Ariz. Admin. Code § 20-6-2403

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section R20-6-2403 - Informal Settlement Teleconference

A. Deadline to arrange the Informal Settlement Teleconference. Upon a determination that an enrollee has made a Request for Arbitration that qualifies for Arbitration, the Department shall arrange an Informal Settlement Teleconference between the parties within 30 days of notifying the enrollee that the enrollee's Request for Arbitration qualifies for Arbitration required by Section R20-6-2402(C)(1).

B. Notice of Informal Settlement Teleconference. At least 14 days prior to the scheduled date, the Department shall send a Notice of Informal Settlement Teleconference to the enrollee, the enrollee's authorized representative, the health insurer, the health care provider and the health care provider's representative informing them of the date, time and instructions on how to participate in the Informal Settlement Teleconference.

C. Health Insurer documentation. On or before the Informal Settlement Teleconference, the health insurer shall provide to the parties the enrollee's cost sharing requirements under the enrollee's health plan based on the qualifying surprise out-of-network bill.

D. Consequences of non-participation in the Informal Settlement Teleconference. If a party fails to participate in the Informal Settlement Teleconference, it shall be subject to the following consequences:

1. If the health insurer, provider or provider's representative fails to participate in an Informal Settlement Teleconference scheduled by the Department, the participating party may notify the Department which shall promptly schedule the Arbitration. The non-participating party shall pay the entire cost of the Arbitration.

2. If the enrollee or the enrollee's authorized representative fails to participate in the original Informal Settlement Teleconference, the original Informal Settlement Teleconference is terminated.

3. If the enrollee or the enrollee's authorized representative fails to participate in a rescheduled Informal Settlement Teleconference, the enrollee's Request for Arbitration is terminated.

E. One-time opportunity for the enrollee to reschedule the Informal Settlement Teleconference. If the enrollee or the enrollee's representative fails to participate in the Informal Settlement Teleconference originally scheduled by the Department, the enrollee may request that the Department reschedule the Informal Settlement Conference. The enrollee's request to reschedule must be received by the Department within 14 days after the originally scheduled Informal Settlement Teleconference. Failure to submit a request to the Department to reschedule the Informal Settlement Teleconference within the 14 day period terminates the enrollee's Request for Arbitration.

F. Notification to the Department after the Informal Settlement Teleconference: Within seven days after the date of the Informal Settlement Teleconference, the health insurer shall:

1. Notify the Department whether a settlement was reached between the parties; and

2. If a settlement was reached, notify the Department of the terms of the settlement on a form prescribed by the Department.

G. Failure to settle. If the parties fail to settle the qualifying surprise out-of-network bill at the Informal Settlement Teleconference, the Department shall arrange for the Arbitration.

H. Settlement. If the parties settle the qualifying surprise out-of-network bill at the Informal Settlement Teleconference, the health insurer shall remit its portion of the payment to the health care provider within 30 days after the Informal Settlement Teleconference. A claim that is reprocessed by a health insurer as a result of informal settlement is not in violation of A.R.S. § 20-3102(L).

Ariz. Admin. Code § R20-6-2403

New Section made by exempt rulemaking at 25 A.A.R. 155, effective 1/2/2019.