Section 1300.73.21 - Arbitration and Settlement Agreements(a) All health care service plans (plans) shall ensure that all arbitration decisions involving the plan and a current or former enrollee shall be provided to the Department as follows: (1) Within thirty (30) days of receiving a written arbitration decision, the plan shall provide a copy of the complete arbitration decision to the Department. The complete arbitration decision shall have no part of the decision altered or redacted. The complete arbitration decision shall indicate the prevailing party, the amount and other relevant terms of any award, and the reasons for the decision.(2) On a quarterly basis, plans shall provide the Department with redacted copies of all written arbitration decisions. The plan shall be responsible for redacting the written arbitration decisions ensuring that the names of the enrollee, the plan, witnesses, attorneys, providers, plan employees and health facilities have been removed from the decision. The redacted arbitration decisions will be available for public inspection on the Department's web page (www.dmhc.ca.gov).(b) Every written arbitration decision, and every written settlement agreement resolving any dispute between a plan and a current or former enrollee shall contain the following language in bold, twelve (12) point type: Nothing in this arbitration decision (or settlement agreement) prohibits or restricts the enrollee from discussing or reporting the underlying facts, results, terms and conditions of this decision (or settlement agreement) to the Department of Managed Health Care.
(c) All health care service contracts containing an arbitration clause; all arbitration agreements and decisions; and all settlement agreements resolving any dispute between a plan and a current or former enrollee, shall contain no language that expressly or impliedly prohibits the enrollee from discussing or reporting the underlying facts, outcome, results or decision with the Department.(d) For purposes of this section, a "settlement agreement" shall be broadly construed to include any writing resolving a dispute between a plan and a current or former enrollee wherein the nature of the dispute relates to services, benefits, treatment or other rights and obligations created pursuant to the enrollee and plan's contract for health care coverage, and includes settlements reached in, but not limited to, a mediation, arbitration, or other alternative dispute resolution process, or any civil lawsuit.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 28, § 1300.73.21
1. New section filed 8-19-2002; operative 9-18-2002 (Register 2002, No. 34). Note: Authority cited: Sections 1344, 1346 and 1373.21, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 1373.19 and 1373.20, Health and Safety Code.
1. New section filed 8-19-2002; operative 9-18-2002 (Register 2002, No. 34).