Subdivision 1. Written standards. Utilization review organizations conducting prior authorization of services must have written standards that meet at a minimum the following requirements:
(1) written procedures and criteria used to determine whether care is appropriate, reasonable, or medically necessary;
(2) a system for providing prompt notification of its determinations to enrollees and providers and for notifying the provider, enrollee, or enrollee's designee of appeal procedures under clause (4);
(3) compliance with section 62M.05, subdivisions 3a and 3b, regarding time frames for authorizing and making adverse determinations regarding prior authorization requests;
(4) written procedures to appeal adverse determinations of prior authorization requests which specify the responsibilities of the enrollee and provider, and which meet the requirements of sections 62M.06 and 72A.285, regarding release of summary review findings; and
(5) procedures to ensure confidentiality of patient-specific information, consistent with applicable law.
Subd. 2. Prior authorization of emergency services prohibited. No utilization review organization, health plan company, or claims administrator may conduct or require prior authorization of emergency confinement or an emergency service. The enrollee or the enrollee's authorized representative may be required to notify the health plan company, claims administrator, or utilization review organization as soon as reasonably possible after the beginning of the emergency confinement or emergency service.
Subd. 3. Retrospective revocation or limitation of prior authorization. No utilization review organization, health plan company, or claims administrator may revoke, limit, condition, or restrict a prior authorization that has been authorized unless there is evidence that the prior authorization was authorized based on fraud or misinformation or a previously approved prior authorization conflicts with state or federal law. Application of a deductible, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing requirement does not constitute a limit, condition, or restriction under this subdivision.
Subd. 4. Submission of prior authorization requests. If prior authorization for a health care service is required, the utilization review organization, health plan company, or claim administrator must allow providers to submit requests for prior authorization of the health care services without unreasonable delay by telephone, facsimile, or voice mail or through an electronic mechanism 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This subdivision does not apply to dental service covered under MinnesotaCare or medical assistance.
1992 c 574 s 7; 1994 c 485 s 65; 1995 c 234 art 8 s 12; 1999 c 239 s 25; 2004 c 246 s 1; 2016 c 158 art 2 s 22; 2020 c 114 art 1 s 15
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 59A - 79A — Insurance
Chapter 62M — Utilization Review Of Health Care
Section 62M.01 — Citation, Jurisdiction, And Scope.
Section 62M.03 — Compliance With Standards.
Section 62M.04 — Standards For Utilization Review Performance.
Section 62M.05 — Procedures For Review Determination.
Section 62M.06 — Appeals Of Adverse Determinations.
Section 62M.07 — Prior Authorization Of Services.
Section 62M.072 — Use Of Evidence-based Standards.
Section 62M.08 — Confidentiality.
Section 62M.09 — Staff And Program Qualifications.
Section 62M.10 — Accessibility And On-site Review Procedures.
Section 62M.11 — Complaints To Commerce Or Health.
Section 62M.12 — Prohibition Of Inappropriate Incentives.
Section 62M.13 — Severability.
Section 62M.14 — Effect Of Compliance.
Section 62M.15 — Applicability Of Other Chapter Requirements.
Section 62M.17 — Continuity Of Care; Prior Authorizations.
Section 62M.18 — Annual Posting On Website; Prior Authorizations.