeal process.

(A) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, a health plan issuer is not required to grant a request for a standard external review made under section 3922.08 or 3922.10 of the Revised Code until the covered person has exhausted the health plan issuer's internal appeal process.

(B) An internal appeal process shall be considered exhausted if a covered person has requested an internal appeal and has not received a written decision from the health plan issuer within the time frame required by 29 C.F.R. 2560.503-1 or the health plan issuer fails to adhere to all requirements of the internal appeals process.

(C) Notwithstanding division (B) of this section, the internal appeals process will not be deemed exhausted based on de minimis violations that do not cause, and are not likely to cause, prejudice or harm to the covered person so long as the health plan issuer demonstrates that the violation was for good cause or due to matters beyond the control of the health plan issuer and that the violation occurred in the context of an ongoing, good faith exchange of information between the health plan issuer and the covered person, and is not reflective of a pattern or practice of noncompliance, except that:

(1) If the health plan issuer denies a request for external review under this division, the covered person may request written explanation from the health plan issuer, and the health plan issuer shall provide the explanation within ten days, including a specific description of its basis, if any, for asserting that the delay should not cause the internal appeals process to be considered exhausted;

(2) The covered person may request review by the superintendent of the health plan issuer's explanation provided under division (C)(1) of this section and if the superintendent affirms the health plan issuer's explanation, the covered person may, within ten days of the superintendent's notice of decision, resubmit and pursue the internal appeal process. Time periods for refiling the internal appeal shall begin to run upon receipt of such notice by the covered person.

(D) Notwithstanding division (B) of this section, a covered person shall not make a request for an external review of an adverse benefit determination involving a retrospective review determination made pursuant to a utilization review until the covered person has exhausted the health plan issuer's internal appeals process.

(E) A request for an external review of an adverse benefit determination may be made before the covered person has exhausted the health plan issuer's internal appeals procedures whenever the health plan issuer agrees to waive the exhaustion requirement. If the internal appeal process is waived, the covered person may file a request in writing for a standard external review under section 3922.08 or 3922.10 of the Revised Code.

(F) Notwithstanding any other section in this chapter, health plan issuers offering individual health insurance coverage, including coverage offered to individuals through nonemployer groups shall not require more than one level of internal appeal before the individual may request an external review.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.124,HB 341, §1, eff. 9/6/2012.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.05 Opportunities for external review by independent review organization.

(A) A health plan issuer shall afford the opportunity for an external review by an independent review organization for an adverse benefit determination if the determination involved a medical judgment or if the decision was based on any medical information, pursuant to the following sections:

(1) Section 3922.08 of the Revised Code for a standard review;

(2) Section 3922.09 of the Revised Code for an expedited review;

(3) Section 3922.10 of the Revised Code for reviews involving experimental procedures.

(B) A health plan issuer shall afford the opportunity for an external review by the superintendent of insurance for an adverse benefit determination by the health plan issuer based on a contractual issue that did not involve a medical judgment or any medical information, pursuant to section 3922.11 of the Revised Code.

(C) For an adverse benefit determination in which emergency medical services have been determined to be not medically necessary or appropriate after an external review pursuant to division (A) of this section, the health plan issuer shall afford the covered person the opportunity for an external review by the superintendent of insurance, based on the prudent layperson standard, pursuant to section 3922.11 of the Revised Code.

(D) Upon receipt of a request for an external review from a covered person, the health plan issuer shall review it for completeness as prescribed under any associated rules, policies, or procedures adopted by the superintendent.

(1) If the request is complete, the health plan issuer shall initiate an external review in accordance with any associated rules, policies, or procedures adopted by the superintendent of insurance and shall notify the covered person in writing, in a form specified by the superintendent of insurance, that the request is complete. This notification shall include both of the following:

(a) The name and contact information for the assigned independent review organization or the superintendent of insurance, as applicable, for the purpose of submitting additional information;

(b) Except for when an expedited request is made under section 3922.09 or 3922.10 of the Revised Code, a statement that the covered person may, within ten business days after the date of receipt of the notice, submit, in writing, additional information for either the independent review organization or the superintendent of insurance to consider when conducting the external review.

(2) If the request for an external review is not complete, the health plan issuer shall, in accordance with any associated rules, policies, or procedures adopted by the superintendent of insurance, inform the covered person in writing, including what information is needed to make the request complete.

(E)

(1) If the health plan issuer denies a request for an external review on the basis that the adverse benefit determination is not eligible for an external review, the health plan issuer shall notify the covered person in writing of both of the following:

(a) The reason for the denial;

(b) That the denial may be appealed to the superintendent.

(2) If the health plan issuer denies a request for external review on the basis that the adverse benefit determination is not eligible for an external review, the covered person may appeal the denial to the superintendent of insurance.

(3) Regardless of a determination made by a health plan issuer, the superintendent of insurance may determine that a request is eligible for external review. The superintendent's determination shall be made in accordance with the terms of the covered person's benefit plan and shall be subject to all applicable provisions of this chapter.

(F)

(1) If an external review of an adverse benefit determination is granted, the superintendent, according to any rules, policies, or procedures adopted by the superintendent shall assign an independent review organization from the list of organizations maintained by the superintendent under section 3922.13 of the Revised Code to conduct the external review and shall notify the health plan issuer of the name of the assigned independent review organization.

(2) The assignment of an approved independent review organization shall be done on a random basis from those independent review organizations qualified to conduct the review in question based on the nature of the health care service that is the subject of the adverse benefit determination.

(3) The superintendent of insurance shall not choose an independent review organization with a conflict of interest, as prescribed under section 3922.14 of the Revised Code.

(G) In its review of an adverse benefit determination under section 3922.08, 3922.09, or 3922.10 of the Revised Code, an assigned independent review organization is not bound by any decisions or conclusions reached by the health plan issuer during its utilization review process or internal appeals process. The organization is not required to, but may, accept and consider additional information submitted after the end of the ten-business-day period described in division (D)(1)(b) of this section.

(H)

(1) An independent review organization assigned to review an adverse benefit determination shall provide written notice of its decision to either uphold or reverse the determination within thirty days of receipt by the health plan issuer of a request for a standard review or a standard review involving an experimental or investigational treatment, or within seventy-two hours of receipt by the health plan issuer of an expedited request.

(2) The written notice shall be sent to all of the following:

(a) The covered person;

(b) The health plan issuer;

(3) The written notification shall include all of the following:

(a) A general description of the reason for the request for external review;

(b) The date the independent review organization was assigned by the superintendent of insurance to conduct the external review;

(d) The date on which the independent review organization's decision was made;

(e) The rationale for its decision;

(f) References to the evidence or documentation, including any evidence-based standards used, that were considered in reaching its decision.

(I) Upon receipt of a notice by an independent review organization to reverse the adverse benefit determination, a health plan issuer shall immediately provide coverage for the health care service or services in question.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.124,HB 341, §1, eff. 9/6/2012.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.06 Reconsideration by issuer.

Except for when an expedited request is made under section 3922.09 or 3922.10 of the Revised Code, an independent review organization shall forward upon receipt a copy of any information received from a covered person pursuant to division (D)(1) of section 3922.05 of the Revised Code, as well as any other information received from the covered person, to the health plan issuer.

Upon receipt of that information or the information described in division (K) of section 3922.10 of the Revised Code, a health plan issuer may reconsider its adverse benefit determination and provide coverage for the health service in question.

Reconsideration of an adverse benefit determination by a health plan issuer based upon receipt of information under this section shall not delay or terminate an external review.

If a health plan issuer reverses an adverse benefit determination under this section, the health plan issuer shall notify, in writing and within one business day of making such a decision, the covered person, the assigned independent review organization, and the superintendent of insurance.

Upon receipt of such a notification, the assigned independent review organization shall terminate the associated external review.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.124,HB 341, §1, eff. 9/6/2012.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.07 Information considered for review.

In addition to the information provided under division (D)(1)(b) of section 3922.05, division (B) of section 3922.08, division (C) of section 3922.09, and division (D) of section 3922.10 of the Revised Code, an assigned independent review organization, to the extent that such documents are available and appropriate, shall consider all of the following when conducting its review:

(A) The covered person's medical records;

(B) The attending health care professional's recommendation;

(C) Consulting reports from appropriate health care professionals and other documents submitted by the health plan issuer, covered person, or covered person's treating provider;

(D) The terms of coverage under the covered person's health benefit plan to ensure that the independent review organization's decision is not contrary to the terms of the plan;

(E) The most appropriate practice guidelines, including evidence-based standards, and practice guidelines developed by the federal government, and national or professional medical societies, boards, and associations;

(F) Any applicable clinical review criteria developed and used by the health plan issuer or its designated utilization review organization;

(G) The opinion of the independent review organization's clinical reviewer or reviewers after considering the other sources described in this section.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.08 Provisions applicable to standard reviews; Timing;.

(A) The provisions of this section apply only to standard reviews, which are not expedited and do not involve an experimental or investigational treatment.

(B) Within five days after the receipt of a request for an external review that is complete and valid, the health plan issuer shall provide to the assigned independent review organization all documents and information considered in making the adverse benefit determination.

(C) An external review shall not be delayed due to failure on the part of the health plan issuer to provide the information required under division (B) of this section.

(D)

(1) An independent review organization may reverse an adverse benefit determination if the information required under division (B) of this section is not provided in the allotted time. The independent review organization may also grant a request from the health plan issuer for more time to provide the required information.

(2) If an adverse benefit determination is reversed under division (D)(1) of this section, the independent review organization shall notify, within one business day of making the decision, the covered person, the health plan issuer, and the superintendent of insurance.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.09 Request for expedited external review.

(A) A covered person may make a request for an expedited external review, except as provided in division (I) of this section:

(1) After an adverse benefit determination, if both of the following apply:

(a) The covered person's treating physician certifies that the adverse benefit determination involves a medical condition that could seriously jeopardize the life or health of the covered person, or would jeopardize the covered person's ability to regain maximum function, if treated after the time frame of an expedited internal appeal;

(b) The covered person has filed a request for an expedited internal appeal.

(2) After a final adverse benefit determination, if either of the following apply:

(b) The final adverse benefit determination concerns an admission, availability of care, continued stay, or health care service for which the covered person received emergency services, but has not yet been discharged from a facility.

(B) Immediately upon receipt of a request for an expedited external review, the health plan issuer shall determine if the request is complete under any associated rules, policies, or procedures adopted by the superintendent of insurance and eligible for expedited external review under division (A) of this section. The health plan issuer shall immediately notify the covered person of its determination in accordance with any associated rules, policies, or procedures adopted by the superintendent of insurance.

(C) If a request for an expedited review is complete and eligible, the health plan issuer shall immediately provide or transmit all necessary documents and information considered in making the adverse benefit determination in question to the assigned independent review organization electronically, or by facsimile or other available expeditious method.

(D) In addition to the information transmitted under division (C) of this section, the assigned independent review organization shall also consider relevant information as required under section 3922.07 of the Revised Code.

(E) As expeditiously as the covered person's medical condition requires, but no more than seventy-two hours after receipt by the health plan issuer of a request for an expedited, external review, the assigned independent review organization shall uphold or reverse the adverse benefit determination.

(F) If a health plan issuer fails to provide the documents and information as required in division (C) of this section, the independent review organization shall not delay the external review and may accordingly reverse the adverse benefit determination.

(G) An independent review organization shall promptly notify the covered person, health plan issuer, and superintendent of insurance of any decision made under this section. If such a notice is not made in writing, the independent review organization, shall provide, within forty-eight hours of making the decision, written confirmation, including the information required under division (H)(3) of section 3922.05 of the Revised Code, of its decision to the covered person, the health plan issuer, and the superintendent of insurance.

(H) Upon receipt of a notice by an independent review organization to reverse the adverse benefit determination, a health plan issuer shall immediately provide coverage for the health care service or services in question.

(I) An expedited, external review may not be provided for retrospective final adverse benefit determinations.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.124,HB 341, §1, eff. 9/6/2012.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.10 Provisions applicable to external reviews involving experimental or investigational treatment; timing.

The provisions of this section apply only to external reviews that involve an experimental or investigational treatment.

(A) A covered person may request an external review of an adverse benefit determination based on the conclusion that a requested health care service is experimental or investigational, except when the requested health care service is explicitly listed as an excluded benefit under the covered person's benefit plan.

(B) To be eligible for an external review under this section, a covered person's treating physician shall certify that one of the following situations is applicable:

(1) Standard health care services have not been effective in improving the condition of the covered person .

(2) Standard health care services are not medically appropriate for the covered person .

(3) There is no available standard health care service covered by the health plan issuer that is more beneficial than the requested health care service.

(C)

(1) A covered person may request orally or by electronic means an expedited review under this section if the person's treating physician certifies that the requested health care service in question would be significantly less effective if not promptly initiated.

(2) Immediately upon receipt of a request for an expedited external review, the health plan issuer shall determine if the request is complete under any associated rules, policies, or procedures adopted by the superintendent of insurance and eligible for expedited external review under division (C)(1) of this section. The health plan issuer shall immediately notify the covered person of its determination in accordance with any associated rules adopted by the superintendent of insurance.

(D) The health plan issuer shall provide to the assigned independent review organization all documents and information considered in making the adverse benefit determination within whichever of the following applies:

(1) Within five days after the receipt of a request for a standard external review;

(2) For an expedited external review, immediately electronically, or by facsimile or any other available expeditious method.

(E) An independent review organization assigned by the superintendent of insurance under division (F) of section 3922.05 of the Revised Code shall do both of the following:

(1) Select at least one clinical reviewer, pursuant to divisions (F) and (G) of this section to conduct the external review;

(2) Make a decision to uphold or reverse the adverse benefit determination based upon the opinion of the clinical reviewer or reviewers.

(F) In selecting clinical reviewers under division (E) of this section, the assigned independent review organization shall select physicians or other health care professionals who meet the minimum qualifications described in section 3922.15 of the Revised Code.

(G) Neither the covered person, nor the health plan issuer, shall choose or have any influence over the choice of the clinical reviewer or reviewers chosen under division (E) of this section.

(H)

(1) Each chosen clinical reviewer shall provide a written opinion to the assigned independent review organization on whether the adverse benefit determination should be upheld or reversed.

(2) In reaching such opinions, a clinical reviewer is not bound by any conclusions reached by the health plan issuer during a utilization review process or its internal appeals process.

(3) Any such opinion shall be in writing and shall include all of the following information:

(a) A description of the covered person's condition;

(b) A description of the indicators relevant to determining whether there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the recommended or requested therapy is more likely than not to be more beneficial to the covered person than any available standard health care service, and that the adverse risks of the requested health care service would not be substantially greater than those of available standard health care services;

(d) A description and analysis of any evidence-based standard considered;

(e) Information on whether the reviewer's rationale for the opinion is based on division (K)(2)(b) or (c) of this section.

(I) An external review shall not be delayed due to failure on the part of the health plan issuer to provide the information required under division (D) of this section.

(J)

(1) An independent review organization may reverse an adverse benefit determination, if the information required under division (D) of this section is not provided in the allotted time. The independent review organization may also grant a request from the health plan issuer for more time to provide the required information.

(2) If an adverse benefit determination is reversed under division (J)(1) of this section, the independent review organization shall immediately notify the covered person, the health plan issuer, and the superintendent of insurance.

(K)

(1) Each clinical reviewer shall review all of the information received pursuant to division (D) of this section, as well as any other information submitted in writing by the covered person pursuant to division (D) of section 3922.05 of the Revised Code.

(2) In addition to the documents and information provided pursuant to division (D) of this section and division (D) of section 3922.05 of the Revised Code, each clinical reviewer shall consider the following:

(a) Information required under section 3922.07 of the Revised Code;

(b) Whether the requested health care service has been approved by the federal food and drug administration, if applicable, for the condition;

(c) Whether medical or scientific evidence, or evidence-based standards, demonstrate that the expected benefits of the requested health care service is more likely than not to be beneficial to the covered person than any available standard health care service, and that the adverse risks of the requested health care service would not be substantially greater than those of available standard health care services.

(L) Within one business day after the receipt of any such information submitted by the covered person in accordance with division (K)(1) of this section, the independent review organization shall forward the information to the health plan issuer. Upon receipt of any such forwarded information in accordance with division (K)(1) of this section, a health plan issuer may reconsider its adverse benefit determination as described in section 3922.06 of the Revised Code.

(M)

(1) Within thirty days after the date of receipt by the health plan issuer of a request for a standard external review, or within seventy-two hours of receipt by the health plan issuer of a request for an expedited external review, the assigned independent review organization shall provide written notice of its decision to uphold or reverse the adverse benefit determination to the covered person, the health plan issuer, and the superintendent of insurance.

(2)

(a) If a majority of the clinical reviewers recommend that the requested health care service should be covered, the independent review organization shall make a decision to reverse the health plan issuer's adverse benefit determination.

(b) If a majority of the clinical reviewers recommend that the recommended or requested health care service or treatment should not be covered, the independent review organization shall make a decision to uphold the health plan issuer's adverse benefit determination.

(c)

(i) If the clinical reviewers are evenly split as to whether the adverse benefit determination should be reversed or upheld, the independent review organization shall obtain the opinion of an additional clinical reviewer in order for the independent review organization to make a decision based on the opinions of a majority of the clinical reviewers pursuant to this division.

(ii) The additional clinical reviewer selected shall use the same information to reach an opinion as the clinical reviewers who have already submitted their opinions pursuant to this section.

(iii) The selection of the additional clinical reviewer under this division shall not extend the time within which the assigned independent review organization is required to make a decision.

(3) The independent review organization shall include in the notice provided pursuant to division (M)(1) of this section all of the following:

(a) A general description of the reason for the request for external review;

(b) The written opinion of each clinical reviewer, including the recommendation of each clinical reviewer as to whether the recommended or requested health care service or treatment should be covered and the rationale for that recommendation;

(d) The dates over which the external review was conducted;

(e) The date of its decision;

(f) The principal reason or reasons for its decision;

(g) The rationale for its decision.

(N) Upon receipt of a notice of a decision by an independent review organization pursuant to division (M)(1) of this section reversing the adverse benefit determination, a health plan issuer shall immediately provide coverage of the requested health care service in question.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.124,HB 341, §1, eff. 9/6/2012.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.11 Review by superintendent of insurance.

(A) The superintendent of insurance shall establish and maintain a system for receiving and reviewing requests for external review for adverse benefit determinations where the determination by the health plan issuer was based on a contractual issue and did not involve a medical judgment or a determination based on any medical information, except for emergency services, as specified in division (C) of section 3922.05 of the Revised Code.

(B) A health plan issuer shall submit a request for external review pursuant to division (B) or (C) of section 3922.05 of the Revised Code to the superintendent, in accordance with any associated rules, policies, or procedures adopted by the superintendent of insurance.

(C) On receipt of a request from a health plan issuer, the superintendent shall consider whether the health care service is a service covered under the terms of the covered person's policy, contract, certificate, or agreement, except that the superintendent shall not conduct a review under this section unless the covered person has exhausted the health plan issuer's internal appeal process, pursuant to sections 3922.03 and 3922.04 of the Revised Code. The health plan issuer and covered person shall provide the superintendent with any information required by the superintendent that is in their possession and is germane to the review.

(D) Unless the superintendent is not able to do so because making the determination requires a medical judgement or a determination based on medical information, the superintendent shall determine whether the health care service at issue is a service covered under the terms of the covered person's contract, policy, certificate, or agreement. The superintendent shall notify the covered person and the health plan issuer of the superintendent's determination.

(E) If the superintendent notifies the health plan issuer that making the determination requires a medical judgement or a determination based on medical information, the health plan issuer shall initiate an external review under this chapter.

(F) If the superintendent determines that the health service is a covered service, the health plan issuer shall cover the service.

(G) If the superintendent determines that the health care service is not a covered service, the health plan issuer is not required to cover the service or afford the covered person an external review by an independent review organization.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.124,HB 341, §1, eff. 9/6/2012.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.12 Effect of decision.

(A) An external review decision is binding on the health plan issuer except to the extent the health plan issuer has other remedies available under applicable state law, or unless the superintendent of insurance determines that, due to the facts and circumstances of an external review, a second external review is required.

(B) An external review decision is binding on the covered person except to the extent the covered person has other remedies available under applicable federal or state law, or unless the superintendent determines that, due to the facts and circumstances of an external review, a second external review is required.

(C) A covered person may not file a subsequent request for external review involving the same adverse benefit determination for which the covered person has already received an external review decision pursuant to this chapter, except in the event that new medical or scientific evidence is submitted to the health plan issuer.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.13 Accreditation of independent review organizations.

The superintendent shall accredit independent review organizations as prescribed by this section.

(A) The superintendent shall develop an application form to accredit and renew accreditation of an independent review organization.

(B) An independent review organization seeking to be accredited by the superintendent, or to renew its accreditation, shall submit the application form and include with the form all documentation and information necessary for the superintendent to determine if the independent review organization satisfies the minimum qualifications established under section 3922.14 of the Revised Code.

(C)

(1) Except as provided in division (C)(2) of this section, an independent review organization is eligible for accreditation by the superintendent under this section only if it is accredited by a nationally recognized private accrediting entity that the superintendent has determined has accreditation standards that are equivalent to or exceed the minimum qualifications for independent review organizations under section 3922.14 of the Revised Code.

(2) The superintendent may approve independent review organizations that are not accredited by a nationally recognized private accrediting entity, if there are no acceptable nationally recognized private accrediting entities providing independent review organization accreditation.

(D) An independent review organization shall apply to renew its accreditation on an annual basis.

(E) If the superintendent determines that an independent review organization has lost its accreditation by a nationally recognized private accrediting entity or no longer satisfies the minimum requirements established under section 3922.14 of the Revised Code, the superintendent shall revoke the independent review organization's accreditation and shall remove the independent review organization from the list of independent review organizations approved to conduct external reviews.

(F) The superintendent shall maintain and periodically update a list of accredited independent review organizations.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.14 Additional actions for accreditation.

(A) To be accredited by the superintendent of insurance to conduct external reviews under section 3922.13 of the Revised Code, in addition to the requirements provided in section 3922.13 of the Revised Code and any associated rules adopted by the superintendent, an independent review organization shall do all of the following:

(1) Develop and maintain written policies and procedures that govern all aspects of both the standard external review process and the expedited external review process set forth in this chapter, including a quality assurance mechanism that does all of the following:

(a) Ensures that external reviews are conducted within the time frames prescribed under this chapter and that the required notices are provided in a timely manner;

(b) Ensures the selection of qualified and impartial clinical reviewers to conduct external reviews on behalf of the independent review organization;

(c) Ensures that chosen clinical reviewers are suitably matched according to their area of expertise to specific cases and that the independent review organization employs or contracts with an adequate number of clinical reviewers to meet this requirement;

(d) Ensures the confidentiality of medical and treatment records and clinical review criteria;

(e) Ensures that any person employed by, or who is under contract with, the independent review organization adheres to the requirements of this chapter.

(2) Maintain a toll-free telephone service to receive information on a twenty-four-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week basis related to external reviews that is capable of accepting, recording, and providing appropriate instruction to incoming telephone callers during other than normal business hours;

(3) Agree to maintain and provide to the superintendent, upon request and in accordance with any associated rules, policies, or procedures adopted by the superintendent of insurance, the information prescribed in section 3922.17 of the Revised Code.

(B) An independent review organization may not own or control, be a subsidiary of or in any way be owned or controlled by, or exercise control with a health plan issuer, a national, state or local trade association of health plan issuers, or a national, state, or local trade association of health care providers.

(C)

(1) Neither the independent review organization selected to conduct the external review nor any clinical reviewer assigned by the independent organization to conduct the external review may have a material, professional, familial, or financial affiliation with any of the following:

(a) The health plan issuer that is the subject of the external review, or any officer, director, or management employee of the health plan issuer;

(b) The covered person whose treatment is the subject of the external review;

(c) The health care provider, or the health care provider's medical group or independent practice association, recommending the health care service or treatment that is the subject of the external review;

(d) The facility at which the recommended health care service would be provided;

(e) The developer or manufacturer of the principal drug, device, procedure, or other therapy being recommended for the covered person whose treatment is the subject of the external review.

(2) The superintendent may make a determination as to whether an independent review organization or a clinical reviewer of the independent review organization has a material professional, familial, or financial conflict of interest for purposes of division (C)(1) of this section. In making this determination, the superintendent may take into consideration situations where an independent review organization, or a clinical reviewer, may have an apparent conflict of interest, but that the characteristics of the relationship or connection in question are such that they do not fall under the definition of conflict of interest provided under division (D)(1) of this section. If the superintendent determines that a conflict of interest exists, the superintendent shall disallow an independent review organization or a clinical reviewer from conducting the external review in question. Such determinations related to conflicts of interest are the sole discretion of the superintendent of insurance.

(D)

(1) An independent review organization that is accredited by a nationally recognized private accrediting entity that has independent review accreditation standards that the superintendent has determined are equivalent to or exceed the minimum qualifications of this section shall be presumed in compliance with this section to be eligible for accreditation by the superintendent under section 3922.14 of the Revised Code.

(2) The superintendent shall initially review and periodically review the independent review organization accreditation standards of a nationally recognized private accrediting entity to determine whether the entity's standards are, and continue to be, equivalent to or exceed the minimum qualifications established under this section. The superintendent may accept a review conducted by the national association of insurance commissioners for the purpose of the determination under this division.

(3) Upon request, a nationally recognized, private accrediting entity shall make its current independent review organization accreditation standards available to the superintendent or the national association of insurance commissioners in order for the superintendent to determine if the entity's standards are equivalent to or exceed the minimum qualifications established under this section. The superintendent may exclude any private accrediting entity that is not reviewed by the national association of insurance commissioners.

(E) An independent review organization shall be unbiased in its review of adverse benefit determinations and shall establish and maintain written procedures to ensure that it is unbiased.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.124,HB 341, §1, eff. 9/6/2012.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.15 Qualifications for clinical reviewers.

All clinical reviewers assigned by an independent review organization to conduct external reviews shall have the same license as the health care provider of the service in question, and shall be physicians or other appropriate health care providers who meet all of the following minimum qualifications:

(A) Be an expert in the treatment of the medical condition that is the subject of the external review;

(B) Be knowledgeable about the requested health care service through clinical experience, within the last three years, treating patients with the same, or a similar, medical condition, and, in the case of an external review of an experimental or investigational health care service, be an expert, through clinical experience in the last three years, in the treatment of the covered person's condition and have knowledge of the requested health care service;

(C) Hold a nonrestricted license in a state of the United States and, for physicians, a current certification by a recognized American medical specialty board in the area or areas appropriate to the subject of the external review;

(D) Have no history of disciplinary actions or sanctions, including loss of staff privileges or participation restrictions, that have been taken or are pending by any hospital, governmental agency or unit, or regulatory body that raise a question as to the clinical reviewer's physical, mental, or professional competence or moral character.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.124,HB 341, §1, eff. 9/6/2012.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.16 Construction of chapter; limitations on liability.

(A) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to create a cause of action against any of the following:

(1) An employer that provides health care benefits to employees through a health plan issuer;

(2) A clinical reviewer or independent review organization that participates in an external review under this chapter;

(3) A health plan issuer that provides coverage for benefits pursuant to this chapter.

(B) An independent review organization and any clinical reviewer an independent review organization uses in conducting an external review under this chapter is not liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property and is not subject to professional disciplinary action for making, in good faith, any finding, conclusion, or determination required to complete the external review.

(C) This section does not grant immunity from civil liability or professional disciplinary action to an independent review organization or clinical reviewer for an action that is outside the scope of authority granted under this chapter.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.124,HB 341, §1, eff. 9/6/2012.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.17 Maintenance of records; reports.

(A)

(1) An independent review organization assigned pursuant to sections 3922.08, 3922.09, or 3922.10 of the Revised Code to conduct an external review shall maintain written records in accordance with the associated rules established by the superintendent, in the aggregate by state, and by the health plan issuer, on all external reviews requested and conducted during a calendar year.

Each independent review organization shall submit this information to the superintendent, upon request, in a report in the format specified by the superintendent that shall include, in the aggregate by state and for each health plan issuer, all of the following:

(a) The total number of requests for external review;

(b) The number of requests for external review resolved and, of those resolved, the number upholding and the number reversing an adverse benefit determination;

(d) A summary of the types of requested health care services or cases for which an external review was sought;

(e) The number of external reviews that were terminated as the result of a reconsideration by the health plan issuer of an adverse benefit determination after the receipt of additional information from the covered person under section 3922.05 of the Revised Code;

(f) The costs associated with external reviews, including the amounts charged by the independent review organization to conduct the reviews;

(g) The medical specialty, or the type, of clinical reviewer used to conduct each external review, as related to the specific medical condition of the covered person;

(h) Any other information the superintendent may request or require.

(2) The independent review organization shall retain the written records required under division (A)(1) of this section for at least three years.

(B) A health plan issuer shall maintain written records on all requests made for an external review under this chapter and shall provide all such information as required by any associated rules, policies, or procedures adopted by the superintendent of insurance. A health plan issuer shall maintain written records on all requests for external review for at least three years.

(C) The superintendent shall compile and annually publish the information collected under this section and report the information to the governor, the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives, the president and minority leader of the senate, and the chairs and ranking minority members of the house and senate committees with jurisdiction over health and insurance issues.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.18 Payment of costs.

The health plan issuer against which a request for a standard external review or an expedited external review is filed shall pay the cost of the external review, including the cost of any external review that is required at the direction of the superintendent.

If the superintendent determines that, due to the facts and circumstances of an external review, a second external review is required, the health plan issuer shall pay the costs of the second review.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.19 Disclosure of external review procedures.

(A) Each health plan issuer shall include a description of its external review procedures, including the superintendent's contractual review, in, or attached to, the policy, certificate, membership booklet, or outline of coverage, or other evidence of coverage it provides to covered persons. This disclosure shall be in a form prescribed by the superintendent in any associated rules, policies, or procedures.

(B) The disclosure required by division (A) of this section shall include a statement that informs the covered person of the covered person's right to file a request for an external review of an adverse benefit determination with the health plan issuer. The statement shall do all of the following:

(1) Explain that external review is available when the adverse benefit determination involves an issue of medical necessity, appropriateness, health care setting, and level of care or effectiveness;

(2) Include the telephone number and address of the superintendent;

(3) Inform the covered person that, when filing a request for an external review, the covered person will be required to authorize the release of the covered person's medical records as necessary to conduct the external review.

(C)

(1) When a health plan issuer notifies a covered person of an adverse benefit determination, the health plan issuer shall also notify the covered person, in writing, of the covered person's right to request an external review, pursuant to section 3922.08, 3922.09, 3922.10, or 3922.11 of the Revised Code.

(2) As part of the written notice required under division (C)(1) of this section, a health plan issuer shall include all of the following:

(a) Information sufficient to identify the claim or health care service involved, including the health care provider, and the date of service and claim amount, if applicable;

(b) A description of the reason or reasons for the adverse benefit determination, including the denial code, such as the claim adjustment reason code and the remittance advice remark code, and each code's corresponding meaning;

(d) A description of the available internal appeals and external review processes, including information regarding how to initiate an appeal and an external review;

(e) Disclosure of the availability of assistance from the superintendent with the internal appeals and external review processes, including the web site, telephone number, and mailing address of the superintendent's office of consumer services.

(3) In the case of a notice of a final adverse benefit determination subsequent to an internal appeal, in addition to the information required under division (C)(2) of this section, the notice must also include a discussion of the decision.

(4) Any written notice provided under division (C) of this section shall be in a form prescribed by the superintendent of insurance.

(D) For an adverse benefit determination that is not a final adverse benefit determination, the health plan issuer shall include with the notice required under division (C) of this section a statement informing the covered person of all of the following:

(1) If the covered person's treating physician certifies in writing that the covered person has a medical condition where the time frame for completion of an expedited review of an internal appeal involving an adverse benefit determination would seriously jeopardize the life or health of the covered person or jeopardize the covered person's ability to regain maximum function, the covered person may file a request for an expedited external review to be conducted simultaneously with the expedited internal appeal, pursuant to section 3922.09 of the Revised Code.

(2) If the adverse benefit determination involves a denial of coverage based on a determination that the recommended or requested health care service or treatment is experimental or investigational and the covered person's treating physician certifies in writing that the recommended or requested health care service or treatment that is the subject of the adverse benefit determination would be significantly less effective if not promptly initiated, the covered person may file a request for an expedited external review to be conducted simultaneously with the expedited internal appeal, pursuant to section 3922.09 or 3922.10 of the Revised Code.

(3) If the covered person has requested an internal appeal and the health plan issuer has not issued a written decision to the covered person within thirty days following the date the covered person files the request, and the covered person has not requested or agreed to a delay, the covered person may file a request for external review pursuant to section 3922.08 of the Revised Code and may be considered to have exhausted the health plan issuer's internal appeals process for purposes of section 3922.04 of the Revised Code.

(E) For a final adverse benefit determination, the health plan issuer shall include with the notice required under division (C) of this section a statement informing the covered person of all of the following:

(1) A written request for an external review must be submitted to the health plan issuer within one hundred eighty days after the date of the notice of final adverse benefit determination .

(2) If the covered person's treating physician certifies in writing that the covered person has a medical condition for which the time frame for completion of a standard external review pursuant to section 3922.08 of the Revised Code would seriously jeopardize the life or health of the covered person or would jeopardize the covered person's ability to regain maximum function, the covered person may file a request for an expedited external review pursuant to section 3922.09 of the Revised Code.

(3)

(a) If the final adverse benefit determination concerns a health care service for which the covered person received emergency services, but has not been discharged from a facility, the covered person may request an expedited external review pursuant to section 3922.09 of the Revised Code.

(b) If the final adverse benefit determination concerns denial of coverage based on a determination that the recommended or requested health care service or treatment is experimental or investigational, the covered person may file a request for an external review to be conducted pursuant to section 3922.10 of the Revised Code, or if the covered person's treating physician certifies in writing that the recommended or requested health care service that is the subject of the request would be significantly less effective if not promptly initiated, the covered person may request an expedited external review to be conducted under section 3922.10 of the Revised Code.

(F)

(1) In addition to any information required to be provided under divisions (D) and (E) of this section, the health plan issuer shall include a description of both the standard and expedited external review procedures the health plan issuer is required to produce pursuant to this chapter, highlighting in the external review procedures the sections of the Revised Code that give the covered person the opportunity to submit additional information.

(2) The health plan issuer shall also include any forms used to process an external review, including an authorization form, or other document approved by the superintendent that complies with the requirements of 45 C.F.R. 164.508, by which the covered person, for purposes of conducting an external review under this chapter, authorizes the health plan issuer and the covered person's treating health care provider to disclose protected health information, including medical records, concerning the covered person that are related in any manner to the external review.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.124,HB 341, §1, eff. 9/6/2012.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.20 Admissibility of written decision or medicare reimbursement standards.

Consistent with the Rules of Evidence, a written decision or opinion prepared by an independent review organization under this chapter shall be admissible in any civil action related to the coverage decision that was the subject of the decision or opinion. The independent review organization's decision or opinion shall be presumed to be a scientifically valid and accurate description of the state of medical knowledge at the time it was written.

Consistent with the Rules of Evidence, any party to a civil action related to a plan's decision involving an investigational or experimental drug, device, or treatment may introduce into evidence any applicable medicare reimbursement standards established under Title XVIII of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C.A. 301, as amended.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.21 Confidentiality.

(A) When a record containing information pertaining to the medical history, diagnosis, prognosis, or medical condition of a covered person is provided to the superintendent of insurance for any reason under this chapter or sections 1751.77 to 1751.87 of the Revised Code, regardless of the source, the superintendent shall maintain the confidentiality of the record. The record in the superintendent's possession is not a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code, except to the extent that information from the record is used in preparing reports under section 3922.17 of the Revised Code.

(B) Notwithstanding division (A) of this section, the superintendent may share a record that is the subject of this section in connection with the investigation or prosecution of any illegal or criminal activity with the chief deputy rehabilitator, the chief deputy liquidator, other deputy rehabilitators and liquidators, and any other person employed by, or acting on behalf of, the superintendent pursuant to Chapter 3901. or 3903. of the Revised Code, with other local, state, federal, and international regulatory and law enforcement agencies, with local, state, and federal prosecutors, and with the national association of insurance commissioners and its affiliates and subsidiaries, provided that the recipient agrees to maintain the confidential or privileged status of the confidential or privileged record and has authority to do so.

(C) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the superintendent from receiving records in accordance with section 3901.045 of the Revised Code.

(D) The superintendent may enter into agreements governing the sharing and use of records consistent with the requirements of this section.

(E) No waiver of any applicable privilege or claim of confidentiality in the records that are the subject of this section shall occur as a result of sharing or receiving records as authorized in divisions (B) and (C) of this section.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.22 Adoption of rules.

The superintendent may adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to carry out the purposes of this chapter and shall prescribe forms relating to notices, appeals, and requests for external review under this chapter.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.

3922.23 Violation; Penalties.

A violation of this chapter shall be an unfair or deceptive act or practice under sections 3901.19 to 3901.26 of the Revised Code. Additionally, health plan issuers holding a certificate of authority from the superintendent are also subject to the following:

(A) If, after notice and hearing, the superintendent of insurance finds that a health plan issuer has failed to comply with the requirements of this chapter, the superintendent may suspend or revoke the health plan issuer's license to transact business within the state.

(B)

(1) In lieu of the suspension or revocation of a license under division (A) of this section, the superintendent of insurance, pursuant to an adjudication hearing initiated and conducted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, or by consent of the health plan issuer without an adjudication hearing, may levy an administrative penalty. The administrative penalty shall be in an amount determined by the superintendent, but the administrative penalty shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars per violation. Additionally, the superintendent may require the health plan issuer to correct any deficiency that may be the basis for the suspension or revocation of the health plan issuer's license. All penalties collected shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the department of insurance operating fund.

(2) If the superintendent for any reason has cause to believe that any violation of the requirements of this chapter has occurred or is threatened, the superintendent may give notice to the health plan issuer and to the representatives or other persons who appear to be involved in the suspected violation to arrange a conference with the suspected violators or their authorized representatives for the purpose of attempting to ascertain the facts relating to the suspected violation, and, if it appears that any violation has occurred or is threatened, to arrive at an adequate and effective means of correcting or preventing the violation.

Proceedings shall not be covered by any formal procedural requirements, and may be conducted in the manner the superintendent may consider appropriate under the circumstances.

(3)

(a) The superintendent may issue an order directing a health plan issuer or a representative of the issuer to cease and desist from engaging in any act or practice in violation of the requirements of this chapter. Within thirty days after service of the order to cease and desist, the respondent may request a hearing on the question of whether acts or practices in violation of those sections have occurred. Such hearings shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code and judicial review shall be available as provided by that chapter.

(b) If the superintendent has reasonable cause to believe that an order has been violated in whole or in part, the superintendent may request the attorney general to commence and prosecute any appropriate action or proceeding in the name of the state against the violators in the court of common pleas of Franklin county. The court in any such action or proceeding may levy civil penalties, not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars per violation, in addition to any other appropriate relief, including requiring a violator to pay the expenses reasonably incurred by the superintendent in enforcing the order. The penalties and fees collected shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the department of insurance operating fund.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.48,HB 218, §1, eff. 12/26/2011.