N.J. Admin. Code § 11:24-9.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 19, October 7, 2024

Section 11:24-9.1 - Policies and procedures

(a) The HMO shall establish and implement written policies and procedures regarding the rights of members and the implementation of these rights.

(b) The HMO shall provide each member with a current copy of a member's benefit handbook, including at least:

1. A complete statement of the member's rights;

2. A description of all complaint and grievance procedures, including the address and telephone numbers of the complaint offices of the HMO and of the Department; and

3. A clear and complete summary of the evidence of coverage, including limitations, exclusions, and procedures for accessing out of network services, as required by 26:2J-8(b), and the responsibility of the subscriber to pay copayments, deductibles and coinsurance, as appropriate, in terms relevant to the type of product(s) purchased.

i. HMOs shall clearly distinguish any differences in the member's financial responsibility for accessing services within and outside of the HMO's network.

ii. HMOs shall explain the member's responsibility to pay for charges incurred that are not covered under or authorized pursuant to the policy or contract.

iii. With respect to point of service contracts, HMOs shall explain the member's responsibility to pay for charges that exceed what the HMO determines are customary and reasonable (usual and customary, or usual, customary and reasonable, as appropriate) for services that are covered under the out-of-network component of the contract.

(c) HMOs shall, upon request, provide a written document to consumers setting forth the information required to be disclosed to members.

1. The HMO shall not be required to provide the consumer with the same level of detail that is provided to members in the provider directory pursuant to (d)6 below, but the HMO shall provide at least the following information:

i. The number of medical providers categorized by specialty by county in the carrier's network;

ii. The number of hospitals categorized by county in the HMO's network;

iii. The approximate percentage of the medical providers in the HMO's network that are board certified, and the date on which the calculation of the percentage was last performed;

iv. The waiting time criteria that the HMO utilizes in its selection of providers for participation in the HMO's network, if any, including a statement that no such criteria apply in those instances in which the HMO does not consider patient waiting times for appointments for routine and urgent care in selecting participating providers;

v. A statement that consumers can check with providers directly to find out if the provider is a participating provider; and

vi. A statement that the consumer may obtain more detailed information, including a current provider directory (if not already included), and the process by which consumers may obtain the information free of charge.

(1) HMOs that elect to make their lists of participating providers available through an electronic database accessible to the public shall not substitute electronic access to the information as the only means by which consumers may obtain the information free of charge.

2. The information provided to consumers may be in a single document or multiple documents, except that when an HMO uses multiple documents for its provider lists, the HMO shall cross reference in each provider lists all other lists of health care providers for which the HMO is required to provide coverage, or benefits therefor, pursuant to statute or rule.

(d) The statement of the member's rights shall include at least the right:

1. To available and accessible services when medically necessary, including availability of care 24 hours a day, seven days a week for urgent or emergency conditions. The statement shall include a reminder that the "911" emergency response system should be called whenever a member has a potentially life-threatening condition. This information shall also be provided on the membership identification cards;

2. To be treated with courtesy and consideration, and with respect for the member's dignity and need for privacy;

3. To be provided with information concerning the HMO's policies and procedures regarding products, services, providers, appeals procedures and other information about the organization and the care provided;

4. To choose a primary care provider within the limits of the covered benefits and availability and included as participating providers in the plan network;

5. To be afforded a choice of specialists among participating network providers following an authorized referral, subject to their availability to accept new patients;

6. To obtain a current directory of participating providers in the HMO network upon request, including addresses and telephone numbers, and a listing of providers who accept members who speak languages other than English;

7. To obtain assistance and referral to providers with experience in treatment of patients with chronic disabilities;

8. To receive from the member's physician(s) or provider, in terms that the member understands, an explanation of his or her complete medical condition, recommended treatment, risk(s) of the treatment, expected results and reasonable medical alternatives, whether or not these are covered benefits. If the member is not capable of understanding the information, the explanation shall be provided to his or her next of kin or guardian and documented in the member's medical record;

9. To be free from balance billing by providers for medically necessary services that were authorized or covered by the HMO except as permitted for copayments, coinsurance and deductibles by contract;

10. To formulate and have advance directives implemented;

11. To all the rights afforded by law or regulation as a patient in a licensed health care facility, including the right to refuse medication and treatment after possible consequences of this decision have been explained in language the member understands;

12. To prompt notification, as required in this chapter, of termination or changes in benefits, services or provider network; and

13. To file a complaint or appeal with the HMO or the Department and to receive an answer to those complaints within a reasonable period of time.

(e) The HMO shall establish and implement written policies and procedures regarding the responsibilities of members, such as financial responsibilities, including copayments and deductibles. A complete statement of these responsibilities shall be included in the member's benefit handbook.

N.J. Admin. Code § 11:24-9.1

Amended by R.2000 d.183, effective 5/1/2000.
See: 31 N.J.R. 953(a), 32 N.J.R. 1544(a).
Rewrote (b)3; inserted a new (c); and recodified former (c) and (d) as (d) and (e).