632.835(6)(b)1.
1. The insurer that issued the health benefit plan that is the subject of the independent review.
632.835(6)(b)2.
2. Any officer, director or management employee of the insurer that issued the health benefit plan that is the subject of the independent review.
632.835(6)(b)3.
3. The health care provider that recommended or provided the health care service or treatment that is the subject of the independent review, or the health care provider's medical group or independent practice association.
632.835(6)(b)4.
4. The facility at which the health care service or treatment that is the subject of the independent review was or would be provided.
632.835(6)(b)5.
5. The developer or manufacturer of the principal procedure, equipment, drug or device that is the subject of the independent review.
632.835(6m)
(6m) Qualifications of clinical peer reviewers. A clinical peer reviewer who conducts a review on behalf of a certified independent review organization must satisfy all of the following requirements:
632.835(6m)(a)
(a) Be a health care provider who is expert in treating the medical condition that is the subject of the review and who is knowledgeable about the treatment that is the subject of the review through current, actual clinical experience.
632.835(6m)(b)
(b) Hold a credential, as defined in
s. 440.01 (2) (a), that is not limited or restricted; or hold a license, certificate, registration or permit that authorizes or qualifies the health care provider to perform acts substantially the same as those acts authorized by a credential, as defined in
s. 440.01 (2) (a), that was issued by a governmental authority in a jurisdiction outside this state and that is not limited or restricted.
632.835(6m)(c)
(c) If a physician, hold a current certification by a recognized American medical specialty board in the area or areas appropriate to the subject of the review.
632.835(6m)(d)
(d) Have no history of disciplinary sanctions, including loss of staff privileges but excluding temporary suspension of staff privileges due to incomplete records, taken or pending by the medical examining board or another regulatory body or by any hospital or government.
632.835(7)(a)(a) A certified independent review organization is immune from any civil or criminal liability that may result because of an independent review determination made under this section. An employee, agent or contractor of a certified independent review organization is immune from civil liability and criminal prosecution for any act or omission done in good faith within the scope of his or her powers and duties under this section.
632.835(7)(b)
(b) A health benefit plan that is the subject of an independent review and the insurer that issued the health benefit plan shall not be liable to any person for damages attributable to the insurer's or plan's actions taken in compliance with any decision regarding an adverse determination or an experimental treatment determination rendered by a certified independent review organization.
632.835(8)
(8) Notice of sufficient independent review organizations. 632.835(8)(a)(a)
Adverse and experimental treatment determinations. The commissioner shall make a determination that at least one independent review organization has been certified under
sub. (4) that is able to effectively provide the independent reviews required under this section for adverse determinations and experimental treatment determinations and shall publish a notice in the Wisconsin Administrative Register that states a date that is 2 months after the commissioner makes that determination. The date stated in the notice shall be the date on which the independent review procedure under this section begins operating with respect to adverse determinations and experimental treatment determinations.
632.835(8)(b)
(b)
Preexisting condition exclusion denials and rescissions. The commissioner shall make a determination that at least one independent review organization has been certified under
sub. (4) that is able to effectively provide the independent reviews required under this section for preexisting condition exclusion denial determinations and rescissions and shall publish a notice in the Wisconsin Administrative Register that states a date that is 2 months after the commissioner makes that determination. The date stated in the notice shall be the date on which the independent review procedure under this section begins operating with respect to preexisting condition exclusion denial determinations and rescissions.
632.835(9)(a)(a)
Adverse and experimental treatment determinations. The independent review required under this section with respect to an adverse determination or an experimental treatment determination shall be available to an insured who receives notice of the disposition of his or her grievance under
s. 632.83 (3) (d) on or after December 1, 2000. Notwithstanding
sub. (2) (c), an insured who receives notice of the disposition of his or her grievance under
s. 632.83 (3) (d) on or after December 1, 2000, but before June 15, 2002, with respect to an adverse determination or an experimental treatment determination must request an independent review no later than 4 months after June 15, 2002.
632.835(9)(b)
(b)
Preexisting condition exclusion denials and rescissions. The independent review required under this section with respect to a preexisting condition exclusion denial determination or a rescission shall be available to an insured who receives notice of the disposition of his or her grievance under
s. 632.83 (3) (d) on or after the date stated in the notice published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register by the commissioner under
sub. (8) (b).
632.835 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
Ins 18, Wis. adm. code.
632.84
632.84
Benefit appeals under certain policies. 632.84(1)(b)
(b) "Nursing home insurance policy" means an individual or group insurance policy which provides coverage primarily for confinement or care in a nursing home.
632.84(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
sub. (3), an insurer offering a medicare supplement policy, medicare replacement policy, nursing home insurance policy or long-term care insurance policy shall establish an internal procedure by which the policyholder or the certificate holder or a representative of the policyholder or the certificate holder may appeal the denial of any benefits under the medicare supplement policy, medicare replacement policy, nursing home insurance policy or long-term care insurance policy. The procedure established under this paragraph shall include all of the following:
632.84(2)(a)1.
1. The opportunity for the policyholder or certificate holder or a representative of the policyholder or certificate holder to submit a written request, which may be in any form and which may include supporting material, for review by the insurer of the denial of any benefits under the policy.
632.84(2)(a)2.
2. Within 30 days after receiving the request under
subd. 1., disposition of the review and notification to the person submitting the request of the results of the review.
632.84(2)(b)
(b) An insurer shall describe the procedure established under
par. (a) in every policy, group certificate and outline of coverage issued in connection with a medicare supplement policy, medicare replacement policy, nursing home insurance policy or long-term care insurance policy.
632.84(2)(c)
(c) If an insurer denies any benefits under a medicare supplement policy, medicare replacement policy, nursing home insurance policy or long-term care insurance policy, the insurer shall, at the time the insurer gives notice of the denial of any benefits, provide the policyholder and certificate holder with a written description of the appeal process established under
par. (a).
632.84(2)(d)
(d) An insurer offering a medicare supplement policy, medicare replacement policy, nursing home insurance policy or long-term care insurance policy shall annually report to the commissioner a summary of all appeals filed under this section and the disposition of those appeals.
632.84(3)
(3) Exceptions. This section does not apply to a health maintenance organization, limited service health organization or preferred provider plan, as defined in
s. 609.01.
632.84 History
History: 1987 a. 156,
403;
1989 a. 31.
632.84 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also s.
Ins 3.55, Wis. adm. code.
632.845
632.845
Prohibiting refusal to cover services because liability policy may cover. 632.845(2)
(2) An insurer that provides coverage under a health care plan may not refuse to cover health care services that are provided to an insured under the plan and for which there is coverage under the plan on the basis that there may be coverage for the services under a liability insurance policy.
632.845 History
History: 2009 a. 28.
632.85
632.85
Coverage without prior authorization for treatment of an emergency medical condition. 632.85(1)(a)
(a) "Emergency medical condition" means a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity, including severe pain, to lead a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine to reasonably conclude that a lack of immediate medical attention will likely result in any of the following:
632.85(1)(a)1.
1. Serious jeopardy to the person's health or, with respect to a pregnant woman, serious jeopardy to the health of the woman or her unborn child.
632.85(1)(a)2.
2. Serious impairment to the person's bodily functions.
632.85(1)(a)3.
3. Serious dysfunction of one or more of the person's body organs or parts.
632.85(1)(c)
(c) "Self-insured health plan" means a self-insured health plan of the state or a county, city, village, town or school district.
632.85(2)
(2) If a health care plan or a self-insured health plan provides coverage of any emergency medical services, the health care plan or self-insured health plan shall provide coverage of emergency medical services that are provided in a hospital emergency facility and that are needed to evaluate or stabilize, as defined in section 1867 of the federal Social Security Act, an emergency medical condition.
632.85(3)
(3) A health care plan or a self-insured health plan that is required to provide the coverage under
sub. (2) may not require prior authorization for the provision or coverage of the emergency medical services specified in
sub. (2).
632.85 History
History: 1997 a. 155.
632.853
632.853
Coverage of drugs and devices. A health care plan, as defined in
s. 628.36 (2) (a) 1., or a self-insured health plan, as defined in
s. 632.85 (1) (c), that provides coverage of only certain specified prescription drugs or devices shall develop a process through which a physician may present medical evidence to obtain an individual patient exception for coverage of a prescription drug or device not routinely covered by the plan. The process shall include timelines for both urgent and nonurgent review.
632.853 History
History: 1997 a. 237.
632.855
632.855
Requirements if experimental treatment limited. 632.855(2)
(2) Disclosure of limitations. Subject to
s. 632.87 (6), a health care plan or a self-insured health plan that limits coverage of experimental treatment shall define the limitation and disclose the limits in any agreement, policy or certificate of coverage. This disclosure shall include the following information:
632.855(2)(a)
(a) Who is authorized to make a determination on the limitation.
632.855(2)(b)
(b) The criteria the plan uses to determine whether a treatment, procedure, drug or device is experimental.
632.855(3)(am)(am) A health care plan or a self-insured health plan that receives a request for prior authorization of an experimental procedure that includes all of the required information upon which to make a decision shall, within 5 working days after receiving the request, issue a coverage decision. If the health care plan or self-insured health plan denies coverage of an experimental treatment, procedure, drug or device for an insured who has a terminal condition or illness, the health care plan or self-insured health plan shall, as part of its coverage decision, provide the insured with a denial letter that includes all of the following:
632.855(3)(am)1.
1. A statement setting forth the specific medical and scientific reasons for denying coverage.
632.855(3)(am)2.
2. Notice of the insured's right to appeal and a description of the appeal procedure.
632.855(3)(bm)
(bm) A health care plan or a self-insured health plan may not deny coverage under
par. (am) of an experimental treatment, procedure, drug, or device for an insured if the denial violates
s. 632.87 (6).
632.855 History
History: 1997 a. 237;
2005 a. 194.
632.857
632.857
Explanation required for restriction or termination of coverage. If an insurer restricts or terminates an insured's coverage for the treatment of a condition or complaint and, as a result, the insured becomes liable for payment for all of his or her treatment for the condition or complaint, the insurer shall provide on the explanation of benefits form a detailed explanation of the clinical rationale and of the basis in the policy, plan, or contract or in applicable law for the insurer's restriction or termination of coverage.
632.857 History
History: 2007 a. 20.
632.86
632.86
Restrictions on pharmaceutical services. 632.86(1)(a)
(a) "Disability insurance policy" has the meaning given in
s. 632.895 (1) (a), except that the term does not include coverage under a health maintenance organization, as defined in
s. 609.01 (2), a limited service health organization, as defined in
s. 609.01 (3), a preferred provider plan, as defined in
s. 609.01 (4), or a health care plan operated by a cooperative association organized under
s. 185.981.
632.86(1)(b)
(b) "Pharmaceutical mail order plan" means a plan under which prescribed drugs or devices are dispensed through the mail.
632.86(2)
(2) No group or blanket disability insurance policy that provides coverage of prescribed drugs or devices through a pharmaceutical mail order plan may do any of the following:
632.86(2)(a)
(a) Exclude coverage, expressly or by implication, of any prescribed drug or device provided by a pharmacist or pharmacy selected by a covered individual if the pharmacist or pharmacy provides or agrees to provide prescribed drugs or devices under the terms of the policy and at the same cost to the insurer issuing the policy as a pharmaceutical mail order plan.
632.86(2)(b)
(b) Contain coverage, deductible or copayment provisions for prescribed drugs or devices provided by a pharmacist or pharmacy selected by a covered individual that are different from the coverage, deductible or copayment provisions for prescribed drugs or devices provided by a pharmaceutical mail order plan.
632.86 History
History: 1991 a. 70;
2009 a. 165.
632.87
632.87
Restrictions on health care services. 632.87(1)
(1) No insurer may refuse to provide or pay for benefits for health care services provided by a licensed health care professional on the ground that the services were not rendered by a physician as defined in
s. 990.01 (28), unless the contract clearly excludes services by such practitioners, but no contract or plan may exclude services in violation of
sub. (2),
(2m),
(3),
(4),
(5), or
(6).
632.87(2)
(2) No insurer may, under a contract or plan covering vision care services or procedures, refuse to provide coverage for vision care services or procedures provided by an optometrist licensed under
ch. 449 within the scope of the practice of optometry, as defined in
s. 449.01 (1), if the contract or plan includes coverage for the same services or procedures when provided by another health care provider.
632.87(2m)(a)(a) No health maintenance organization or preferred provider plan that provides vision care services or procedures within the scope of the practice of optometry, as defined in
s. 449.01 (1), may do any of the following:
632.87(2m)(a)1.
1. Fail to provide to persons covered by the health maintenance organization or preferred provider plan, at the time of enrollment and annually thereafter, a listing of then participating vision care providers, including participating optometrists, setting forth the names of the vision care providers in alphabetical order by last name and their respective business addresses and telephone numbers, with the listing of participating vision care providers to be incorporated in any listing of all participating health care providers that includes the same information regarding all providers, if such listing is provided at the time of enrollment and annually thereafter, or with the listing of participating vision care providers otherwise to be provided separately.
632.87(2m)(a)2.
2. Fail to provide to persons covered by the health maintenance organization or preferred provider plan, at the time vision care services or procedures are needed, the opportunity to choose optometrists from the listing under
subd. 1. from whom the persons may obtain covered vision care services and procedures within the scope of the practice of optometry, as defined in
s. 449.01 (1).
632.87(2m)(a)3.
3. Fail to include as participating providers in the health maintenance organization or preferred provider plan optometrists licensed under
ch. 449 in sufficient numbers to meet the demand of persons covered by the health maintenance organization or preferred provider plan for optometric services.
632.87(2m)(a)4.
4. When vision care services or procedures are deemed appropriate by the health maintenance organization or preferred provider plan, restrict or discourage a person covered by the health maintenance organization or preferred provider plan from obtaining covered vision care services or procedures, within the scope of the practice of optometry as defined in
s. 449.01 (1), from participating optometrists solely on the basis that the providers are optometrists.
632.87(3)(a)(a) No policy, plan or contract may exclude coverage for diagnosis and treatment of a condition or complaint by a licensed chiropractor within the scope of the chiropractor's professional license, if the policy, plan or contract covers diagnosis and treatment of the condition or complaint by a licensed physician or osteopath, even if different nomenclature is used to describe the condition or complaint. Examination by or referral from a physician shall not be a condition precedent for receipt of chiropractic care under this paragraph. This paragraph does not:
632.87(3)(a)1.
1. Prohibit the application of deductibles or coinsurance provisions to chiropractic and physician charges on an equal basis.
