N.M. Admin. Code § 13.10.13.13

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 13.10.13.13 - CONSUMER ASSISTANCE

A. Consumer assistance office: Each MHCP shall establish and adequately staff a consumer assistance office. Those MHCPs currently doing business in New Mexico shall submit to the superintendent for approval a plan of how the MHCP's consumer assistance office will be organized and established. At a minimum, the plan shall address:

(1) the staffing of the consumer assistance office, including whether the planned hours and level of staffing are sufficient for the numbers and types of covered persons served by the MHCP;

(2) the MHCP's arrangements to meet the needs of covered persons with special needs;

(3) how the consumer assistance staff will be trained;

(4) how the independence of staff assigned to assist consumers is assured; and

(5) whether staff will have the authority to assist consumers in filing and pursuing a grievance or appeal.

B. A MHCP new to this state shall submit a plan for establishing a consumer assistance office to the superintendent as part of its application for licensure.

C. The superintendent shall approve or reject a plan submitted by a MHCP within 45 days after the plan is submitted to the superintendent. If the superintendent rejects a plan submitted by a MHCP, the superintendent shall state in writing in a letter addressed to the MHCP the specific grounds for rejection.

D. Consumer advisory board: Each MHCP shall establish and maintain a consumer advisory board.

(1) The consumer advisory board shall meet at least quarterly and shall advise the MHCP about the MHCP's general operations from the perspective of the enrollee as a consumer of health care.

(2) The consumer advisory board shall review the operations of and be advisory to the MHCP's consumer assistance office.

(3) All members of the consumer advisory board shall be current enrollees of the MHCP, employees of groups which subscribe to the MHCP, or be representatives of consumer organizations which represent the interests of health care consumers. No member of the consumer advisory board shall be an employee of the MHCP, nor shall the board members' immediate family be employees of the MHCP.

(4) The MHCP shall implement procedures whereby, when specific recommendations are made by the advisory board, representatives of the MHCP with responsibility for the substantive areas addressed in the recommendation will consider the matters raised in the recommendation and timely respond to the advisory board.

(5) The MHCP shall inform enrollees of the advisory board's existence and role in the operation of the MHCP in the evidence of coverage.

N.M. Admin. Code § 13.10.13.13

13.10.13.13 NMAC - Rp, 13.10.13.30 NMAC, 9/1/2009